American Cherry Bookcase

John15 · 7 Dec 2014

I recently completed this bookcase. It's in 20mm American Cherry, 1840mm high, 750mm wide and 300mm deep. It is based on a design in a Practical Woodworking book 'The Living Room' and although not to professional standards I am very pleased with the result.

The side pieces extend to the floor and take all the weight, and the plinth wraps around the base. The fixed shelves, the top, and the bottom are joined to the sides with biscuits, the front facia is fixed using dowels, and the back is 6mm plywood. I didn't have the confidence to mitre the cornice and plinth so formed a square joint instead. The door frames are m&t and hold the floating centre panels.

I finished it with 3 coats of Finishing Oil. I haven't applied a polish but think I maybe should. The Cherry wood continues to darken to show the beautiful grain pattern of this species.

John

Sorry, this is not in the correct place

Silverbirch · 7 Dec 2014

John15":a45b1w59 said:
although not to professional standards I am very pleased with the result.

And so you should be! It looks pretty good to me.
I was just as interested in the titles on the shelves as the construction. Are you a birder? I was looking up Roberts` Birds of South Africa just this afternoon, trying to identify a bird for someone.

Ian

Rhossydd · 7 Dec 2014

That's rather lovely. Restrained, without any unnecessary ornamentation. It's looks a well made piece of craftsmanship that could out last us.
Well done.

John15 · 7 Dec 2014

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the compliments.

Yes, I do a lot of world birding but starting to slow up a bit these days as the less physically demanding woodworking takes more and more of my time. My next trip is to Southern Ecuador in January - should be good.

Cheers,

John