Prep for finish

Construction of the project is just about completed now, so I've taken it apart a bit to prep for finish. I use an HVLP spray system that is environmentally sensitive as well as low VOC content lacquer.

Oak pulls and pull out

I made some nice simple pulls of oak to match the panels and add a simple and functional design element. I also made a pull out tray to help access the lower cabinet storage.

Doors are mounted

After being glued up, I mortise the hinges into the cabinets and hang the doors. Each door has a specific hinge and I just keep them numbered. I've made oak pulls to match the panels.

Brass butt hinges

I use solid brass mortised hinges, just like in the old days.

Curly oak panels

I'm using curly white oak panels as an accent to the cherry. In order to get the panels I need I have to re-saw the parts and re-glue them, allowing me to create a fluid, even pattern across the entire piece. Without doing this, I might have a lopsided grain pattern. Instead I will have a pleasing pattern of quartered, to rift, to plane sawn, curly grain pattern moving across the entire front.

Making mortise and tenon doors

I match all the wood frame parts so that after finish the colors match and the straight grain stays flat and true. There are two types of doors here, glass panels and solid wood panel doors.

Cabinet assembly

I use mortise and tenon joinery for all my cabinets. The panels are grooved into the legs, the legs are mortised together, and the cabinet is glued up and ready for doors and tops.

Cutting parts

Wood is sorted for color and grain match, panels are glued and I begin to make the parts for the lower and upper cabinets, using solid wood through out. The frame parts are cut from straight grain, and the panels are matched to have wavy grain for accent.

Design

The only drawing I used to design this job is this sketch. After several meetings with the clients, a review of my portfolio including several other very similar projects, this proved to be enough for them to trust me to build the entire project.

Woodworking and design

Building a cherry bookcase- designed, and built by hand in Phil's wood shop, Sedona Arizona- get a look