New member - oak cabinet advice

[scrob]

Guy I'm from Derry but living in Belfast. What about yourself?

Hi Rob, greetings...
Yes you can do everything you ask...so that's sorted.
The problem you have is that you don't want to be disappointed as you crash on with the box.
If you don't take some time to read up about how solid timbers react to moisture, humidity, warping etc..a whole host of problems would arise.
That is why, we old farts, have oversize pre planed timber stuck under the bed and occupying every nook and cranny, inside our homes, stabilizing, before final machining and working to drawing size.
You are taking a massive jump from MDF dices.
Take some time to practice. Sign up to a nightschool woodworking class.Readup about the subject. Start with making the full range of wood joints by hand, getting used to tools of the trade.
It's abig learning curve, but believe me, you will reap the benefits.
Mike
oh and bye the way the box isn't big enough...they never are!

Thanks for the advice, that makes sense to me. I have my scraps collected and will order a dozuki and possible one of the guide markers to help draw the dovetails. Been watching the vids on youtube, I feel it should be within my reach with practice. I'll post the results in due course!

 

[guypie333]

hi scrob i'm in cookstown.i bought a trend fast track from a tool shop in derry, dock rd i seem to remember?.i'm from essex originally my wifes from here.so far i am finding it difficult to find fine furnishing courses in any shape or form in NI.i think theres one in belfast but that is full time.most night school courses it seems are for diy,but that might be just a tyrone thing.i havn't found it but is there a NI dedicated forum or group on here.many woodworking magazines have frequent articles on dovetailing good to have for reference alongside youtube visuals.good luck with your box i like your ambition your also getting good adice.if you can't be good be sensational cheers guy

 

[jasonB]

You could do the carcase in several timbers, beech, cherry, maple, sapele, sycamore etc. For the size of chest I would say 18mm is a bit on the thick side, 12-15mm would be more than adequate

the same timber could be used for the draw fronts but for ease of cuting dovtails think of doing the back and sides of teh draws with cedar. There are at least two companies in my area that do ready prepared cedar for box & draw making and they would post to you if nowher local has it. You could even consider loose fronts which would mean its all through DTs and you can juggle the fronts a bit if needed

Soulth london hardwoods and Timberline do the cedar, the later is sawn though

Jason

 

[devonwoody]

I think we all ought to recall that woodworkers learn their trade or hobby by experience and that is what this new member is proposing.

(o best of luck, my first project around 10 years of age was a complete failure a sledge built for a very snowy winter many moons ago, they chucked me off the slope because it worked more like a bulldozer and it cleared the snow away instead of riding over the top. )