Replies

1. 
   Lataxe | Aug 21, 2008 01:22pm | #1

   P,

   I once obtained a pile of glued-up 3/4 oak boards from a kitchen cabinet maker.  The bords were offcuts and leftovers of generally 2 - 3 feet length and 10 inch width.  These were just the thing to make small bookcases.

   The cases consisted of a dovetailed carcass with face frames, various types of curved front-edge tops and 1 or 2 shelves, depending on the height of the bookcase in question. Some of the face frame stiles were routed to give two or more stopped vertical flutes. In one case I also made the bottom shelf / face frame curved-fronted, as well as the front edge of the middle shelf, to match the curve-front of the top.

   The carcases sat on feet of various shapes, the best-look being either four simple flattened buns or 4 small square plinths given a large-radius bullnose profile and set to protrude out from the carcass-bottom by about 3/4 inch, front and side (flush at the back). 

   The backs were tongue & groove with either a "V or "half-round + groove" profile, made by resawing the same stuff to 5/8" and making the profiles with a router table.

   I did make one with a series of A&C-like inlays on the outside walls of the cases (using round plugs and connecting stringing of various shades and shapes) but this tended to look like over-embellishment on the simple forms of the cases.  However, someone with a better artistic eye than mine could probably make a success of such decorative additions.

   If attention is paid to proportions and the various simple profiles, the results are rather pleasing.  Such bookcases are ideal for bedside or other relaxing spot where one may keep the latest list of books-to-be-read or magazines to be browsed.

   Lataxe

    

2. 
   troys | Aug 21, 2008 08:55pm | #2

   I like to use the 1/4 sawn pieces for drawer sides. And of course for the barbecue.

   Troy

3. 
   Joe Sullivan | Aug 22, 2008 07:28am | #3

   Actually, I've done quite a bit with used oak flooring and have more in the works.

   I have about 300 sq ft of used white oak flooring. My living room had to be re-floored after warping -- long hatefully sad story. The crew was going to scrap it, but instead I saved all the larger sheets of sub-floor and had my 10 yr old and his friend pop the oak off. Overall, we saved about 3/4th of the wood that was hauled out. The boys then sorted it according to size and whether it had two functional ends (with tongue or groove) or only one. It is stacked in my hayloft.

   So far I have made new kitchen counter-tops out of it (soon to be installed), and am making some tool racking to hang on the wall behind my bench according to a design I saw in another woodworking magazine. I have sorted the wood and will soon glue up panels of it to be the sides of a tool chest I am making for my 25 year old. The main side panels will be very bland straight grain boards, with bands of darker heavily figured wood at top and bottom -- which I will emphasize by staining more darkly yet.

   My architect son pointed out that if you use the back side, you can get a very trendy look for wall covering. I have not done that, but he is right.

   The same son is hot to make himself a dining table with it, that will have a section that can be raised up on one side to make a drawing board.

   Joe

   Edited 8/22/2008 12:29 am ET by Joe Sullivan

   
   

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   Edited 8/22/2008 12:31 am ET by Joe Sullivan

4. 
   [email protected] | Aug 22, 2008 02:26pm | #4

   you will find a use for it one day , might take a while