Breakfront Bookcase

[sawdust maker]

Hi All

About 18 months ago I announced I was going to make a break-fronted bookcase. The project has taken much longer than I thought it would. But the base is well on the way to completion.

The top is veneered, cross-banded with Satinwood, with Ebony and Boxwood lines.

Still quite a bit to do. The interior of the secretaire needs finishing and the cupboards need backs and shelves.

When I started I thought I had all the skills to do the project, but I didn't and have learnt a lot from my mistakes. The first problem I has was with the drawer dividers on the centre unit. Originally they were to be made from Mahogany but I get them to be stable enough, so I backed them with Ramin.

The doors, top and secretaire front have a substrate of 18mm ply. I didn't take into account that in the ply's production they must have used a mold release, so I had a real problem getting the veneer to stick.

I originally wanted to make the quarter columns out of solid Satinwood but had a problem turning them so settled for turning them out of soft wood and veneering them. I used this press.

I hope to start the top section soon, and with luck it won't take another 18 months.
Paul

 

[Philly]

Fantasic work, Paul!!!
Philly

 

[Ironballs]

Looks fantastic so far, that flame/curl mahogany on the front is superb. You must be dead chuffed with it

 

[Rich]

I think it's great how different folk rise to the challenge and come up with a solution, keep us posted Paul.

Regards,

Rich.

 

[mailee]

I am lost for words Paul..........All I can say is WOW! :shock:

 

[maltrout512]

Looks great. Would be nice if you could give a rough guide to materials cost.

 

[motownmartin]

This looks a mighty fine piece of work, you would pay thousands for craftmanship like that.

=D> =D> =D>

 

[Woodmagnet]

Bloody ****! That's GREAT. Well done Paul.

 

[sawdust maker]

Malcolm asked for a rough idea of cost. The Mahogany is South American and came from J Boddy and cost about £250. That includes most of the wood for the top. I used two 8'X4' 18mm ply. Veneers cost another £200. I wasted about £100 trying to use Pearl Glue. I also paid £100 for Satinwood for the quarter columns and wasted a third of it. Don't know what I will do with the other 2/3. Handles, hinges and locks etc cost about £150. So all told it has cost about £700 so far. I am sure it will cost about another £250 to finish. Hope my better half doesn't see this post!!!
The cheapest thing was the Mahogany veneer for the top. It came from a coffin maker and cost 25p a quare foot.

 

[dicktimber]

Beautiful!!!

Can you tell me how and what finishes you used please.

Thank's
mike

 

[sawdust maker]

Hi Mike
I have used Button polish. Its had four coates so far but will need about four more. I will put them on when I finish the top.

Paul

 

[Gill]

Mighty nice, mighty posh .

Great piece of work!

Gill

 

[Mcluma]

Amazing work, really nice, reminds me of some furniture my grandma had

 

[devonwoody]

You are a better man than me. I would have needed to make it in situ as well.

 

[shim20]

fantastic work, strangly enough i made something very simular to that a few months back fun to make but takes along time to do all the venering.
top work