Final Finish a Dresser Coated
This week I finally applied the closing coats of finish to my three-drawer chest. It’s quite a long process taking it from the early design stage through prototyping. It’s important that the final piece fits the plan and on a larger project like this one, one with many hidden complexities, that all the bugs are worked through. Though I have made two whole carcases or all but, I have yet to complete all the drawers for the prototype. If you want to skip the post below and go straight to the web for watching the intro here you go.
Making a project like this can look complicated when you see the inner workings of the jointed components in relation to one another but taking one piece and one joint at a time suddenly makes sense. Before you know it you’re glueing up, planing to fit and applying your chosen finish. 12-20 days work and you have a lifetime heirloom to pass forward to your children and your grandchildren; perhaps a wedding gift or something to celebrate a new birth.
Instead of one cameraman working, the projects from here on will be filmed by two. Working with Phil and Ellie is a real treat for me because as I am crafting my project, I see them crafting the videos from behind the lenses to the final edits. They capture the real me and not an actor. Nothing slips them, and they do everything they can to make it as real as possible in visual and audible elements. They too are crafting artisans in a different medium.
Watch the snapshot of the upcoming series and then if you want to follow the series join woodworkingmasterclasses.com as a paying member. My hope is that you will make the project, but if you don’t, you will certainly learn a lot from just watching.
Very nice looking at building a pair for my home, just curious what would something like this cost. Thanks
Depending on where you shop you could buy something like this (functionally) in the store for about $200 US. If you want to compute what Paul is building just figure out the board footage approximately go to your local lumber store and find their board foot cost and multiply it out .
I make small furniture and I do it because I enjoy it not because it has ever been cheaper than something store-bought. I gave up long ago keeping track of how long it takes me to do things and I generally resist the temptation to give people estimates when they ask me to build them something.
Cost savings is never the objective would you build a piece of custom furniture even something relatively simple. If a person wanted something cheap with three drawers you could put three shelves on the wall buy nine plastic baskets to sit on them. Yuck!
I am planning to make this along with Paul have my timber acclimated for a few months now (mahogany) .really excited. Only I feel mine will have to taller & narrow compared to Paul’s above to accommodate space in which it will live.I wonder could I get this wrong as in a visual appearance of the piece.?? By altering the proportions I feel it might not look and feel as good as photos.
Regards
David
oh man Paul….. you are not making my woodworking “honey-do” list easier. My wife just seen this and I think she is putting it on the list. 🙂
Should be fun to do.
Hi Paul, this is maybe a question for you next QA session.
I can more or less see how the frame is constructed on this piece, not all the details, but more or less. My question is, how do you put together the framework if you did the same dresser but two drawers wide. It seems a bit complicated with both horizontal and vertical dividers. Which should be whole and which should be divided? Some simle drawings or explanations to put me on the right track would be highly appreciated.
The reason I’m asking is that I need this kind of dresser for my work shed.
Anyway, this project will be a lot of fun. Looking forward to it.
Best regards,
Kjell
Best regards
I have been a student for a few years now and have watched as the film crew go to great lengths to get the right frame /shot. It helps too Paul, that you go to the extra trouble of conducting the work activity at awkward positions to help us the students to better understand the work process. I can only see things getting better for both us the students and you with not having to contort yourself by having extra camera angles. Thank you ‘Team’ for all the hard work you put in and the skills that I am (we), are learning
Looking at that curly grained end I would guess that it was impossible to plane. Out with the scraper!
You’re right mark. I didn’t want to not use this, and I am sure some will frown on it, but with cherry especially I like to see what it develops into. I have a brother-in-law who is a fine carpenter in Arkansas and he built the home they still live in there back in the 1970s through 1980s. I remember my visiting him in 1985 and he showed me his window sills made from cherry. The ray flecks just popped and he seemed transfixed by their beauty, such was his appreciation for the wood. Since then I have shared the same appreciation for any of the cherry I come across so I often keep in such grain when I can though usually in less obvious aspects of a piece because it is often hard to balance.
Paul,
I’m surprised that you use the little hake brush even for large areas. At least that’s what it looks like from the photo. I recently built a knock-down cabinet and applied shellac with a rubber. It worked great and made really quick work of it. I’d love to know your thoughts.
Best,
Joel
Love the difference between British English and American English. In American slang rubber means condom. But I’m pretty sure I know what you did.
“They too are crafting artisans in a different medium.”
Yes they are. Your videos and websites are well designed. They are a pleasure to view. Your staff does excellent work.
How do I get a set of plans for the dresser..
Looks like a nice gift for my granddaughter..
You must sign up for the premier account at woodworkingmasterclasses.com here.