Here are the comments from the judges:
Chris Tribe
1st
Frugal
Design brief:
He fulfilled the desin brief which was well stated.
Craftsmanship:
I was impressed with his bravery in admitting his mistake with the mortise and tenons, but he seemed to recover the situation well. His dovetails looked OK. As did the finish.
Materials:
From the pictures I thought the piece was made in elm! It's certainly very figured cherry. I would criticise slightly the timber selection for the legs, it would have been better if the grian pattern had been more uniform over all faces.
Aesthetics:
Again finish looks good, Legs possibly a little on the thick side.
2nd
Jack55
Design brief:
This was not so well stated so it was not possible to decide if it had been fulfilled
Craftsmanship:
The fitting, cutting and mitring was good. Don't think you needed to slot the screws on the runners.
Aesthetics:
The pieces looked good with good proportions particularly the front of the COD.
Materials:
A hard wood for the drawer sides would have been good, but that's just being picky.
Intermediate
Again not much between the top four JohnF, Diderot, Seanybaby and Ironballs.
1st
Diderot
Design Brief:
Well stated brief (I haven't counted how many words in his submission!) which he has worked hard to fulfill.
Craftsmanship:
Evident craftsmanship. Not sure how the extra stetcher is fitted (See table extended picture)
Aesthetics:
On first sight I thought it was a bit over the top but have come to appreciate it more while judging. Possibly he has tried to put too much into one piece.
Materials:
He has got over the colour problem well. Clever use of earth magnets.
2nd
Ironballs
Design brief: Well stated brief which he has fulfilled
Craftsmanship:
A good mix of machine and hand tools. I was a little concerned the dovetails at the bottom of the legs left an area of short grain, it may have been better not to have the dovetails extending the full width of the leg.
Aesthetics:
I liked the less is more approach, an elegant design.
Materials:
Appropriate use of materials.
Conclusion
As I have said it was very difficult to judge as the standard was high and it is sometimes difficult to compare apples with oranges. It is important to clearly state the design brief as this gives something to go on.
Brad Naylor
The easy bits first;
Beginner - Frugal
Advanced - Lord Nibbo
The Intermediate category however, has caused me some difficulty. Two entries stood out to me; Seanybaby's box and Diderot's console/dining table. I cannot consider either of them 'intermediate' however. Seanybaby gives his occupation on his profile as 'cabinetmaker' and while Diderot gives his as 'architect' it is quite clear that he routinely makes furniture for paying clients. I really think that both of them should have been giving Lord Nibbo a run for his money in the 'Advanced' category.
My vote in this category then, must go elsewhere. It is still a difficult call though! The standard is excellent. I very much like Tony's clock but as a copy there is no design input there. Martin's box is very skillfully executed but ultimately looks a bit ungainly
Steve Maskery
This isn't easy, is it? LN's piece is worthy of first prize even though he has no rivals very nice indeed.
Beginner
Not an easy decision, but on balance I think I give First to Jack55. It's a bit clunky in design, but appears to have been executed quite well. I bet those DTs were done with a router jig though!
Frugal's table was nicely done but not as challenging, which is what swung it for me. Maybe it's the photography, but it doesn't look like cherry to me. My thoughts were "elm"!
Intermediate
This was even more difficult, especially as it's a bit like comparing apples with pears.
First - JohnF's porch. Elegant design, good choice of materials, well executed. Just tackling something of that sheer scale is worthy of something!
Second - SeanyBaby's jewellery box. Good choice of materials, nicely executed.
Other comments.
Whilst I didn't understand the mechanism for RobertMPs table, it looks clever, and if it his own invention then that is worthy of merit.
Mowtownmartin's box is a bit clunky but nicely done. I know those dovetails are done on a machine, but it still takes care to set up. And he made a nice job of the curved top.
Diderot's table. I liked this lot and it nearly came second, but I don't like the external rail hooked on to keep the folding legs in place.
Escudo's clock. Nicely executed, but no originality of design at all. This is a project from FWW. I know that because I have the exact same clock on my mantlepiece. But there is a lot of work in making those like squares for the stringing, and he's done it well, by the looks of it.
Stef's table. The reason I've not marked this higher, even though I quite like it, is the paucity of WIP shots. 4 of the 6 are of it finished!
Ironball's TV table. I nearly made this Second, too. Very nice, although I would have cut the wedges closer to the edges - they are going to have to be really hammered had from that distance. Plus, from the front, the legs look a bit like they need some sort of foot to ground them.
Matthew
Intermediate
Winner
Ironballs (TV Table)
I absolutely adored this piece from the moment I first saw it. The aesthetic balance between the natural figure of the materials and striking shape combined with subtly understated but beautifully executed details gives this piece precisely the balance I would expect from a top end designer-maker. This discrete balance is such an incredibly difficult thing to conceive, let alone produce, that this for me had to be the winner.
The materials chosen are both well-suited and well selected and have been treated sympathetically and appropriately. The piece exceeds its brief by fulfilling its functional and aesthetic requirements but also being an exquisite object in its own right.
The craftsmanship is clearly of an exceptional standard, indeed I would have liked to have seen this piece entered in the advanced section. My only concern is that it may distract people from what they are watching on TV.
Runner Up
Seanybaby (Jewellery Box)
Another entry that got full marks for everything and made picking a winner such an incredibly difficult choice. The quality and accuracy of workmanship required to be any good at boxmaking are peculiarly high so this was a very difficult brief.
The materials chosen are both exquisite and technically challenging, yet in the finished piece their ornate figure has been shown off to its best and quietly complimented but not outshone by the shape or the detailing. The making itself is superb and would, I believe, satisfy exhibition level inspection.
Craftsmanship is not a strong enough word to describe what you need to make pieces of this calibre, it broaches the point where a learned science must be complimented by a level of innate artistry.
Enjoy - Rob
