Quickie Maloof update

[atgcpaul]

I haven't had as much time to work on the dresser as I'd like. The past 3
Saturdays have been birthing classes and this weekend is a breastfeeding class.
I hope I can keep a straight face. I am definitely a boob man. I wonder why
my wife gave me the stink eye when I asked if we'd be swapping partners.

Anyway, I've been in finishing purgatory. The dresser has been assembled
for a while and I was having trouble getting to all the nooks on my tall
assembly table. I had a 20% HF coupon and bought the 1000lb lift cart. I
bolted on an MDF top and put the dresser on top.

Here it is during one of the in-between-coats-sandings. I'm using Roland
Johnson's Hot-Rod Varnish from FWW. I really like it. Easy to apply and dries
fast.




I've been simultaneously working on the drawers, too. I think I mentioned
earlier that the drawers are screwed and plugged. This time with walnut plugs.
The drawer fronts have a few coats of varnish then the whole drawer was
sprayed with shellac to give the sides some color and to seal in any varnish
smell.




So after 4 coats of varnish, I decided to glue in the rear stretchers. The
stretcher is only connected to the drawer runners by the tenons. It's not
glued to the divider or the dresser sides so the dresser can expand and contract
without restriction. There's more than an 1/8" of space between the divider
and the stretcher.



Todo:

-Fix the finish on two drawers. I really FUBARed the finish. I need to strip the
fronts to bare wood and start over. Shouldn't take too long. Just some power
sanding.

-Apply shellac to the inside of the dresser to seal in any varnish odor. I waited
to glue in the rear stretchers just so I could finish it easier. Then I go and
install them tonight only to realize I forgot about the shellac. Oh well.

-I need to make a back for this thing. It will be a frame and panel.

-Steel wool and wax the whole shebang.

How am I doing?
Paul

[JR]

How am I doing?

You're doing great!

JR

[Uncle Cracker]

I hope I can keep a straight face. I am definitely a boob man. I wonder why my wife gave me the stink eye when I asked if we'd be swapping partners.

It's the baby that supposed to be getting the meal, Paul, not you...

[chopnhack]

Looking real good paul!

[RAFlorida]

Paul, that looks great.

I'd have to say you're doing a fantastic job on that dresser. Be sure to share the pictures after you've finished. And congratulations for the new upcoming addition to your family! Any idea of boy or girl?

[Subrosa]

Hey there Paul

I have PM'ed you but I wanted to reply to this post, I really admire this chest of drawers, I am hoping to make a set, from the picture I am unable to gauge the thickness of the drawers fronts and the cabinet sides, I read you were not being specific when thicknessing as you were just going for a uniform size for all parts but I imagine there was a thickness you didn't want to go below.

[atgcpaul]

Hey there Paul

I have PM'ed you but I wanted to reply to this post, I really admire this chest of drawers, I am hoping to make a set, from the picture I am unable to gauge the thickness of the drawers fronts and the cabinet sides, I read you were not being specific when thicknessing as you were just going for a uniform size for all parts but I imagine there was a thickness you didn't want to go below.

I just saw your PM--sorry, I was working Thanks for your comments. I just saw your other PM and replied to that, too.

I bought that wood 4/4 and I was able to stay above 3/4" (but not much more) for the carcass and drawer fronts. I built another chest of drawers (it's posted on BT3, too) for my other daughter and started with 4/4+. Those carcass parts ended up closer to 7/8". IMO, I think somewhere between 3/4" to 7/8" is a good thickness. For the 2nd dresser, I was able to use just two boards for each side. I would have preferred to do that for the 1st one, but was limited by what I had.

You don't need to go thick on the drawer fronts, though. Whatever works for your joinery.

If you want to do a true Maloof, I think you should research how he hung the drawers in the carcass. Mine just sit on runners, however, I think his drawers are actually side hung--groove plowed in the side of the drawer box that slides on a runner attached to the inside of the carcass.

BTW, welcome to the forum! If you have pics of the chair construction you PM'ed me, please share! That chair looked great.

Paul

[atgcpaul]

If I did it right, there should be 3 full-sized scans from the template I used to shape the sides of the dresser. The dresser width is just shy of 21". The feet profile is in 2 sections. These are also just an approximation of the real thing from a picture.