A little practice for a lot of drawers...

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek!

My next project is a going to take me a little time.
I have built the bases for a section of my shop that
will have a ton of drawers. Around 28 in the bases
and the uppers will have 6.

Being that this part of my shop will be my Neander Haven
all the drawers will be hand cut 1/2 blinds.

With the bases ready for the drawers I have got the parts ready for 15 of the drawers.


105590 105587


And now a little practice on some scraps.
I don't cut dovetails every day so for me it's best to work out the bugs before I screw up a drawer.

My first one was a little tight and it cracked.....


105588


The second was not bad but in making the pins as small as I could there was one little gap...


105589

Now that the practicing is out of the way there will be a lot of nights in the shop to get all of them done....


.

[Dewey Torres]

Gary,
You should talk to Mike Holden. He just finished 580 of them!

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=98241&highlight=dovetails

[John Keeton]

Well, the dovetails are certainly nice, but I am impressed with the cabinet cases! That is going to be a nice setup! Of course, for someone who is just starting to learn handcut dovetails, this is going to be interesting to see. I admire your fortitude. People like you and Mike Holden are inspirations to the rest of us "wantabes."

[Walt Caza]

Hey G,
I guess I will need some layout tools?
w

[gary Zimmel]

You will Walt.

Dividers, Tite mark marking gauges

[Walt Caza]

G,
Is there a certain name of dividers you know to be high quality?
w

[gary Zimmel]

Walt

I got my dividers from the borg. They have served me well....

[Walt Caza]

G,
Where did you find those sharp Tite-mark guages?
w

[gary Zimmel]

I ordered them from Rob C

Better having two if you are doing multiple dovetails.

[Walt Caza]

G,
Is a sliding bevel any good, or is the little wooden dovetail marker better?
w

[gary Zimmel]

I use the little wooden guys..

Don't have to set them.

[Walt Caza]

G,
What do you use that slick skew block plane for?
w

[gary Zimmel]

Making a ledge on the back of the tail board for easier pin layout

[Walt Caza]

G,
Good show!
There are sooo many dovetail handsaws out there...

Which do you like?
w

[gary Zimmel]

A LN rip dove tail saw

[Walt Caza]

G,
What is with using a fishtail chisel?

Did you grind your own, or buy one?
w

[Steve Pirrelli]

You'll be able to do them with your eyes closed when you finish this project.:)

[Alan DuBoff]

Nice project!

Will be watching for updates! :)

[Kevin Adams]

Gary, great dovetails, but I was also struck by what looks to be a real nice workbench...homemade or bought?

Thanks.
Kevin

[gary Zimmel]

Thanks Kevin

I had my bench built by LN.

Being a left hander the vices are switched from end to end.

[Jim Barrett]

Gary,
Your dt's look great....nice job....I was going to ask you about your bench...looks like your front vise is of the Frank Klausz or Rob Cosman era?? Very nice!
Have you taken any classes with Rob?

Jim

[gary Zimmel]

Jim

I have taken some of Robs classes. First one two summers ago.

Before I got there I had never even attempted a hand cut.

5 days and 70 hours of shop time later we all went home being able
to do hand cuts.

When I had LN make my bench I had them custom build one like Robs.
Works like a dream for hand cutting dovetails.

[willie sobat]

Gary,

I'm impressed with the fact that you think you need to practice your DTs. From what I could see they looked perfect. I threw out my DT jig 6 years ago. I cut all my DTs by hand. None of my completed furniture projects has DTs that look as tight as your practice ones. I thought I had it down. Now I have a crisis of confidence. Seriously, good luck with all those drawers.

[gary Zimmel]

Thanks Willie

Any time I used to any dovetails I would do a few things.

Make sure my skew block plane was set properly, make a bunch of test cuts with the saw, cut a few pins out with my fret saw.
Now instead, I do couple of practice rounds and gets me tuned up again.
I guess if we did it every day it may be different, but as a weekend warrior
I may not do one for a bunch of months.

[Mark Singer]

Gary nice dovetails....You have got it down. Very nice bench it looks like a Tage Frid

[Kevin Adams]

Thanks for the info on the bench, Gary. Do you perhaps have any other photos or maybe posted in another thread already? It looks like the traditional European style with tool tray? Do you recall dimensions? About how long did it take them to build? It looks like they have their old backlog worked down and are accepting orders again. Big question: would you do anything different or is it just the way you wanted after using it for a while now? I do wonder about 3" thick legs...seem they should be a little larger maybe? What made you decide to buy vs. build? (Sorry for all the questions!)

