Build Thread for Curved Drawer Fronts with Veneer and Cock Beading

[Mike Allen1010]

The Boss decreed we don’t have room for any more furniture so I’m reduced to building mostly small accessory/boxes I can sneak in the house when she’s not looking. This is a small walnut box roughly 18” long x 12” high x 10” deep. The main design/build challenge for me was carrying the “double curve” design elements (I believe called a Cupid bow), through the top, drawer fronts, dividers and base. I started laying out a template which was largely a matter of dividing the template proportionally and using circle templates to fit the curves. – sorry no pics.

This thread is really focused on the curved drawer fronts which were shaped out of basswood. If you’ve never carved basswood you should definitely give it a try – cuts like butter!

https://i.postimg.cc/d0Q4MWGx/1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/75cg0ns3)

https://i.postimg.cc/qRzwqzbc/3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/DJ3LYyKm)


Once the drawer fronts were shaped, next up was gluing on the “field” Burl veneer. Because of the curved substrate, I used thin commercial, veneer, rather than thicker shop sawn material. I highly recommend using veneer softener and pressing the veneer between newspaper with the heavyweight to get it flat before getting started.

https://i.postimg.cc/tRnDHnVp/4.jpg (https://postimg.cc/c6ZfRHmb)

https://i.postimg.cc/1t2Hqs2k/5.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Q9g1LGXm)


The veneer was cut down the middle and applied is two separate pieces butted together at the low point of the central curve glued with Tite bond, veneer hammer and tape to hold it in place. After the field dried, I used a flexible metal straight image with sandpaper glued to the back to add some grip and Exacto knife to cut out space for the surrounding edge banding.



https://i.postimg.cc/t4jBkRJy/6.jpg (https://postimages.org/)



https://i.postimg.cc/YSX8t13q/7.jpg (https://postimages.org/)



I used superglue to attach the 1/8” wide ebony banding because the pieces were so small I couldn’t really get them lined up in place any other way. I used a guide block and chisel to miter the outside Elm burl.

https://i.postimg.cc/52SnRcQz/8.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/d1kRvg34/11.jpg (https://postimg.cc/hznQ1y9d)

https://i.postimg.cc/65NVJjXf/12.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8stfLbs7)

Again I used superglue to first attach the medial ends at the central curve and then press the remainder into place. I left this veneer slightly larger than the drawer front so after glue up I could trim to a final fit.

https://i.postimg.cc/qM0KZNsm/13.jpg (https://postimg.cc/fk2kVTgX)

https://i.postimg.cc/7hzN1jyf/9.jpg (https://postimg.cc/m1bMBXks)

[Mike Allen1010]

Using the drawer fronts themselves as a pattern, I traced out the profile of the cock beading on 1/8th” thick Maple stock. I made the rabbit on the drawer front to receive the cock beading primarily with a sharp knife and chisels to prevent chipping off any of the delicate face veneer that I’ve done before when using a rabbit plane.

https://i.postimg.cc/GpNYMzKY/14.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/P5S1Dd8S/15.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I used a Stanley bead cutter blade to roughly shape the round profile on the edge of the beading before assembly and then made some final adjustments after glue up to get a consistent reveal. Here’s a picture after coat of Watco oil/varnish which helps bring out the figure in color.

https://i.postimg.cc/sxPhgzr9/17.jpg (https://postimg.cc/hQjj2Hhf)


Surface coat was shellac padded on 4 – five coats.
https://i.postimg.cc/CxxqS96k/19.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mtKDSp4g)

https://i.postimg.cc/HLJ87XmL/20.jpg (https://postimg.cc/06syT6bg)

https://i.postimg.cc/25Pbdyj7/22.jpg (https://postimg.cc/7CnZwx25)

https://i.postimg.cc/xT0k3WQh/27.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

I line the drawer bottoms with blue velvet because I thought it looked cool.

https://i.postimg.cc/XJdZsWpS/25.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Q9NxMRQ0)

Even though this was a small project, it gave me a chance to practice not only the veneering but also some line and Berry inlay and carving on the front columns. I didn’t get pictures of those steps but I believe there are covered in a previous post if you’re interested. Making the curved Holly line inlay that follows the curve on the front of the box top was particularly challenging because the curves were to acute to follow with my inlay cutter. I ended up mostly cutting the grooves freehand with an X-Acto and circle templates. Pretty hard on the old eyes but turns out it was doable.

Thanks for looking!

All the best, Mike

[Patrick Whitehorn]

Amazing - well done!

[Curt Putnam]

Simply Stunning!

[Harold Patterson]

Great execution. In my experience small stuff is a lot harder. Well done.

[Scott Winners]

And you are going to have to sneak that into the house to get it past your wife? I am super impressed. Feel free to mail stuff you made that your wife wants to get rid of to me, I will pay the shipping.

