Cabinetman
Established Member
About 10 years ago I built an Oak coffee table with small Brown Oak panels (3.5” x 5”) loosely trapped within a framework forming the top of the table, with no allowance was made for expansion. It was successful, probably because the outer frame was a stout 1.5” x 2” Oak M and T frame.
So being cocky at my success in rewriting the rules of woodwork I thought I would make a similar much larger piece, a sideboard. I had visions of breaking into the well heeled London market, and this thing was going to be a bit bling with reversible silver or gold surrounds to the door and drawer panels, sounds bloody awful now!
The insides of the cabinet were solid Oak, the back was made up of 5” planks with a reeded edge and the base and divisions were solid Oak lipped with Brown Oak set in frames again, these looked superb to my eye, but again defying the rules!
All was going well but it had to be put to one side for other work, on returning to it the error of my ways started to become apparent, there was some movement. More than a little disheartened it got put to one side again.
Then later there was a fire next door with a lot of water in the workshop, my roof was damaged in the fire which got worse whilst I was away for 3 months and the workshop was decidedly damp upon my return. Now I look at the sideboard and joints have opened here and there and it’s in a sorry state.
I am selling my workshop and this has to go so it’s free to anyone willing to take it away. (Nth Lincolnshire DN 31) either as a project or you can cut it up for the nice Oak.
Lesson learned, yes you can forcibly stop movement in wood but only up to a point and within reasonable moisture levels.
But who knows, it’s possible if the piece had been moved to a dry house it would have been absolutely fine the way it was built. Ian
Ps I may have some other bits and bobs of timber as well for whoever takes this.
So being cocky at my success in rewriting the rules of woodwork I thought I would make a similar much larger piece, a sideboard. I had visions of breaking into the well heeled London market, and this thing was going to be a bit bling with reversible silver or gold surrounds to the door and drawer panels, sounds bloody awful now!
The insides of the cabinet were solid Oak, the back was made up of 5” planks with a reeded edge and the base and divisions were solid Oak lipped with Brown Oak set in frames again, these looked superb to my eye, but again defying the rules!
All was going well but it had to be put to one side for other work, on returning to it the error of my ways started to become apparent, there was some movement. More than a little disheartened it got put to one side again.
Then later there was a fire next door with a lot of water in the workshop, my roof was damaged in the fire which got worse whilst I was away for 3 months and the workshop was decidedly damp upon my return. Now I look at the sideboard and joints have opened here and there and it’s in a sorry state.
I am selling my workshop and this has to go so it’s free to anyone willing to take it away. (Nth Lincolnshire DN 31) either as a project or you can cut it up for the nice Oak.
Lesson learned, yes you can forcibly stop movement in wood but only up to a point and within reasonable moisture levels.
But who knows, it’s possible if the piece had been moved to a dry house it would have been absolutely fine the way it was built. Ian
Ps I may have some other bits and bobs of timber as well for whoever takes this.