Thanks again.

Kevin

[gary Zimmel]

Kevin

My bench is 8' long and 37" high.

For me this is the most comfortable height to work at.
It took a long time to get the bench as the first one didn't have the vice it was ordered with.
The snags were taken care of and am very happy with the bench.
There is only so much time I can spend in my shop and decided to order rather than build. Maybe someday I will build another one....


There was a thread about the bench I think it was LN bench #2 I will try and do a link

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=78824

[Kevin Adams]

Thanks, Gary, I recall your original thread now. After several months of use, do you still feel you wouldn't have ordered from them or do you feel better about it now? I suspect you got caught up in their huge rush of orders and perhaps it wasn't up to L-N standards (not making excuses for them, just thinking out loud).

Kevin

[David Keller NC]

Gary - Comment about preventing the sides from cracking when assembling dovetails - you can very quickly determine whether you've got an issue when you first put them together by running a graphite pencil over the inside of the tails, then attempting to put the tails just a little ways into the joint. The graphite will rub off on the pins where the joint's too tight, which makes paring to get a looser fit very easy.

One other thought is that you may have a rough time if your drawer sides and drawer fronts are equally hard woods (like walnut and maple, for example). One the ways that Rob Cosman and others get air-tight dovetails on the first try is that they use a soft wood for the sides like eastern white pine, poplar, aspen, basswood, etc... Without the soft wood's compression, even their precise dovetails would split fairly frequently.

[Roy Wall]

Gary -

That is a terrific project and those dt's look perfect!! Keep us posted and clue us in on any 'tricks of the trade' that you have learned.

Very nice!

[gary Zimmel]

Roy

I was in the shop again tonight and snapped a few pics
on some of the steps I use.

With the tails cut out I cut a small ledge with a skew block
plane to help in pin marking.


106244


The tail board will stay put when I mark them out.


106246


I make sure I mark my chisel with a felt pen to ensure
That when chopping I don't go to deep.
When I start the chopping it take 3 or 4 times before
I am to the right depth. If one goes to deep to quick
there is a good chance it will blow out below my line.


106245


When I am doing the clean up I have a backer board
to again make sure I don't again blow out any thing.
There is only 1/8" face on these so they are not very strong.


106247




And here is the fruits of a couple nights in the shop.


106248


Turned out pretty good. But there sure is a lot more to do...
Tails are cut for the next 2 drawers and the pins done for one.
With any luck might have the next two done in my next session.


.

[Kevin Adams]

Looking good, Gary!

BTW, this appears to be almost an "all L-N" session...saw, chisels, plane, and workbench. And maybe the titemark gauge for good measure?

Keep up the great work and please let us see the finished product.

Kevin

[John Keeton]

Great pics Gary - and much appreciated. I am watching this thread closely, having just finished watching Cosman's set of DVDs, and ordering the rest of the "stuff" I need to embark on this handcut thing.

Over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on the first click I made in this "Haven". I have determined that you guys are somewhat (but in a much nicer way!) akin to crack dealers. You suck in us "pitiful powered putterers" with your pretty tools, and sly ways - and, before we know it - we are hooked. Sly indeed!

Please post more pics as you progress - I need daily fixes until the rest of my "stuff" arrives.

[Mark Singer]

Gary,
That is very similar to my technique. Your results are really tight and precise! Great work!

[JohnMorgan of Lititz]

Gary,

Very nice. That gives me hope. I was just going to start a thread and ask how well other people are doing handcut dt's. I can attest to practicing as Rob states and shows in his DVD's. i can already cut MUCH more accurately with some simple exercises with the DT saw. I like your all LN setup. :) That's the route i'm going as well. Slowly but surely - their stuff is spendy, but its quality.

I have been watching Rob C's DVD's and really like his method. I was all about Frank K, but after seeing Rob's method, I like it better. Just a bit more accurate and easier for a beginner IMO.

As for your bench, very nice! I have been on the LN waiting list for over a year now. The price was 1899 when i got on the list and its now 2500. I gave up since I can't justify it for myself - went w/ a Sjoberg elite 2000 instead. But man, i am envious of that bench to an extent - i just love a european bench layout.

I just got my bench last week and am looking forward to working on some dovetails now that i can properly hold the boards.

