Help Please

[sawdust maker]

My next project is to make a breakfront bookcase. A bit like this one.

On mine the all the drawers will be full length, with the top two being a secretaire, where the front drops down to form a desk. In here I will store my computer. The four corners on the lower and top sections will have readded quarter columns made from Satinwood. The doors on the lower section and either side will not be paneled but veneered with mahogany curl and cross banded with Satinwood. I would like to make the top doors with curved astral glazing bars. I have made one previously about 20 years ago with the help of my brother, this one.

But this one I hope will be better!
The help I need is. What should I make it from? Should I use all solid wood or veneered ply. If I go for solid, what wood. I am not going to get Mahogany so what would be a good stable substitute? I have thought of Sapele or utile, should I consider another wood.
If I go for veneered, should I buy veneered ply or veneer it myself. I have a load of sapele veneer. But this is quarter cut and so is striped and I am not sure if it will look right. Finally, anyone know an easy way or any other way to make curved astral glazing bars.

Thanks Paul

 

[timbar]

Trouble is that in this case the fine design style pretty much dictates the timber-hard to imagine it in a coarser european hardwood for example. Although maybe so long as you avoid anything cut with a strong flame in the grain. Japanese oak is finer than English and could look ok although I would not go for any very fine glazing bars/mouldings. With the glazing bars you could try working off the edge of a solid piece cut to shape on the edge, first work a rebate off the edge then, to save separating yet, run a groove from the same edge thus forming the other side of the eventual rebate. finally cut parrallel to the edge to separate the bar. The shape on top is then hand shaped if it is kept simple.

 

[DomValente]

Khaya board and Meranti or Sapele for the frame,cornice , mouldings etc. that's probably the closest you'll get to Mahogany.
Unless you want to spend a lot.

Dom

 

[ByronBlack]

My first impressions, is that is a forest of wood and would cost a fair penny! Personaly I would go for a qood quality sapele frame and a veneered mdf sheet for the panel, but then i'm a tight fisted amateur