[Phil Mueller]

Really nice work, Mike. Lots of great detail in that piece. Comes with a good dose of head scratching along the way, but makes for a fun, engaging project.

[Tom M King]

Gorgeous Again!!!!!

[Bill Carey]

Wow Mike - another beauty. You really do fine work my friend.

[Derek Cohen]

Mike, there are just so many advanced techniques in that little box. Amazing work! Thank you.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Patrick McCarthy]

Michael, yet AGAIN you impress us all. Great job, sir. Great job.

Best wishes from up the coast a bit, Patrick

[steven c newman]

Looks great....way beyond my skill set...

[Joe A Faulkner]

I always look forward to your builds. They are inspiring. Nice work Mike!!!

[michael langman]

I'm speechless Mike!

[Mike Allen1010]

Thanks guys for the very kind comments!

For what it’s worth, the veneering, line/Berry inlay and carving are all things I learned to do on my own just by giving it a try. No classes or instruction – just experimentation. My main take awayFrom trying to learn these skills is:

1) they’re not as hard as it seems,

2)you can always start with a simple project in inexpensive wood and if it doesn’t work out pitch it.

3) reward for persevering to learn a new skill is pretty cool you get to incorporate new things into your woodworking.

Ironically I ended up giving this piece away and I don’t feel good about it��. I went through a series of four interviews for a job I really wanted and at the final interview I gave board members this box as a demonstration of my commitment to “building” the company. I know that’s super cheesy but I’m getting up there in years and I thought this kind of gesture might be helpful.

Turns out not so much -Didn’t get the job – I’m bummed! I know it’s completely juvenile and petty , but gotta confess I kinda want to ask for it back. Sherrie says absolutely not, but I’m kinda pissed. I invested a lot of time and effort in the interview process and at this point,, I’m not so concerned if they think less of me. I know that’s not rational just emotional.

What should I do? I appreciate suggestions from my fellow creekers . Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[Mike Henderson]

I'm afraid that once you give a gift, it's given.

It's a beautiful piece - you did excellent work on it.

Mike

[Bill Carey]

Mike - Learning new skill is, as you say, pretty cool. Just figuring out new ways to do things is fun too.

As for the box, all I can say is that as I get older I suffer fools less and less, and anyone that wouldn't hire you is definitely a fool. I am already to this point:

456845 While Sherrie (like the LOML Julie) is probably way smarter than either of us, what the hell, see what happens.

[Phil Mueller]

Mike, sorry the job didn’t get offered. I must be honest and say I think it’s a pretty poor reflection on the company that they didn’t immediately return it. It’s not like you gave them some simple tchotchke to emphasize your commitment.
Shame on them.

[Ron Bontz]

Somebody will surly have a smile on their face for years to come. Nice work.

[Derek Cohen]

....
Ironically I ended up giving this piece away and I don’t feel good about it😧. I went through a series of four interviews for a job I really wanted and at the final interview I gave board members this box as a demonstration of my commitment to “building” the company. I know that’s super cheesy but I’m getting up there in years and I thought this kind of gesture might be helpful.

Turns out not so much -Didn’t get the job – I’m bummed! I know it’s completely juvenile and petty , but gotta confess I kinda want to ask for it back. Sherrie says absolutely not, but I’m kinda pissed. I invested a lot of time and effort in the interview process and at this point,, I’m not so concerned if they think less of me. I know that’s not rational just emotional.

What should I do? I appreciate suggestions from my fellow creekers . Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Mike, I know you must be really disappointed at missing out on the job, and hurt that they ended up appearing insensitive. But look at it this way .. you left something which will draw attention and this will recall your name each time. Something may come up in the future, and they may call you. Or the occasion will be retold to other hiring executives. What goes around comes around.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Mike Allen1010]

Thanks Guys, I appreciate your thoughtful advice and suggestions. I know I can count on my fellow Creekers for time tested insight born of hard won experience.

I definitely over reacted - perhaps in part because I wasn’t looking. They contacted me out of the blue. Nevertheless this experience is in the rear view and shan’t be mentioned again.:)

Cheers, Mike

[Jim Koepke]

Not too far from us is a store that buys and sells such items. In the Portland airport there is a shop that surprised the heck out of my at seeing how much people pay for small chests like this.

You may have such an outlet for your beautiful work in your area. The good part of it will be a way to keep at your craft and you may be able to create income so as to not need that other job.

jtk

[Robert LaPlaca]

Mike, thank for sharing, you do beautiful work. I had to chuckle about the boss commanding no more large pieces of furniture, it sounds familiar.

[Evan Van Dyke]

That stinks! Most reputable companies would have told you that they could never accept that gift - it would look too much like a bribe or kickback to get the job. If they had hired you anyways ... you might have found that you really didn't want to be working there after all. For them to take it, not give you the job, and not give it back, you REALLY don't want to be working there. Horrible way to learn, but possibly blessing in disguise.