Good luck on the drawers!

[gary Zimmel]

Good day to the Creek!

I got good shop time this weekend and smashed together a few more drawers.

As I was doing the last ones I took a couple of extra pics.

For anyone that has trouble with the glue up I use this.
A little spatula that makes spreading glue evenly a breeze.


106601


Before the tail and pin board are put together I use a chisel
and ease the back corners to relieve a little of the stress
as the two pieces are going together.


106602


A lot of the times I will clamp the pin board lightly.
Just in case the joint wants to crack.
I have a tendency to have the joint too tight rather than too loose.
Clamp will come off in a couple of hours.


106608


And my pile gets higher....
6 done but a lot more to go.


106609


This evening I will try and get the tails cut for the next 4 drawers.

Thanks for taking a look..

.

[willie sobat]

Looking good. Keep it up, one step at a time gets the job done. Is your back doing alright. I tend to stoop when cutting/chopping my DTs which makes for a stiff back the next day.

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day To The Creek

A little more progress on my drawers this week.
10 done. Double digits!

Again there are a couple of extra pics as tips.

I use two dividers with my lay out. They were set on the first
drawer and give me consistent pins, tails and shoulders.

107236

As I don't know if my bench is perfectly level I make sure my
tail and pin boards are plum with a level.

107237

The results I have been very happy with.

107238

And a quick shot of how the project is coming along.
I hope this week I can get the last 5 3 1/2" drawers done.
Then I will take a break and start my uppers.

107239

Hope everyone gets a little shop time this weekend.


.

[Rick Erickson]

Gary,
I hope I don't turn us off topic of this thread because I love what you are doing, but I have a question... You mentioned taking Rob Cosman's 1-week 'Training the Hand' workshop. Question - would you consider it worth the money and time. I have been wanting to take that class but it would be a lotta coin for me. I would be traveling from Atlanta so I'm guessing around 3K in expenses (including the class). I have all the tools so no added cost there. Any comment would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and the drawers look superb - I guess that in itself may answer my question.

[Jason Tuinstra]

Gary, I'm just finishing lunch and heading out to finish up some dovetails of my own. You've done a great job! I like your trick about clamping the drawers so that they don't split. Everything is coming along nicely. Thanks for the progress pics.

[gary Zimmel]

Well the tails are done for the next 5 small drawers.

107527

Nice and tidy. Except for one little problem.
Two of the tail boards were machined backwards.
The grain running the wrong way and may be a bit
of a pain with tear out with this birch. I will have to be
careful on the cleanup on these two.

One more little thing that I do.
During the glue up I rub the excess glue around.
This will fill any small imperfections.
Won't hide big mistakes, but turns a great joint into
something even better.

107528

My goal is to get these 5 done this week.
And then do a little work on the uppers.


.

[John Keeton]

Gary, these are coming along great! Another late nite in the shop. Your post shows 12:46 am, and I believe there is a 2 hour zone difference. You are really making some good progress. I meant to ask you, are you gang cutting the tails? Others have talked about that, but it looks like it would compound any error - maybe not?

I am still in "practice" mode, but getting more consistency in my saw cuts. Really enjoying watching this project come together!! Thanks, again.

[Martin Shupe]

OK, dumb question...

What difference does it make if your tail and pin boards are perfectly level?

My dovetails are not nearly as good as yours, but I angle the tail boards so that I saw straight up and down, or close to it.

Just curious, your technique obviously works for you...

[Michael L. Martin]

I noticed you "altered" one of your LN's into a fishtail. Does that one aid in the cleanup of the tail sockets?

[gary Zimmel]

Michael.

I have 3 chisels that were ground into fish tails.
They do get nicely into the corners when doing 1/2 blinds.
I also have some skew chisels but really don't use them.
For me it's too much switching back and forth to get into each corner.

Martin.

I know my dovetail saw will cut straight. All I have to do is aim it. When I am cutting the pins for a half blind I concentrate on the angle on the top. Through muscle memory it seems to fall straight down. With the tails, if the board is level the angles are the same. So for me to repeat it each way seems to work. Again all I worry about is to line up top line and just aim the saw on the angle.
As you said one goes with whatever works for them.

John.

I have heard about the gang cutting but have not tried it.
The sawing for me goes quite quickly. So I guess if its not broke why try and fix it..


