Painted Shop Cabinet - Progress Pics

[Todd Burch]

I'm making another shop cabinet, this time for hardware. I'm painting it. 2 coats of Federal Blue milk paint followed by 2 coats of BLO/Varnish/Turp.

I've yet to make the 51 drawers... The bottom piece will hold 9 drawers, all the same size. (3 wide, 3 tall). They will be on full extension slides (20"). The top will hold 42 drawers, 7 wide by 6 high, all the same size. (7 1/8" wide, 8 1/2" deep, 5" tall).

I've got calls in to a couple specialty shops for quotes on the 42 drawers, but am finding that most production shops won't do stock as thin as I want. I can kick out the 9 big drawers fast enough, but the 42 would be a pain.

Anyone want to bid them out? I'm looking for 1/4" to 3/8" thick stock, half blind or thru dovetails, (tight joinery), 1/8" ply or solid wood bottoms floating in a groove 1/4" from the bottom. White pine would be fine, or some other light-weight wood (poplar would be OK). Also, a 1/8" wide dado cut twice in each side so that I could install partitions if I so choose. I need thee unfinished. These drawers will hold hardware, loose and in boxes.

I'll make the drawer fronts. I've purchased the wood knobs already. All drawer fronts and knobs will be painted yellow.

The construction I used on both pieces was quick and simple, but I am sure will prove to hold up well over the years. I assembled all the pine frames with glue and pocket screws. For the panels, I stapled 1/4" plywood to the inside of the frames. I added stock cove mouldings inside the frames to transition to the panels. The top of the lower piece is birch ply, wrapped with 1" poplar with a full bullnose.

The middle feet in front are double-biscuited to the lower front rail. Same feet in back. The back is 3/4" pine screwed to each of the vertical webbings.

So, any takers on the drawers? I need them fast!
Thanks, Todd

[Bob Worrel Jr.]

Todd
First...I don't have a picture of myself like everyone else has. I'm an ugly looking guy. I like your idea, can I borrow yours?
The cabinet looks great. I've been wanting to do a finish like that on a similar project. Post another picture when it's completed.
The drawers? sounds like a perfect training for that dove tail jig:o

Good luck on the rest of that cabinet. It's loking terrific.

[Todd Burch]

Thanks Bob. If you are indeed ugly, yes, please take a picture of the back of your head too!!

I've found a supplier for these drawers... $14.25 each, plus $0.50 each for packaging, plus shipping from Az.

And, since the lower drawers, at 16 1/4" wide, 20" deep and 8" tall (1/2" Baltic Birch, 1/2 blind dovetails) were only $15/each, I ordered those 9 drawers as well. Now, I get to hurry up and wait a week and a couple days.

In the mean time, on to my next project...

[Jim Becker]

That's a beaut, Todd. I like how your continuing to put in "nice" cabinetry in your shop. 'Glad you found a source for the drawers given the amount of time to do them in-house would be a kick against the paying work! (I did the same for the kitchen project and it was money well-spent)

[Christian Aufreiter]

Very nice. Even too nice for a shop cabinet.
BTW, I think it's time to post a shop tour!
I bet it looks finer than an typical living room :)

Regards,

Christian

[Alan Turner]

I am mentally exploring a shop cabinet as well, but this for carving tools. My thinking was that I would run 1/8" or 1/4" slots in the risers (vertical dividers) and attact the drawer bottoms to the bottom of the drawer sides, extended beyond the sides enough to ride in the grooves. Either 3mm of 6mm BB ply for the bottoms. This may be called the NK system, but I am not sure. I don't think I will dovetail my drawers, just to save time. May use 6mm or 12mm BB for the sides and backs.
Any thoughts from fellwo creekers on this idea?
Alan

[Todd Burch]

Alan, that's how I built my Sandpaper cabinet (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=7742&highlight=sandpaper+cabinet). My "drawers" are more like shelves though. They slide nice. I used 12mm BB for the sides and 1/4" ply for the shelf bottoms (it's what I had laying around in my way). Not sure about the NK system.

Todd

[Mike Mastin]

Todd,

I have been planning to build a sales counter in the shop and was wanting to do something different other than just wood or sheetrock to cover the front and sides. I like the milk paint idea, plus it adds some subtle pizzaz to the piece.

