...the first piece of furniture I've built. It will sit in my livingroom, with a flat-screen TV on top, and CDs and DVDs in the drawers. The design is similar in style to my other livingroom furniture (from http://www.vermontfurnituredesign.com/mis_ocas.html), although this design is my own.
The piece is solid Cherry and quilted Maple veneer, finished with
Seal-A-Cell and Arm-R-Seal. It stands 24" tall by 20" deep by 62" long. The joinery is primarily Dominos, and it uses Blum hardware for the drawer runners. [I've recently been bitten by the Festool addiction -- wow those tools are fantastic]
I learned so much in making this piece, with major inspiration and education coming from Nahm, David Marks, and the fine craftsmen here at SMC. The vast majority of the techniques that were used to turn 12/4 Cherry and sheets of Maple into furniture were brand-new to me, and I couldn't have done it without a lot of help and inspiration from everyone. I never thought I'd be able to learn how to use a vacuum press, mill straight and flat lumber from rough stock, do loose tenon joinery, install drawers so precisely, glue up a flat panel, and use a hand plane, just to name a few.
As I imagine is always the case, but perhaps doubly so with those of us who are new to woodworking, there are a few things I would have done differently if I could have done it over. But for me the experience of learning so many new skills was the truly rewarding part of the project.
I would greatly appreciate comments and suggestions to improve for the future -- but please be kind, as this is my first attempt. I hope to get better in the future and continue to be inspired by all of you.
[Apologies for the amateur photography... there's no room for it yet in the livingroom]
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Originally Posted by David Peters