Got some shop time again tonight and have another 2 drawers put together.
As I was going out I saw Jasons curly cherry table in the project forum.
Holy crap are those pretty dovetails. Real pretty dovetails....


.

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek..

I am making more progress on my drawers.
5 done in 5 days. Not bad for me.

The first 15 are now done and I am starting to get an idea
what everything is going to look like.

107757

I had to swipe a little BLO on the sides to get a peek at what
they will look like in the end. And I am glad I did.
One of the sides will need another swipe with my 4 1/2.
There was a little glue residue left behind.

107758

A few bottoms and these all will all be done.
I am still debating whether to do some work on the uppers
or keep going with the drawers.
Been really quiet in the shop and I am quite enjoying it.

107759




.

[John Keeton]

Gary, the project is showing great progress! I forgot to ask, and looked thru the pics and earlier posts to see if I had missed this - what are you doing on the back of the drawers for a joint? In one pic it looks like the back is dadoed in or at least a divider dado. Are you DT the backs, as well?

BTW, my saw practice is coming along, and I am getting more consistent. But, still not to the point of satisfaction.

Still enjoying your pics!

[Mark Singer]

Gary,
The 3 minute dovetail does not apply... its not a race .:rolleyes: You are doing beautiful work and it is just great practice. In the end you appreciate the final result and not if it took an extra hour or day. I bet you feel that the saw and chisel are an extension of your hand, you get this fine control where you don't have to think about it it just happens. Very , very high level of work considering the amount of drawers!

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek.

I have taken a little break from doing any more drawers.
This last week I have started to get some of the first drawers completed.

108684


The cabinet for my sharpening station was rebuilt.
My first one had a little oops in in and is unusable.
Made this one a couple of inches wider and like the first is a little lower.

108685


My uppers have been started.
More holes for more drawers. With these 3 I will add 9 more drawers.
Each upper will have 3 drawers at the bottom.
This thing is really starting to look like something...

108688



This afternoon will be spent machining the parts for the next 11 drawers.
And then it will get very quiet in the shop again.

Hope everyone had a little shop time this weekend.


.

[John Keeton]

Gary, you may be developing an obsession for drawers!! Things are getting pretty bad when you start building more carcasses just so you can make more drawers to fill them.

It is looking good though. As to the comment about shop time, we just got our power back on after 5 days without because of ice storms. No shop, no TV, no nuthin':(

I am glad to be back on the creek, and glad to see your progress. I was afraid you would finish this project before I could get online again.

[gary Zimmel]

Hope everyone has got a little shop time this weekend.

My face frames on on the last two carcasses and a few more drawers made.

With the two for the sharpening station out of the way it's time for the 2 1/2 " drawers to get started.

There will be a total of 14 or 15 of these. Depends how I build the corner cabinet.


Here is a shot of the first small drawer before it is glued up.
This is what I am looking for. Pretty sure this one is again going to be a good fit.

109432


Not a bad last couple of days. 5 more in the bag to bring the total to 20.
Still lots to go, but we are moving forward.

109433

I will get the next 6 out of the way and then make the corner upper cabinet.





.

[Rick Erickson]

After seeing the awesomeness (is that a word) that you are cranking out it encourages me. I'm signed up for Rob's class this July. If I can come out of the class producing even close to what you have here it will be worth it. Keep the pics coming. Thanks for the continual update.

[Mark Singer]

Gary , are thse 1/6 , 1/7 ,or 1/8?
Looking good

[John Keeton]

Gary, you definately get the persistent progress award!! Not only are you doing a great job, but the visual tutorial has been very informative for the rest of us. Thanks.

[gary Zimmel]

Mark

Thanks for the words of encouragement.
They are 1/6. Seem this is all I do.

Rick

You will love that week course. Let me know when it is.
I am about 3.5 hours from Calgary and will make a trip down
for one of the days. Most likely on the Wed. as thats when
you will do your first complete dovetail joint...

[gary Zimmel]

Not a lot of drawers the past few days...

Have spent a little time putting some BLO on the drawers
that have been done and the two last carcasses.
The sides are a little darker than I would of wanted.
But the way I am finishing them it is to be expected.

109806


The smaller drawers are going to work really well for my
smaller items like lay out tools.

109807

Time to sharpen the chisels again and get back to the next 6...


.

[John Keeton]

Gary, you are getting a really great fit on those drawers! I continue to be impressed with your project. Of course, I suspect it will grow again in some way before you are finished;)

Looks like you intend to cover the "countertop" area - what is the plan?

