Elm Cabinet II - Back Panel

[woodbloke]

I managed to fit the back panel as shown in the pic:

into the rebate in the main carcase. The panel surface is flush with the frame (more by accident than design) so I've been able to sand both together before fitting... the panel in the pic has been roughly sanded with no finish yet applied. The panel itself is 8mm thick and has been bookmatched to form the quite pleasant pattern. I've had some problems :x with this one as a quick perusal of the Blokeblog will indicate, but I think it's all going to turn out good in the end Finish will be a couple of coats of matt Osmo-PolyX with some wax over the top, with more sanding yet to do tomorrow...will post some more pics when finally polished and installed - Rob

 

[Paul Chapman]

Excellent, Rob - looks as though you got that gap between the panel and frame spot on 8)

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Anonymous]

That is absolutely gorgeous Rob. That book matched panel is one of the nicest pieces of wood I've seen in a long time.

I had some spalted oak that looked similar and I just had to save it for just the 'right' project.

 

[woodbloke]

That is absolutely gorgeous Rob. That book matched panel is one of the nicest pieces of wood I've seen in a long time.

I had some spalted oak that looked similar and I just had to save it for just the 'right' project.

Tony - thanks for that comment...I agree totally about saving a particularly good piece of timber for 'just the right project' :wink:...sometimes I can keep a lump for years and then suddenly the right job comes along and I know instinctively what timber to use...trouble is the little grey cells have forgotten where it was stashed so then everything has to be turned upside down until it's found - Rob

 

[Harbo]

That's great Rob - cannot wait to see the front panel - how can you beat that?

Rod

 

[Waka]

Rob

Stunning cabinet.

 

[Imperial]

See you've made more than one project in Elm! I've been trying for the last few weeks, and am finding it very difficult to deal with the cupping and winding while taking it down to size. I originally thought this was down to the heavy figuring etc, but the quarter sawn I have seems no better. I've shown a picture of the bookmatched top being glued to give an idea of the timber, perhaps you saw it in Dom's on your visit last month? So how have you found working with it?

 

[Chris Knight]

Rob,
That panel looks lovely - have you an equally eye catching piece for the front?

 

[TheDudester]

I am not aware of the background but looking froward to seeing the cabinet finished.

Regards

D

 

[woodbloke]

Thanks for the good words. One or two folk have asked about the front panel. This cabinet will be a display piece for SWIMBO's fossils so will have a glass panel within a framed door and will have a number of polished glass shelves inside.
I like working with elm but it is problem in that it will warp and twist at the drop of a hat. The way I've got round it is to cut roughly to size and leave it somewhere warmish for a couple of months, then machine it all round to withing say, 4-6mm...and then leave it for a bit longer. After this second conditioning I'm able to bring it down to size on the P/T and hopefully [-o< it'll stay as I want it. I generally buy air dried timber if I can get it (much better to work with) but it's usually got a higher MC so needs a bit more careful handling. The stuff I buy is also full of knots and splits so it's quite an interesting and rewarding exercise to play around with the lumps of timber to try and get the best possible grain configuration - Rob

 

[OPJ]

Reading your last comments there Rob, you've put me off from ever contemplating working with elm in the future... Then again, looking at what you've achieved with this beautiful book-matched panel, perhaps I should write it off just yet! :wink:

I agree with your comments on air-dried timber. Nice to see you're using some of the Osmo Polyx oil I've heard you rave about before. Must also give that a try very soon.

 

[woodbloke]

OPJ -

Nice to see you're using some of the Osmo Polyx oil I've heard you rave about before. Must also give that a try very soon.

Olly - Osmo is fantastic stuff...I think Tony the Mod has just used some and rates it, give it a go - Rob

 

[Gary M]

I'm going to stick my neck out here and be a bit controversial ,
Rob, in no way do i wish to detract from your workmanship, i want to make that clear,

I really fail to see how this panel can be described as some of the posters have described it.

That book matched panel is one of the nicest pieces of wood I've seen in a long time.

Then again, looking at what you've achieved with this beautiful book-matched panel,

As far as elm goes id say it was pretty ordinary and quite bland, yes its bookmatched, but thats all.
Have a look at Bloonose's bookmatch (if you can get it to load) for something a bit more striking.
Elm can have a very unusual and stunning grain pattern that is worthy of high praise but i'm sure you'd agree Rob, that it is just a "quite pleasant pattern"

Regarding the fitting of the panel,
Would you not have been better to fit the panel the other way around, ie with the rebate to the back (assuming with the glass front ,that it will be up against or on a wall) so that the panel looks better without a gap around it ?
Cheers,
Gary.

 

[mr]

Regarding the fitting of the panel,
Would you not have been better to fit the panel the other way around, ie with the rebate to the back (assuming with the glass front ,that it will be up against or on a wall) so that the panel looks better without a gap around it ?
Cheers,
Gary.

I like the gap - it's a feature a la JK.


Cheers Mike

 

[woodbloke]

GaryM wrote:

As far as elm goes id say it was pretty ordinary and quite bland, yes its bookmatched, but thats all.
Have a look at Bloonose's bookmatch (if you can get it to load) for something a bit more striking.
Elm can have a very unusual and stunning grain pattern that is worthy of high praise but i'm sure you'd agree Rob, that it is just a "quite pleasant pattern"

Regarding the fitting of the panel,
Would you not have been better to fit the panel the other way around, ie with the rebate to the back (assuming with the glass front ,that it will be up against or on a wall) so that the panel looks better without a gap around it ?

I'd agree that the panel is not spectacular but is pleasant, it's the best I could do with the limited quantity of timber that I had to play with. I like doing panels this way and as Mike R has said, it's the way that JK does 'em and what's good enough for JK... :wink: - Rob

 

[DavidE]

Hi Rob,

Looking very nice I think it will be awesome with the finish on - I have a question...

Is there a risk over time that the panel if it moves seasonally may migrate over to one side/corner with the wood movement? (Thus breaking the symmetrical gap) All the panels I have made have been raised and I've looked at them and though if they move to one side it is not likely to be noticed as there is a larger gap/profile.
Cheers
David

 

[woodbloke]

David - in answer to your question, the little trick that I and others use is to put a tiny dab of glue on the tongue in the centre of the short side at each end so it is in effect, spot fixed in the centre. Any movement then takes place either side of the the glue spot so the gap ought to remain the same...in theory :roll: :wink: - Rob

 

[DavidE]

David - in answer to your question, the little trick that I and others use is to put a tiny dab of glue on the tongue in the centre of the short side at each end so it is in effect, spot fixed in the centre. Any movement then takes place either side of the the glue spot so the gap ought to remain the same...in theory :roll: :wink: - Rob

Okay cool thanks for the answer - simple yet cunning.

Cheers
David