Wouldchuk
Established Member
Hello all,
My sister requires a built-in cupboard with bookshelves above to fit in an alcove in her living room. The width is around 900mm and depth around 380mm so not huge.
She wants a wood finish, which in my mind is slightly awkward in that the floorboards are knotty pine, the skirting boards are a dark stained pine, the fireplace immediately next to it is another sort of stained wood, then on one wall there is a teak sideboard, in an opposite alcove a traditional French polished bureau, and just to top it off, Oak door and an Oak desk! :roll: Finding something that fits with the room isnt easy - I do have a lot of Ash that I could use, although not convinced that the light finish will fit - question to follow on that in a mo.
For the shelf side supports/uprights, these are to fit the depth of the alcove (380mm) and go from the top of the cabinet to the bottom of the cornice at the ceiling (1160mm) obviously. I was going to use 18mm Ash veneered MDF with a solid wood lip to finish the cut, and i would rout a double bead on the lipping as a feature. These would be fixed to the alcove walls and carry the shelf brackets.
The shelves themselves, 18mm Ash veneered mdf, with a solid wood lipping with a moulding to relieve (Ogee or somesuch i suppose).
The top of the cabinet, onto which the sides of the shelves will 'stand' is to be solid wood, as a means of me practicing making such a table-top - it would extend slightly out of the depth of the alcove, with the cabinet beneath.
The cabinet carcass i was thinking of MDF again, sides, back, base.
Finally, a solid wood face frame onto the carcass, using Ash for the rails/stiles and the doors, which would be a simple shaker style frame/panel - the panels will need to be veneered MDF (7mm). I'd like to apply a moulding into the door frame possibly.
I will design in a 'pedestal' as such, raising the base of the cabinet off the floor with a bit of a recess under the doors.
Does that make sense? God i wish i could use SketchUp!
(hammer)
Questions:
1) does the above sound sensible?
2) Im trying to use MDF for shelves/supports for stability of the size and to cut cost/work of using real wood for that amount - i've not used veneered mdf much - is there going to be quite a noticeable difference between the finish on the veneered panels and the applied real wood lippings?
3) I am assuming that 18mm MDF for a shelf 380mm x 880mm is strong enough not to sag.
4) Does anyone have any good suggestions for adustable shelf supports - i'd rather they were as unobtrusive as possible. There will be four shelves in total so these could be a single unit, or each shelf could have its own flexiblity. I need to do some research on this but any suggestions welcome.
4) How thick should my lippings be onto 18mm panel - obviously they need to be deep enough for the moulding, but should i look to go 10mm, 20mm etc?? I was thinking of moulding a wide board on router table, then ripping that lipping piece off on the table saw, moulding the remaining board, ripping etc -is that the best technique?
5) Finish - if i wanted to darken the overall effect of the Ash, bringing it down in a more Oak-like look, what is the best way to achieve it on a piece of this size? Im hoping there is a simple wax product which i could use, rather than try staining for the first time!
Long post - but hope you can help.
My sister requires a built-in cupboard with bookshelves above to fit in an alcove in her living room. The width is around 900mm and depth around 380mm so not huge.
She wants a wood finish, which in my mind is slightly awkward in that the floorboards are knotty pine, the skirting boards are a dark stained pine, the fireplace immediately next to it is another sort of stained wood, then on one wall there is a teak sideboard, in an opposite alcove a traditional French polished bureau, and just to top it off, Oak door and an Oak desk! :roll: Finding something that fits with the room isnt easy - I do have a lot of Ash that I could use, although not convinced that the light finish will fit - question to follow on that in a mo.
For the shelf side supports/uprights, these are to fit the depth of the alcove (380mm) and go from the top of the cabinet to the bottom of the cornice at the ceiling (1160mm) obviously. I was going to use 18mm Ash veneered MDF with a solid wood lip to finish the cut, and i would rout a double bead on the lipping as a feature. These would be fixed to the alcove walls and carry the shelf brackets.
The shelves themselves, 18mm Ash veneered mdf, with a solid wood lipping with a moulding to relieve (Ogee or somesuch i suppose).
The top of the cabinet, onto which the sides of the shelves will 'stand' is to be solid wood, as a means of me practicing making such a table-top - it would extend slightly out of the depth of the alcove, with the cabinet beneath.
The cabinet carcass i was thinking of MDF again, sides, back, base.
Finally, a solid wood face frame onto the carcass, using Ash for the rails/stiles and the doors, which would be a simple shaker style frame/panel - the panels will need to be veneered MDF (7mm). I'd like to apply a moulding into the door frame possibly.
I will design in a 'pedestal' as such, raising the base of the cabinet off the floor with a bit of a recess under the doors.
Does that make sense? God i wish i could use SketchUp!
(hammer)
Questions:
1) does the above sound sensible?
2) Im trying to use MDF for shelves/supports for stability of the size and to cut cost/work of using real wood for that amount - i've not used veneered mdf much - is there going to be quite a noticeable difference between the finish on the veneered panels and the applied real wood lippings?
3) I am assuming that 18mm MDF for a shelf 380mm x 880mm is strong enough not to sag.
4) Does anyone have any good suggestions for adustable shelf supports - i'd rather they were as unobtrusive as possible. There will be four shelves in total so these could be a single unit, or each shelf could have its own flexiblity. I need to do some research on this but any suggestions welcome.
4) How thick should my lippings be onto 18mm panel - obviously they need to be deep enough for the moulding, but should i look to go 10mm, 20mm etc?? I was thinking of moulding a wide board on router table, then ripping that lipping piece off on the table saw, moulding the remaining board, ripping etc -is that the best technique?
5) Finish - if i wanted to darken the overall effect of the Ash, bringing it down in a more Oak-like look, what is the best way to achieve it on a piece of this size? Im hoping there is a simple wax product which i could use, rather than try staining for the first time!
Long post - but hope you can help.