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek.

Was making good progress again this weekend. Until..
Went to my router station to put the grooves in for the bottoms
and wouldn't you know it. A little oops that will turn this one into scrap.
Was not watching and put this one in wrong side down.

110347


These drawers really turned out well. Sharpened the chisels and plane irons again. I try to keep them as sharp as I can, honing quite often.
Way easier to do this than let the edge go to far and spend a ton of time with the glass stones.

110348


John the tops will be cherry ply that will have a 1 1/2 " border.
I have made the top for the tall bank of drawers and the sharpening station.
Am trying to keep my waste down to a minimum.
Sorry about some of the gaps. But the bases have not been leveled.

110352


This weekend brings the total number of drawers to 25 and one screwed up one...

110353


Had to throw in the little stealth gloat....


Hope everyone had a little shop time this weekend.


.

[John Keeton]

This weekend brings the total number of drawers to 25 and one screwed up one....
Actually Gary, I am glad to hear this. Up to this point, I had pretty much decided you were some kind of super human drawer/dovetail machine! Good to know that you are, in fact, one of us.:D

The whole project is really looking great!

[JohnMorgan of Lititz]

Gary, your craftsmanship is incredible. Your quality of work is certainly a pinnacle I hope to reach one of these years!

[gary Zimmel]

Good day to the Creek!

Well we are back in the drawer building buisness...

Got a good start on the next size of drawers.
These are 5 1/2 " high. I have switched over to aspen as my birch supply has ran out. The aspen is a little to soft for my liking and if the chisels are not very sharp the aspen will tear. It does though let you know how good a job you did honing.

Here are the first 4 of the 8 that have to be done.

112319


And a little shot of how these are going to look.

112320


I have remade the small drawer I screwed up and now
with these we are at 30 and counting.....
A few more and then it will be time to figure out the corner cabinet.

Hope everyone has a little shop time this weekend.


.

[Roy Wall]

Gary --

the drawers are looking sensational -- You have to be very pleased with your craftsmanship. The correct repetition is perfecting your skills.

Definately a benchmark for all of us to admire.....great job and certainly an inspiration!!

KEEP IT UP!!! :)

[John Keeton]

Gary, the brief diversion for the mailbox really gave you a second wind! These are looking great. I had been wanting to get hold of some aspen to work with, but you may have tempered that somewhat with your comments. Given what I have seen of it on trips out west, I was concerned it may be too soft, but it certainly has a pleasing appearance.

[Rick Erickson]

Gary - awesome as usual. You've inspired me to start practicing - again.

I'm with John. I was wanting to try Aspen but I might stay away now. I've been practicing on bass wood and is also too soft. Popular seems just about right to me but I don't like the color of it. I'm looking for an almost white appearance (not good enough for soft maple - yet).

[gary Zimmel]

The eight 5 1/2 inch drawers are done...
At least for the hand work.
The hours are racking up on this little project but I sure am liking the way it is turning out.

113098


The holes are slowly getting filled. There sure was a lot of chopping doing these.
I try and make sure the chisels always have a good edge. Makes things go a lot easier and gives me the results I'm looking for.

113099


Next on the agenda will be the corner cabinet. It will house 3 more small drawers. The way I have it figured total should end up at 43... I am still debating on the four 9 1/2' drawers. Can't decide if I should make them like the doors and use a flat panel. It sure would save a lot of chopping.

One last pic.
A quick shot of all my tools I use to make dovetails.

113100


Hope everyone had a little shop time this weekend.


.

[Bruce Page]

Gary, your drawers look fantastic. I’m just starting down the dovetail road, I’ll be happy if mine end up looking half as good as yours!

[John Keeton]

Gary, from a quick count, you are on the downhill side of this thing now! More holes filled than left to fill. Looking great!

The picture of the tools is neat, and Bruce should have seen that before he did his ordering last nite! Would have taken next month's play money:D

[Bruce Page]

The picture of the tools is neat, and Bruce should have seen that before he did his ordering last nite! Would have taken next month's play money:D

John, looking at Gary’s spread, I think I’m pretty much covered. I just amended my BS order to include their mallet, but I only ordered one of the Tite-Marks. If I need a second one I’ll just clone it. :D

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek!

