Sycamore tv cabinet

[Mattty]

I thought the style looked similar Matty, was there another piece in oak or walnut a while back - the one where you made about 15 different handles before deciding on the one

What timber does that chap in Cumbria tend to have in? Looks like it varies but if he gets a lot of Qsawn UK oak for example it could be worth a trip

Yeah there was. I spend way too long messing about with handles

Timber he has all sorts- he deffo specialises in Oak, but when i was there last he had Sycamore, Elm, Burr and pippy Oak, yew, Ash and a few others. He is very reasonably priced. The cost difference in the sycamore i got from him compared to J Boddys was massive. He's also a top fella!

 

[Mr Ed]

Very Nice Matty

Cheers, Ed

 

[JonnyD]

Top work Mattty.

cheers

jon

 

[devonwoody]

Looks a real quality piece of furniture.


Matty, you know I have an issue with some sycamore at the moment.

How long did you store and stack the timber before you did any work with it? Or did you pick up the timber and do the work straight off the delivery?

 

[Philly]

Lovely, Matty! Chunky top really sets it off.
Philly

 

[woodbloke]

Matt...nice chunkable piece. The two boards for the top look fine in my view...it would have been better for them to have been bookmatched but then that would have had to have been a hell of a lump of wood :shock:

Were I to have done that top I think I would have used the best one of those boards to cut (assuming I had a big enough bs) some matching veneers which would have gone down onto a substrate where the lipping was mitred at each corner. The thickness would have remained the same but the best timber would now be seen all across the top.

I quite like the detailing in the ABW as well...just enough to set the sycamore off but not 'in yer face' which is too easy to do.
The only other thing that slightly 'jars' is that knot in the middle door stile - Rob...being diplomatic, helpful and trying not to rant :lol:

 

[wizer]

and trying not to rant :lol:

Maybe it's the impending retirement Rob

Thos saying that, I don't know what my excuse is :lol:

 

[OPJ]

Actually, I quite like Rob's idea of veneering the top - assuming one had access to a large enough bandsaw and could afford all the extra time required for veneering (not easy when you're trying to make money from it and keep the piece within the client's budget!).

 

[woodbloke]

Actually, I quite like Rob's idea of veneering the top - assuming one had access to a large enough bandsaw and could afford all the extra time required for veneering (not easy when you're trying to make money from it and keep the piece within the client's budget!).

Olly, agreed. The extra time and work involved may well have put that idea beyond the client's budget. Different though, if you or I were making it for home consumption...that issue wouldn't then apply - Rob

 

[Mattty]

Looks a real quality piece of furniture.


Matty, you know I have an issue with some sycamore at the moment.

How long did you store and stack the timber before you did any work with it? Or did you pick up the timber and do the work straight off the delivery?

Hi DW.

The timber i got was at 10%mc so i worked it straight away. I did the timber prep and left it for nearly a week before i went on to make the piece though. I also never had to resaw anything, all the pieces were cut from the nearest thickness size so there was no great amount of movement.

Cheers,
Mattty

 

[Mattty]

Matt...nice chunkable piece. The two boards for the top look fine in my view...it would have been better for them to have been bookmatched but then that would have had to have been a hell of a lump of wood :shock:

Were I to have done that top I think I would have used the best one of those boards to cut (assuming I had a big enough bs) some matching veneers which would have gone down onto a substrate where the lipping was mitred at each corner. The thickness would have remained the same but the best timber would now be seen all across the top.

I quite like the detailing in the ABW as well...just enough to set the sycamore off but not 'in yer face' which is too easy to do.
The only other thing that slightly 'jars' is that knot in the middle door stile - Rob...being diplomatic, helpful and trying not to rant :lol:

Thanks Rob.
Veneering was certainly an option however i have a slightly different viewpoint with most of what i do and also with what i 'sell'.

This paticular client really buys into the- use local materials & local craftsman philosophy and also has an aesthetic that wants a 'truthful' product. They certainly would rather have a knot or two in a piece and show some of the materials natural defects than go for the flawless veneer look which can and often does look sterile.
I love veneering and have done a lot in the past but that just wasn't the look i was trying to achieve here, i do however appreciate greatly high quality veneering.
The middle door has a knot in each stile while the two outside doors are clear. The two front legs likewise 'match' The two outside door panels are matched- again the centre panel is slightly different. So whilst there are defects in the material i have tried to use it and not hide it. It is a very fine line though. The top and bottom door rails run through as a continuous piece carrying the grain through- something which doesnt come through on the photo.

These things are all so subjective, it's great to hear the thoughts of others though and whilst i disagree with some of the views offered i greatly appreciate hearing them.

Thanks chaps.

 

[Ironballs]

Sounds like you've got a good client there Matty and one who recognises that wood is a natural substance and comes in all shapes and forms, not just something that comes out of a catalogue in a uniform style

 

[tulsk]

Heyup Mattty, that's one beautiful piece of furniture from where I'm standing. I share your client's philosophy on locally sourced materials and working with defects rather than wastefully trying to irradicate every last knot or even bark inclusion. When I make stuff for people I find the local provenance to be a major attraction and point of interest to them. In my view that cabinet shows off the beauty of "native" timbers to maximum effect. That said , I did think it was an unfenestrated rabbit hutch when I first looked- must be the straw
Well done mate and thanks for sharing John

 

[motownmartin]

This is nice, some of the rippled grain looks amazing, I guess you have to know what to look for when selecting the boards, its not so easy until its cleaned up.

 

[woodbloke]

Matty - my observations come from working in the trade for a few years where clients wanted perfection (or as close as possible)
I once veneered an 8m breakfast bar for a very well known celeb pop group pair (Pet Shop Boys) and got hauled over the coals 'cos I'd included a very small knot in the otherwise flawless maple veneer
"It's part of the wood" says I..."I don't give a rats ar$e, it shouldn't be there" said my boss. Sometimes you can't win - Rob

 

[Dibs-h]

Very very nice piece! =D> =D>

And I do agree with the POV that it's natural and defects do exist and should be allowed to exist. If someone wants a perfect finish - get them a plastic one. :lol: