I am posting some pics of a simple open shelf cabinet to be set on a stand. This unit was requested by my wife for my middle son Dylan to place piano compositions that he writes on the computer. He likes the exposed joinery and simple designs. The wood on the cabinet is red gum , the through dove tails are hand cut , the shelves are on sliding dovetails cut in with router. The finish will be oil poly mixture.
I would like some input from fellow knotters on the stand for this cabinet .The cabinet is 39″ x 14″ x 13″ deep. For material I am leaning towards a darker wood,possibly wenge. This weekend I plan on putting a coat of finish on the upper section pictured to get a better feel for the actual color of this wood as I have never used it before.
Tom.
Replies
Something like this, maybe? This is a totally different piece but the concept is similar - an open storage unit on top of a closed storage base. The lower unit of this piece was sized for two file drawers (his and hers) holding lateral, hanging, file folders. It could just as easily have had two doors and a couple of adjustable shelves inside.
If you made a base unit approx. 16" - 22" high and a couple of inches wider and deeper than your open storage piece you would have a "hutch" which would add storage space (usually in short supply). The top of your open unit would be at a convenient height to collect the "stuff" that accumulates in a kids room and drives mothers crazy.
Tom:
I like your idea of a black base to go with the lighter top. The wenge is a good choice depending on how high you're going to make it. I made a table a few years ago with an ebonized soft maple base and a cherry top. The contrast is striking. I'm prone to contemporary designs and your idea should look great. If it's not too high a wenge base with through tenons and the top attached to the base on a couple of stretchers is an option. Draw it up and see if you like it.
Good luck with it, Jim
Edited 2/6/2009 3:49 pm ET by James R.
Tom,
Very nice looking cabinet. Sorry, I don't have any good recommendations for a stand. I always enjoy looking in the background of posted pictures to see what people have in their shop. Looks like you have a great place to work. But I was wondering about the ceramic piece between the planer and table saw sled. Does that have anything to do with idea generation? :-)
Good luck with your stand. I'm sure it will look great. George
You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. - Michael Pritchard
Will , come on , have you never seen a porta john? Thanks.
Tom.
Tom
Lovely work--I'm sure the stand will be great, whatever you decide. My first thought is something with legs that curve gently away from the cabinet, and are thicker at the bottom than the top, or at least appear that way. Don't know if I'm being clear enough here--Asian is the style I'm thinking of. Good luck. You've certainly got the dovetails down. Very tight. Tom
PS--I'm a Texas too--currently in Orange.
Thanks Tom , Funny thing, I had all the dovetails cut and fit for the sides and top. My next move is to route the sliding dovetail grooves for the shelf and center divider, simple enough ... mark center line on each board , then make second line for offset from router base to bit , clamp on straight edge and go. As I am routing half way through I still see my center line mark about 1/8" to the left of my groove, ouch. miss marked the offset. Fortunately I had enough material to redo that board. anyhow where is Orange?
Tom.
Don't you love those little 'alterations to design' that you make when woodworking? Orange is in far southeast Texas on the border with Louisiana. Our city limits go halfway out in the Sabine River. We got hammered by Hurricane Ike's storm surge and wind. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
Tom:
I checked when I got home and found a nice wenge base in a FWW publication titled "In the Modern Style." It's too small for your piece, however it's worth a look if you can find it. It may give you an idea or two. Page 139.
Good luck, Jim
Thanks James, I do have that issue, page 139 audio cabinet in cherry and wenge. That is basicly the look I am trying to achieve. I need to look through that publication again.
Tom.
Tom:Whatever you decide to do be sure and post it. With the case you've already made I think you'll end up with a beautiful piece and I want to see it.Thanks & good designing, Jim
James, I went with that design you suggested , here are some shots of the progress. I did not have any 8/4 wenge in the shop although I did find a nice piece of 8/4 lightly figured oak, I have had on the rack for quite some time. I will see what it looks like when built up. Will probably end up darkening/ ebonizing to get the contrast I originally desired.
Tom.
Tom:Are you planning to put extra support across the middle since your case is a bit longer? You could probably add the same type of stretcher you'll have on the ends, the design should still flow well. However, if the piece is not too heavy you may not need anything extra. Your workmanship looks precise and well done. Are you planning to use the wedged tenons as well? After looking at the pictures I need to comment on the finish of the case, it's beautiful and the grain figure just makes it better.
I think, from what I've seen, this piece should turn out quite well.Good luck, Jim
Edited 2/8/2009 1:32 am ET by James R.
Jim,
Extra support..? Yes sir I have added two more front to back stretchers to the cut list, have not yet decided whether to use three or four. As for the wedged tenons? yes as well .
Today I will clean up the mortises lay out and cut the tenons. Thanks Jim will post more later.
Tom.
James , Very nice table by the way, Original Design by Peter Korn I assume.
Tom.
Tom:Only a woodworker would know and 99% of the people that see my work have no idea who Peter Korn is. So in my neighborhood people think I have a rare talent. Of course I, and now you, know that I have very little talent. I do however get away with a lot. Thanks for the look and comment.Jim
Jim,
The ability to lay out and execute is certainly a talent
Tom.
James, Here are the pics of the music shelves for my son Dylan. I had originally intended to Ebonize the stand then decided against doing so when I saw the beautiful grain in the oak. Red Gum / Red Oak with ebony plugs and wenge wedges, dovetails/handcut, oak stand/ hand scraped . Finsh /Maloof Blend.
Tom.
Tom:Very, very nicely done. That is a beautiful piece of work. Looking at those pictures I can see why you didn't ebonize the base, covering that grain would have been a real waste.
You're a lot faster than I am and your skill is obvious from the pics. Congratulations on a really nice piece. Thanks for sharing.Jim
Thanks Jim.
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