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MDF has no structural strength and I think you would at least want to glue a 40 x 40 solid wood batten on the front edge to avoid sagging. You could veneer over it to hide it. I prefer to use a cheap flush door cut down to size for alcove shelving now. It can be painted or veneered over.

I've built a few so called Versailles Planters by lining them with damp proof coursing membrane. So far so good . Next time I think I would try and find a plastic water tank to size and build the planter box around that. They consume a lot of wood and you really can't skimp on the dimensions...

Iroko. Use extraction with power tools as the dust floats like pepper in the air. It also likes to tighten up when cutting due to twisted grain so have a riving knife on the saw if possible.

Yes indeed and don't forget that you will probably have to pay VAT and import duties on secondhand goods brought into the UK. Personally I would sell up in the US and start again in the UK. Sometimes you have to take a hit in life . :rolleyes:

Teak is ideal if you can find it. Otherwise Iroko is durable and cheap - You will get at least ten years out of it.

They work well and are quick and easy but you are left with holes in the wood. They mostly clean up with a little steaming but I have found it easier to hot melt on some 2mm hardboard strips to take the damage, especially on a quality piece of hardwood.

I wonder what the OP did eventually ? Just to be aware that some manufactures offer dual 110/ 240 volt motors depending on the wiring connections. Yes, they run a little slower but not that you'd notice. I imported a DeWalt 746 saw about 15 years ago before they were even available over here and...

Gombeira also known as Brazilian Ebony . It's a different species to Wenge. Must pay a visit to Yandles some day !

Through and through sawn wood giving a Cathedral grain will always warp. You could bring it into the house for a month and then machine it but I would still expect some warping afterwards. Quarter sawn wood is far more stable if you can find it. Cleats will probably not prevent warping. With a...

I find them invaluable especially for measuring drill sizes etc. However I went through about six cheap Chinese verniers before giving up on the £10 specials off ebay. They all simply stopped working . I shelled out for a Mitutoyo and have had no problems after two years. Buy once, cry once...

It's a free world. I always think people should be allowed to make their own mistakes. There are some very dodgy practices there but they seem to consider them as controlled risks. I also cringe when I see blokes in sawmills wearing flip flops. It is a 'Far Eastern ' culture unfortunately.

A water based polyurethane put on with a good brush will keep the ply nice and pale. Avoid all solvent finishes unless you want them to turn a honey yellow. The acrylic spray tins sold by Chestnut are also good but invest in a handle for the tin which will allow you to heat the tin in hot water...

If you don't want hardware another option is to make your shelves with a long slotted mortise at the back about 50 mm deep and slide it over a corresponding tenon screwed to the wall. It would have to be a snug fit and secured with a few screws from the top. I'd probably glue it to prevent...

You don't hear much about them now - are they still in production ? I like mine although they excel at dovetails and finger joints they are a bit of a faff for sliding dovetails and M+T joints etc

Those brackets look very good - who retails them ? Rockler in the US sell heavy duty adjustable brackets and they claim that two will support 125 pounds with a shelf up to 48" long. I'm sure those dimensions could be stretched a little to suit to OP's requirements. However a vertical board on...

It's a bit of a dark art and would be difficult to outsource . I understand there is little point trying to bend kiln dried wood and air dried wood is more difficult to source. Lee Valley , the Canadian supply company sell all the gear for the enthusiastic amateur.

Whatever lacquer Ercol uses it is incredibly tough. ! I restored one chair and was reluctant to use a sander. It wouldn't reach into all those gaps between the spindles anyway. The answer was to find a few 3M varnish and paint stripper wheels and use them in an electric drill. They work a treat...

The domino is a very versatile tool for general cabinetry. For large units and wardrobes however it still relies on clamping them together until the glue sets and this is impractical unless you use the K/D fittings. If this is the case it's best to concentrate on an optimum K/D type of fitting...

You can get virtually any router bit online now - I have ordered some directly from China and they seem fine. For convenience Wealden certainly have a great choice and reasonable prices. The large 1/2" bits start to become very expensive if you stick to the standard brands and if you only use...

Rockler in the US sell long shank carbide tipped bits. They are mixed metric and imperial but are ideal for end grain boring. Not cheap but they last a lifetime. :rolleyes: