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Kind of a weekend accomplishment, kind of a design query, kind of an "in progress" thing. Well, I've posted a few ?s on art deco dresser design, had some queries back. A bit of banter. So took a few shots of the project in progress. So maybe I can generate some more input on this undertaking.
First, this is the kind of "plans" I prepare and use. Not overly detailed, but effective for me.
Weekend before last, got started (finally). Built the drawer frames, finished with shellac, cut frames for carcase and assembled. Gave me the basic shell for the project.
Drawer frames are mahoganey and popular, MT'd. Carcase frame is Mahog.
During the week, not much shop time, I did the end panels. Resawed mahog to make bookmatch panels then offset from centers with a walnut strip. Panels glued up the framed in mahog, pure floating panel.
Panel frame construct is again, MT. Floating panel was finish sanded, but not finished, decided to wait and finish the whole rather thatn piece meal it.
Past weekend, holiday ya know, was cut short. Dinner out with friends. So shorted on shop time.
Got some time in, cut and boxed up the basic drawers. Sides from 9mm BB ply and bottoms from 6mm. Simple boxes with finger box joint corners. Built a fixture to run them a few years back so use it as fast and easy drawer build ups. Bottoms in dados, slide in and tack. Final will have overlaid faces, so the simple boxes work just fine.
Do note, they are not all the same size. There is a minor key progression from 6" at the bottom to 4 1/2 at the top in 1/4" steps. Seemed to fit my plan concept. No, the top drawer is not missing, there are going to be two half width top drawers, just not there yet.
Will follow up with more progress shots as things move along. Hope to be to final finishing in a ouple more weeks, but of course there's spring yard work to do, a friend's gazebo to build, a replacement set of oak stairs to install and keeping up with the Honey Do Encyclopedia (I ain't got no silly list).
Seeya later
All right, Mr. Dunton, you're starting to make the rest of us look bad. You're a one-man production shop! If you post too many more projects, Keith might impose some limits!
Just kidding--looking great and keep up the good work! You give some of us slackers something to shoot for.
In the time you did all that ( OK- a little more maybe) I cut & glued up a coupla strips of Cherry & Maple for an 18" X 12" cutting board :rolleyes:
Looking great so far I see the side embellishments will help with the chrysler building look.
I was thinking on your drawer pulls & came across a few art deco design sites that had some ideas. I thought I saved them but didn't :(
The one I liked was actually made out of the same wood as the drawers - it was large circles with a recess & then another "ring inside the outer circumferance. Does that make sense?
Something like this
<img src="http://www.realtymarketing.com/images/roundKnob.jpg">
The other option, which might look better with your design is Metal pulls. I bought some recently that are long & thin cylinder shaped & kind of twisted or braided metal.
This web site has lots of good styles.
<a href="http://www.dlawlesshardware.com/set2rusas.html" target="_blank">www.dlawlesshardware.com/set2rusas.html</a>
Keep up the great work - Just slow down & stop making the rest of us look bad ;)
Sorry Tom and Jason,
I actually don't see myself as very fast at this. I spend more time sittin' and starin' than workin'. But I do note that when things start to move, it goes pretty quick, it just the startin' that's slow, may need lighter weight oil?
Thanks for the comments, they help.
I kinda thought that a series of progress pics might be of interest to the collective, but kinda bunched up a coule of weeks work in a day, so looks like more than it is.
Tom, been playing with the same wood turned pulls idea, like the one you came up with, still figurin' on that point. Am sure it will come together by the end.
If you don't mind a couple of suggestions for you dressers in the future.
The dividers between the drawers should have 1/4 inch plywood inside the frames you made. This keeps stuff sticking up out of the drawers from interferring with the drawer above. These will also give you more stiffness so the dresser doesn't rack when you move it.
Also, I've found that lap joints at the corners of the frames and particular attention when gluing them up to get them square, saves lots of time later in the project. It also makes for a stronger frame.
Lee, you're dead on right. I find that MT joints in the frames has more exact fit than lap joints, but may be just me. Square fit is an absolute must. My aim is under a 1/64th corner to corner match, that's as far as I can read the scale with my readers on, so its got to do. But they always seem square enough to fit in the end.
As to the dust panels, a good idea. I've used it, but too lazy for the extra fretting. If you bevel the edges of the framing a little, it seems to avoid the "catch" effect. Has worked fine so far, but maybe I'll go back to that design when I can get someone to pay for the extra efffort.
Good to see someone keeping track of how we free wheel our designs and techniques. Gotta pay attention to the righ way.
Thanks for your thoughts.