[Jim Becker]

I have been planning to build a sales counter in the shop and was wanting to do something different other than just wood or sheetrock to cover the front and sides.
Shouldn't you be using...umm....Curly Wood???? :D :D :D :p

[Mike Mastin]

....I need to sell lumber not flaunt it at customers. Besides the sheer cost of sheathing a sales counter with premium figured wood makes my head spin.
I was thinking of making the top out a nice wide piece of curly lumber though:D

[Donnie Raines]

Shouldn't you be using...umm....Curly Wood???? :D :D :D :p

Just sent some burls out to Mike today....those would make a wonderful counter top!!... :cool:

For the record...these burls were not the ones I have had listed on the net!.. ;)

[Jim Becker]

Mike...this is a great opportunity for you to put that nice big band saw to work making veneers from Curly Wood to top some cheap plywood... :D ...at least as accent pieces. But I do like your idea for the counter top, especially if it happens to be a natural edge slice a la Nakashima!

[Chris Padilla]

....I need to sell lumber not flaunt it at customers. Besides the sheer cost of sheathing a sales counter with premium figured wood makes my head spin.
I was thinking of making the top out a nice wide piece of curly lumber though:D
Mike,

Pssst!

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=13268

:D

[Mike Mastin]

Thanks Chris. I have a photo now :cool:

[Mike Mastin]

I simply do not have the time to do anything to radical to be honest more than the cost of the wood. I seem to pass my self in the hallway anymore.

Yes I do want to do something with a natural edge if I can locate something that will work. I was really leaning towards a Mesquite top for the counter, but I want to find a special piece of figured wood if I can, but it would have to be a big one! My counter will be approx. 16' long as it will wrap in a "C" shape (think rectangular not curvy :))

Who knows it still might be a totally figured counter area, but with my work load I just hope to have the time to build it right now.

[Kelly C. Hanna]

Mike, I'd flaunt it personally. Any chance you get to show the fantastic wood figures I've been told you have, you should take advantage of.

I need to get out your way and see the place soon. Time...ah yes...something I have very little of anymore...:eek:

[Jim Becker]

Mike, another thought...Mr. Jenkins seems to be able to source some pretty incredible veneer ply. Pehaps you can colaborate on the source and find something that really sets off that Curly Wood top without a lot of bother.

Todd...sorry there have been so many posts not directly associated with your thread's topic and that I'm guity of a number of them. My appologies!

[Todd Burch]

Jim, no problem. We're both just guests here!!

Mike, describe in better detail the counter you want and I'll design it for you in Sketchup. Todd

[Tyler Howell]

Raised the Bar again Todd, Very nice.:cool:

[Brian Buckley]

Todd,

That looks super. I have wanted to build something like that for a long time. Do you mind if I ask the dimensions?

[Todd Burch]

Brian, come over and measure it!!

Base: The counter is 35" tall. It's 60" wide and 22" deep.
Top: 60" wide, 39" tall, 10" deep. (It was supposed to be 42" tall, but some numb nut converted 3' 6" and got 39"... go figure. ;) )

[Brian Buckley]

Thanks Todd, that "numb nut" is probably my cousin. I am very capable of doing the same thing. I often wish I had finished the fifth grade. I would enjoy visiting you sometime.

I am in the west side of Houston (Bunker Hill) , so not very far away.

Brian

[Louis Bois]

Todd,

Regardless of your standing as a professional wood dude, I must say that the result is truly impressive, considering the time it took you to "cobble" that thing together...perhaps I should be looking at power tools differently...hmmm...:eek:

side note...Mr. Becker, I checked out your website...very nice! Those walnut "crotch" slabs are incredible...and thanks for the plan for the tablesaw extension!!

[Jim Becker]

Those walnut "crotch" slabs are incredible...and thanks for the plan for the tablesaw extension!!These hunks of cherry, which I aquired thanks to Mr. Turner, should also be a treat to work with. Wood is a wonderful thing...

(Thanks for your kind comments on my site. 'Glad the outfeed table plan is useful to you)

[Mike Mastin]

Jim, no problem. We're both just guests here!!

Mike, describe in better detail the counter you want and I'll design it for you in Sketchup. Todd
I have a dxf drawing of the basic layout. Can you view these files? I would love to have a 3D version of the layout! PM me your fax number and I will fax you a sketch that I have made of the design too.

Man you have raised the bar Todd :o

[Mike Mastin]

These hunks of cherry, which I aquired thanks to Mr. Turner, should also be a treat to work with. Wood is a wonderful thing...

(Thanks for your kind comments on my site. 'Glad the outfeed table plan is useful to you)
Oh what I would not give to find these types of woods more often, but better yet find customers that are searching for them!

[Jim Becker]

Mike, get someone to do seminars on Nakashima...it might kick up the demand. The material is available "out there", but you need a reason to bring it in.

[Todd Burch]

Mike, email me the DXF file - Sketchup can import them. Fax # is 281-599-3561.

[Dan Mages]

That is a nice looking cabinet!! I plan on making one of those for my garage this winter. I think that some brass pulls with card slots would be perfect for this project. Thanks for the inspiration.

Dan