My next "big" project is a Shaker style step-back cupboard based on the one featured in the September 2003 issue of Fine Woodworking. Mike Dunbar outlined making his from white pine but I can't seem to source any decent looking pine locally. So I opted for poplar since it is going to be painted anyway. The only pine choices I could find was over-priced 3" wide boards for making base molding or the el-crappo-doodie banana shaped boards from the Borg. The poplar will make it a little heavier than a pine version but I think I can manage.
I don't have any large machines so this is going to be a challenge. The sides stand 78" tall with a lower base width of approximately 17" and an upper width of 11". This means a lot of ripping down, milling then gluing back into larger panels. :laugh:
So far I have the stock acclimating and I've milled and sized the two blanks for the sides of the cupboard. This unit is built as a single piece, thus the "L" shape.
Harry, I promise I'll have more process pictures as I go. But so far it was all tablesaw, joiner (machine and handplane) and planer work. Oh, and clamps. And don't forget to put a good burr on that card scraper!
Next up, I'll be cutting the base to create the feet, milling some stop grooves along the sides for the back boards, cutting dados for the bottom and middle shelf and cutting dovetails at the top for the upper board.
p.s. -- added two pictures showing my straight-line jigs. One is a full 8' long (only showing the end with my notes written on it) that is set up for the router and circular saw. The other jig is shorter and router only. These were handy when it came time to make the two blanks equal lengths. The long jig will again be used when it is time to make the stop grooves along the back edge of the side blanks. Lots of examples here on the forum on making and using these sort of jigs as well as a very good video over at Wood Magazine for making them.
p.p.s. -- in the picture showing the small straight line jig, you can also see my hanger for holding my card scrapers. It is made from scraps of poplar and hardboard. There are magnets on the two "rails" that hold the scrapers. You can get adhesive backed magnets lots of different places. These happen to be pieces that were pre-cut for turning business cards into refrigerator magnets.
I don't have any large machines so this is going to be a challenge. The sides stand 78" tall with a lower base width of approximately 17" and an upper width of 11". This means a lot of ripping down, milling then gluing back into larger panels. :laugh:
So far I have the stock acclimating and I've milled and sized the two blanks for the sides of the cupboard. This unit is built as a single piece, thus the "L" shape.
Harry, I promise I'll have more process pictures as I go. But so far it was all tablesaw, joiner (machine and handplane) and planer work. Oh, and clamps. And don't forget to put a good burr on that card scraper!
Next up, I'll be cutting the base to create the feet, milling some stop grooves along the sides for the back boards, cutting dados for the bottom and middle shelf and cutting dovetails at the top for the upper board.
p.s. -- added two pictures showing my straight-line jigs. One is a full 8' long (only showing the end with my notes written on it) that is set up for the router and circular saw. The other jig is shorter and router only. These were handy when it came time to make the two blanks equal lengths. The long jig will again be used when it is time to make the stop grooves along the back edge of the side blanks. Lots of examples here on the forum on making and using these sort of jigs as well as a very good video over at Wood Magazine for making them.
p.p.s. -- in the picture showing the small straight line jig, you can also see my hanger for holding my card scrapers. It is made from scraps of poplar and hardboard. There are magnets on the two "rails" that hold the scrapers. You can get adhesive backed magnets lots of different places. These happen to be pieces that were pre-cut for turning business cards into refrigerator magnets.