Popular Post Pwk5017 Posted January 13, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 I purchased this guild project a few years ago and just found myself getting around to it a couple months ago. This isn't a journal, but I'm assuming the old project showcase and journal sub forums were combined. I found the height of the guild plans to be too short for my purposes, so I added another drawer and another inch to each drawer. Marc's species mix is a little too wild for my existing and future plans. Just about everything I make for the house is walnut and these pieces were no different. I expected more contrast between cherry and walnut, but I think it is better off that the cherry end grain is darker than I anticipated. It makes the box joints much more subtle on the front. I don't have much experience with mixing species in my work, but the general consensus from most people is, "the novelty wears off after a few projects". With that said, I do like an element of surprise in furniture. This is where I think contrasting drawer sides are attractive. The build was straight forward per the series. I've never made a multi drawer piece before, and I found the instruction to have a lot of general knowledge for future pieces. I really like the anti-racking central runner. I will probably do that on every wooden drawer slide I make. I have a ton of guild projects and Marc's production content and value is superb. Always multiple approaches to each and every step, and he is thorough in all the details. It's my one critique of the two cremona projects I have that the production and educational content aren't on the same level as Marc. Maybe that's an unfair comparison to Marc? In any case, I'm happy Marc is traveling onsite to the next two guild guests. I know absolutely nothing about who Anne is, but I bet Darrel's project will be excellent. All the drawer fronts are resawn out of a funky walnut chunk I posted about months ago. They were part of a walnut crotch that was chainsawed in half, but the local sawyer cut and kiln dried them. The small slabs are a heavy 12/4, and I was able to get 3 drawer fronts out of each section. This particular slab was 26" by 16" and produced two sequential chunks to resaw. I was nervous about a ton of movement after resawing, but I was fortunate to escape a disasterous amount. Crotches are usually stress filled messes. I think my worst piece bowed 1/8" over 24". Not bad enough that I couldn't remill everything to just under 3/4". It was weird milling pieces like these, because every action involved cutting across the grain. Drum sander took care of the mild tearout from the jointer and planer. Afterwards, I resawed a 17-18" wide piece for the top panel. like the drawerfronts, I was uneasy about ruining good material. Fresh resaw king and the Laguna went through the full width with ease. I experienced a bit of stress cupping, but I finished with 3/8" sanded thickness out of the original 1" board. Honestly, each resaw scenario exceeded expectations with final thickness and flatness. Finish is two coats of some old waterlox im trying to use up, and one coat of sprayed endurovar. It got up to 60 on Thursday and I was able to spray the one coat before another artic plunge. The fronts and case outside look pretty good. I think when spring rolls around I will sand and add another coat. There are a few minor imperfections(one small wavy drip and an incased hair or two) in a couple areas i will fix. Also, the drawer sides and interior only have one coat of finish. You can see there is some blending that needs to happen near the front of the drawer side. For now, they will be pressed into service. My sister and husband just moved back to the area and are temporarily staying with us as they search for a house. We didn't have our spare bedroom furnished, and these two are coming to the rescue along with some other spare pieces around the house. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 13, 2018 Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 Bravo ! Beautiful grain ! Signed & dated ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 13, 2018 Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 Nicely done. That is some amazing grain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 13, 2018 Report Share Posted January 13, 2018 Well done! Great to see you make it your own as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted January 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Thanks all. Im happy i found a use for those random chunks of walnut logs. The log had some curl and crotch to it, which lead to me buying them in the first place, but the dimensions were pretty limiting. Steve, i havent signed a piece before, but i do date them. As a kid i would always play under tables, and a lot of the furniture had people's names and dates on the underside which i always thought was cool. Now, it turns out all those signatures and dates were vandalism from my uncles, but i always liked the idea. Still feel weird putting my name on stuff that isnt 100% mine though. Also, i always want to leave the door open for me to disown previous work as my own! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 16, 2018 Report Share Posted January 16, 2018 A fine piece of furniture that you are proud of deserves your signature ! I don't sign crap I made a certain way to meet a clients requirements and price range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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