The bar is open

[Carlos]

Full photos are here:
http://gallery.mac.com/caalvarez#100...lack&view=grid

[Carlos]

Wenge is some pretty annoying stuff to work with. I gave myself a record splinter, about 2" into my skin. There is no way to stop that stuff from having really nastly splinters. It also cuts and works strangely because of the long, strong fibrous nature, and it's pretty hard stuff. We have a new Jet 18" bandsaw which made the resaw work possible, but it's wired for 110v now and we popped the breaker quite a few times doing it. The Zebrawood isn't hard to work, but it sure does stink. Smells like a rotting corpse (yes, I've been in an autopsy, that's what it smells like).

I've learned to hate using thin veneers. What a pain that was. The box at the end, which holds the keg fridge, is plywood with Wenge veneer. I thought that would be easier and cheaper. It was harder and really not that much cheaper ($222 for a 4x8 sheet). Next time I'll use real hardwood. The top of the cabinet, below the glass, is home-sawn veneer (.06"). It was a challenge because Wenge has so many internal stresses that it goes all sorts of directions when sawn thin. And it keeps moving for a day or two. Lesson learned is to let it sit, then glue it with a high-end glue (I used contact cement like you use for sheet veneers, it pulled off the first time).

[gad5264]

Well belly up and pour me a cold one.

[Carlos]

Here's the tap tower chilling system. It keeps the beer in the tubes and tap tower cold, so you don't pull a foamy warm beer. That was a problem with the old bar.

[Carlos]

Oh yeah, the matching plant holder...

[MilDoc]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[ironhat]

Yowsers, that's pretty!

[Uncle Cracker]

Very nice!

[Crash2510]

sweet love the tap tower chiller

[big tim]

Wow, that's beautiful.

Tim

[Alex Franke]

I love it! Walk in the front door, hang a right, grab a drink, ans shoot some pool... When can I come visit?

And that looks like T-slots on the napkin holder, too -- that a tip of the hat to woodworkers everywhere!

Please tell me that green stuff isn't the beer.

Oh, and you have the same screwdriver set that I do. Good deal, wasn't it?

[Carlos]

Yes, I tried to figure out a way to get a tap in the drive way so I could pour one before even getting to the house, but just inside the door was the best I could do. The green stuff is just antifreeze to run through the tower cooler. I like my beer colder than freezing temp, so water wouldn't have worked. I shoot for 30 degrees in the cooler.

The screwdrivers were a great deal...a gift! Hmm, now that I think about it, that means I've had them for somewhere between 10 and 15 years. Wow.

[Pappy]

Fantastic piece of work, Carlos! The combination of woods is great.

[lrogers]

WOW! That's not a bar, it's a piece of modern art. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

[mschrank]

I love it! Walk in the front door, hang a right, grab a drink, ans shoot some pool... When can I come visit?

While the beautiful and excellent craftsmanship impressed me, I have to admit that I was more intrigued by the front room location of the bar and pool table. If I were to guess, I'd say you're not married with children....