Lots of shop time yesterday and this morning.
After a little break from my project this weekend was spent getting the tops done and building the corner built.
I have been waiting for a supplier to get in shop grade cherry ply to no avail.
Broke down and picked up some cabinet grade ply which cost an arm and a leg...

The corner cabinet is really a cabinet in a cabinet.
I didn't want to have to reach way inside to get items.
This will house 3 more small drawers.

114324


My tops are done and the parts for the last upper and cut and ready to be assembled.
I built a saw till a while ago and it will be moved to beside the corner cabinet.
It is 48" wide so it will extend to the edge of the sharpening station.
114325

Hope every one had some good shop time this weekend.

.

[John Keeton]

Gary, are you getting concerned that Geri will be jealous that your "cabinetry" is better than her kitchen cabinetry?? This area is really turning into a "man cave.":D

Lookin' good!!

Now, time for you to do some more dovetails;)

[gary Zimmel]

I have got a couple of looks from Geri about these cabinets John.
Not bad ones just a shake of the head like I'm crazy...
I have promised her a hutch for the kitchen after this is done.

Funny you are mentioning dovetails. Did a little machining for some more drawers. I let the wood sit for a few days before final dimensioning.
Looks like next weekend we will be back in the drawer business.
The count looks like it may change. The last cabinet was to have 2 drawers.
But it may have 6....
That would bring it to 47.

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek!

My carcasses are all made.
Working with sheet goods is not one of my favorite thing so I an glad to have this over with.

The BLO is on the tops and corner cabinet. The saw till is in place and my saw back in there home.
This finishes off this corner except for a few drawers.
I didn't like the looks of the white paint under the saw till so a scrap piece of ply covers it up. A little trim and it will be good to go.

114831


The saw till was made a while ago and will need new doors as they are not inset.
The till was made with insets that swing out to give me a ton of storage for lots of saws.
Still have a few more spaces available if the stable grows.

114832


My last cabinet to be put together was my bench plane till.
Was able to sneak a few more holes in for even more drawers.
This will bring my total to 48.....
This little project has got a little out of control.
But I am very happy the way it is going to turn out.

114833

Now its back to the drawer building business.
14 more to go. 10 small ones and the 4 largest ones.
Time to put new edges on the chisels and we should be good to go.

Thanks for taking a look and hope everyone gets a little shop time this weekend...



.

[Dewey Torres]

Gary,
Just saw this link on Rob Cossman's website congrats!

[John Keeton]

So, tell the truth, were there only two saws in there when you closed the doors and they multiplied on their own??

Gary, I look forward to seeing this whole corner stocked with your hand tools when you are done - with the saws, and the planes that I know you have, your neander corner will be fully equipped.

Everything is looking great. The doors and the saw till are particularly nice! Plus, the overall design and layout is so very workable. I know it has evolved to some degree, but you obviously put a lot of thought and planning into this project.

Checked Cosman's website - he needs to add a link to this thread, as well.

[Eric DeSilva]

This little project has got a little out of control.

Amen. But "out of control" in a good way. I've seen a fair amount of high end cabinetry, but this is... in a word... spectacular.

I can't imagine the pride you will feel when its all done just... well... standing in your shop and looking around...

[gary Zimmel]

Another 3 done.

Not a huge deal But we are moving forward.
I didn't get much shop time this week as life was getting in the way.
As more and more of the drawers are being made the joints seem to be just slipping together.

115345

This morning was spent getting the tails cut on the next 7.
Nice and tidy and ready for some chopping.

115346



Hope everyone has a little shop time this weekend.


.

[John Keeton]

The dovetail master is at it again!! Looking really great - neat display layout on the tails:D

The end of this project is nearly in sight - won't be long before everything will have a home. I know you have left room for the inevitable multipication that happens in those drawers and tills when the lights go off;)

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek.

All the small drawers are done!
With these 7 the count climbs to 44.
Not very deep but will come in handy to store smaller items.
Lots of smaller items..

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I got the BLO on the plane till and was able to test it out.
It will hold a complete set of LN bench planes.
1 to 8 with an extra 4 1/2 and 5 1/2.

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A lot of the pulls are on now. Went a little over board on what kind I used.
The doors on the saw till will have to be redone as the rest of them will be inset.
Only 4 more drawers to go. They are the big ones that are 9 1/2 inches high.
Lots of chopping again. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm thinking my apprenticeship is all most over.....

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Hope everyone had a little shop time this weekend.


