Last year I was looking for more information on a whiskey cabinet from Thomas Jefferson‘s Montecello. Just trying to get some better pictures as how it was put together. In the course of those searches, up came a couple of pictures of a whiskey decanter cabinet called a Tantalus.
It is called that after the Greek mythological figure. The one that is stuck in a pool of water that as soon as he bends to drink, the level goes down and he cannot quench his thirst. Similar to that, this cabinet will allow you to see the decanters, but you cannot take them out unless it is unlocked. Ostensibly, so that the hired help can’t be helping themselves to your fine whiskey.
So, after I downloaded some of the images, and got some measurements, I came up with a design. The hardest part of this was coming up with the hardware for the hidden latch for the drawer. I had a couple of ideas, but nothing concrete. I did end up making the latch out of the 3/16” brass and a rolled steel pin. (Don’t have any pictures of that, I will add some later.) I also had a couple of sleepless mornings trying to come up with a simple way to actuate the latch with a spring loaded button in top. Then I was perusing the Lee Valley site seeing what they had for hardware and saw plans for a machinist’s tool chest. They had a hardware kit for part of the locking mechanism. Almost perfect. I did have to cut them down, and solder the top button to the rod, but it worked for what I wanted.
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Closed - Opened
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Secure - Available
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Secret button - For 'hidden' drawer
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Drawer Inserts are removable.
I also tried a new to me finish. Started with a yellow/orange dye, then a walnut stain, then a wash coat of shellac, dark brown wax, another coat of shellac, and finally, because alcohol and shellac mix very well, a coat of water base finish. And a final wax for a polish.