I haven't posted here for awhile because I haven't done anything for awhile...been too busy with kids, household repairs, new hobbies (biking and kayaking, etc.).
So I finally decided to make something for my girlfriend Michelle. Thought it would be cheaper than a ring.
I got the design from the Sundance catalog; it was listed as "Tall Draper's Cabinet". My girlfriend is a quilter, and I saw her ogling this covetously. At $1895 from the catalog (http://www.sundancecatalog.com/PRODUCT/41961.html), I thought I could make one a little cheaper...
I used pine for the frame and base, and maple for the accent strips and drawer fronts. Pine beadboard is the backing for the cabinet. Nothing too special about the construction, pretty basic. I cut grooves into the sides for the shelves using a router and straightedge, and put the vertical dividers in with biscuits. It was a little challenging to glue and clamp everything together given the size (4 x 6 feet for the shelf unit).
I painted the back with 2 coats of claret red Rustoleum Americana paint. I painted the shelves and sides and base with 1 coat of claret red, then 1 coat of canyon black. The topcoat was thin enough to allow a little of the sheen of the red to show through. I distressed the edges with sandpaper and the sides with an old chain. I then waxed the painted surfaces with paste wax applied with 0000 steel wool. The maple strips and drawer fronts were finished with Danish oil.
I "antiqued" the shiny bronze screws by soaking them in 50% ammonia for 1-2 days--worked great!
The cabinet is built in 2 parts to make it easier to transport, with pocket screws used to attach base to shelves.
So, she hasn't seen it yet, but I think she'll like it. I took some pics of the product at various stages of construction and sent them to her by email to picque her interest, but none of them were large enough for her to see exactly what I was doing. Pretty sly, huh?
So I finally decided to make something for my girlfriend Michelle. Thought it would be cheaper than a ring.
I got the design from the Sundance catalog; it was listed as "Tall Draper's Cabinet". My girlfriend is a quilter, and I saw her ogling this covetously. At $1895 from the catalog (http://www.sundancecatalog.com/PRODUCT/41961.html), I thought I could make one a little cheaper...
I used pine for the frame and base, and maple for the accent strips and drawer fronts. Pine beadboard is the backing for the cabinet. Nothing too special about the construction, pretty basic. I cut grooves into the sides for the shelves using a router and straightedge, and put the vertical dividers in with biscuits. It was a little challenging to glue and clamp everything together given the size (4 x 6 feet for the shelf unit).
I painted the back with 2 coats of claret red Rustoleum Americana paint. I painted the shelves and sides and base with 1 coat of claret red, then 1 coat of canyon black. The topcoat was thin enough to allow a little of the sheen of the red to show through. I distressed the edges with sandpaper and the sides with an old chain. I then waxed the painted surfaces with paste wax applied with 0000 steel wool. The maple strips and drawer fronts were finished with Danish oil.
I "antiqued" the shiny bronze screws by soaking them in 50% ammonia for 1-2 days--worked great!
The cabinet is built in 2 parts to make it easier to transport, with pocket screws used to attach base to shelves.
So, she hasn't seen it yet, but I think she'll like it. I took some pics of the product at various stages of construction and sent them to her by email to picque her interest, but none of them were large enough for her to see exactly what I was doing. Pretty sly, huh?
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