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[David Gendron]

Realy good job, I need a little more practice to get dovetail as sharp as yours!! Nice looking cabinet!
David

[Bruce Page]

Whew! I'm just getting started!

[John Keeton]

Gary, those are some neat pics!! This project is really going to be a showplace. Lie Nielsen needs to take the plane till pic and use it on their website - it is that nice!

So, what goes on after the BLO?? Are you using shellac?

[gary Zimmel]

Nothing on over the BLO yet John.
Want to get every thing done first.

Maybe would be time to think about a HVLP system....

[Roy Wall]

Gary -

This has be a spectacular project. You started this thread at the beginning of the year -you are near the end - so, 4 months later you have:

1) a storage system like no other
2) mastered hand cut dovetails
3) a tremendous sense of accomplishment

and I could name another few dozen positive attributes............

Awesome!

[gary Zimmel]

Was pretty quiet in my shop the past couple of days.

It's been a little cold in Edmonton and area.
Because of this our next door neighbor asked if she could keep one of her pregnant mares in the heated barn, just in case.
As my shop is part of the barn the bosses didn't want me to run any machines to upset the mom to be.

Mother nature did her thing early this morning.
And a little stud colt was born.
This picture is of him when he was only 5 hours old.

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Mom and baby are doing fine and now the machines can run again.
The parts for the last 4 drawers are machined and layed out.
As they are 9 1/2 inches high I had to do glue ups.

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These drawers are 4 times the size of my small ones.
By my guestimate it will be like doing 16 small drawers.....

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The chisels have a new edge on them so tomorrow night the chopping will start.

Hope everyone had a little more shop time than me this weekend.


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[gary Zimmel]

Good Day To the Creek.

Happy day for me!
All the drawers are done. All 48 of them.


This has been a long haul. Lots of patience.
The last 4 were the big drawers.
Stacked on the table saw they are almost 4 feet high.

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As I was cleaning up the last one I did some quick math.
Pretty close to 35 feet of 1/2 blind dovetails.
I'm thinking this part of the project has turned out better than I thought.

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One last shot.
The last one to be done.
I don't think I will be doing something like this again for a long long time.

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The dovetail saw and chisels are put away for a bit....
Now to start on the doors.
Thanks for taking a look.



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[Jason Tuinstra]

Stunning work. It really looks nice. What a sense of accomplishment you must have. Great work.

[Steve Thomas]

wow.
Thats all. well done.

[John Keeton]

Gary, just in honor of the accomplishment, I mentally played "taps" as you put to rest the "last soldier standing" (using your words:D.) Great work! Now, you need that Earlex to get all of this finished.

This whole corner just turned out fantastic. Honestly, and I said this to you before, Lie Nielsen needs a couple of pics of your "plane stable" on their website, and Rob Cosman definitely needs to do the same with the dovetails. He mentioned yesterday he was going to do that - what better confirmation of his teaching than the success of his students. Absolutely some of the finest dovetail work that I have seen.

You will get great utility from this shop addition. Congrats on getting this part behind you.

[Todd Burch]

Very good job Gary. I just read the whole thread. Very nice. Over time, with that BLO on the cherry, that unit will get just nicer and nicer.

And I love it that you didn't resort to extension slides. The best fitting drawers I have have no slides - they just fit "right" and are a pleasure to pull out and push in. (But I cheat and use box joints cut on the tablesaw!)

Todd

[Matthew Dunne]

Fantastic work. Congrats!

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek!

Shop time has slowed down quite a bit.
Being on a acreage, spring time brings a ton of things to do out side.

But I did find time to get 6 of the flat panel inset doors done.
I was going to use cherry ply for the panels. After thinking about it I decided to do solid cherry panels. Gone way to far with this one to cut back now.

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The Neander Haven is in the home stretch now.
Four more doors and then replace the two on the sawtill so they are inset.
More and more of the drawers are already being put to use.
No tailed tools allowed (except for the sharpening system) in this part of the shop.

Hope everyone gets a little more shop time this weekend than I....


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[Rick Erickson]

Gary, I'm disappointed by your last picture. Is that something in there that has a power chord? Say it isn't so. Did the drawers moan when that thing entered the room. That certainly can't be stored in one of those drawers. :-)

Freaking ridiculously good man! I have to stay away from threads like this because it churns my stomach knowing that I won't be going to Rob's class in July.

[John Keeton]

The doors are looking good! Did you chop out M&T joints on the doors?

Honestly, as this thing starts to come together it looks more and more like a picture from a book. The layout and design are perfect. The oil rubbed bronze pulls, and the variation in the size of the drawers. I have told you this before, but LN needs to use a pic of this on their website! It is just a great looking. Good to know it will be put to great use, as well.

I just hope Geri hasn't kept track of the $$ and time put into this project, and expect "even up" in new furniture!! You may never get caught up:D

[gary Zimmel]

Thanks Rick and John.

Rick the sharpening system was bought when I was half way through the drawers. I use shapton glass stones but this new tailed toy makes it a lot quicker. Especially the plane irons. But I still use the glass stones to do the final bevel.
Bad news hearing you won't be going to Calgary.
I want to try and make it down on the Wednesday. That when everyone will be doing there first dovetails...

Stub tenons for the doors John. No chopping. Did use my #9 to shoot all the edges and always use the planes to clean up the machine marks. Rails and stiles hand planed. But not the panels.

[Luciano Burtini]

Gary, I thought your Morris Chairs were impressive. As for the shop cabinets, all I can say is wow!

Did you ever get the leather for the chairs?

Luciano

[gary Zimmel]

Good Day to the Creek!

Well I can see the light at the end of the tunnel....
My little Neander corner is pretty close to being all closed in.
This past weekend I got enough shop time to get the last two doors ready to be assembled.
A little BLO on the panels and they will go together in a couple of days.

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As I look back this is one project that really got out of control.
But it sure makes my shop look spiffy...

Hope everyone had a little shop time this weekend.

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[John Keeton]

As I look back this is one project that really got out of control.
But it sure makes my shop look spiffy...An understatement on both counts:D

I really, really, like the two doors with the "cross" divided panels. I am getting ready to do another plane cabinet, and will be doing a variation of that look.

Gary, this whole project has turned out great. It is "picture perfect!"

[gary Zimmel]

Thanks John.

The doors for the bench plane till are a little wider and taller than the rest so I was able to add the panels. I think it adds a little to the project. Not sure if it abides to the golden rule but as most things in this project it was done on a whim at the last moment....

[tyler mckenzie]

beautiful work Gary. Your persistence has paid off in a big way. One problem though, you've set the bar very very high for yourself. Can't be said enough, beautiful.

[george wilson]

Very,very nice job. I wish I had the space to get my shop looking like that!!!

[Richard Dooling]

I had not followed this thread for some reason and so I just tuned in.

WOW - what an impressive accomplishment!

[gary Zimmel]

Just a quick update to post the final pic of the project.

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And a last pic of of the plane tills filled.

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And a last shot of a few drawers.

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Thanks for all the great comments.
And thanks for coming along for the ride.....

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[John Keeton]

At the urging of several, Gary has entered this project in the Fine Woodworking contest for tool cabinets. I would urge fellow creekers to go to the site and give it a "thumbs up." If you are a subscribing member of the website, you can comment, as well.

I will post the link below, but if the mods feel that it is inappropriate, simply do a Google search for "fine woodworking cabinet contest" it should be the first hit. Click the banner ad across the page, and it will take you to the entries. Gary's is entitled "my neander haven."

This was a major project, involving hours of labor, substantial funds, and an unbelievable level of skill in the design, and execution - particularly with the beautiful dovetails. I encourage all fellow creekers to support this effort. I am not aware of another entry by a creeker, but if there is, then that one (or multiples) deserve our support, as well.

This is the link -

http://finewoodworking.taunton.com/item/15568/my-neander-haven (http://finewoodworking.taunton.com/item/15568/my-neander-haven)

[Tony Filippone]

Hey Gary,

I spent the early morning browsing your wondering images of a job well done.

You make no mention of the drawer backs. Are you using through dovetails?

Tony

[gary Zimmel]

Tony

Yea I took a little short cut and there are no dovetails on the back of the drawers.
I didn't want the drawers to be the full depth of the carcasses. (22-24 inches)
For me if they are deep things get lost in the back. Most are around 16-17".
Because of this the backs sit in dados.

And to everyone.
Thanks for all the support at the FWW site. and to everyone who gave my project a "thumbs up". Even though it doesn't count in the judging is nice to get a little plug from your peers.
Thanks again

[Tony Filippone]

thanks for sharing...i guess it would have been over 70'+ of dovetails if you'd done the backs...and let's not talk carcasses.

Well done - you deserve the praise.