I got my first ‘commission’ a few days ago. I occasionally play golf with a friend, Dan, who has just moved into a new place and has inherited an older 50” big screen. Over a post-round beer, he mentioned he needs a sturdy stand and asked me how the woodworking skills were coming along and if I might be interested… We chatted, made a sketch on a napkin, and now I’m working on some designs in SketchUp.
He’s getting a ‘bargain’ cuz he’s a good friend and I’m not sure I truly qualify as someone who should be charging for his work just yet. We’ll see how this goes. I agreed to work something up and if it was a go all he had to do was buy materials. Dan said that was good with one condition – he got to help. I just sat there with a big grin because I made him a promise a long time ago that he could come and make dust with me any time. (He was along for the ride the day I bought my saw, jointer, and router.)
The current plan is to construct it from some nicely veneered plywood and do some simple face molding for strength and to cover the ply. It will have 4 – 6 drawers and two doors behind which stereo components/gaming consoles will live.
Dennis, or any other cabinet makers here on LJ - If you read this, I’d love your input before I get too far down the road.
I’ll post the designs and progress if it gets off the ground. This should be interesting…
Minor update: Dennis pointed out the SketchUp link wasn’t working. I removed it and it may have been confusing. It was a link to the SketchUp site not the prelim designs. Those are not complete yet. Apologies for any confusion.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
9 comments so far
dennis mitchell
home | projects | blog
3790 posts in 1211 days
posted 949 days ago
Congratulations! The first one is always special. Have you picked out a wood type? Are you going to use glass on the doors so a remote will work on maybe a cloth faced door for sound transmission. I built a entertainment center that fit a video cassette just fine, just about the time dvds came out and they didn’t fit. Made it real hard to sell. Make sure your drawers are big enough. I’m looking forward to your design phase.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
scottb
home | projects | blog
3402 posts in 1223 days
posted 948 days ago
Very cool… free lumber and help.
A friend of mine had a custom entertainment center built, by a friends Dad. I’m pretty sure he only paid for the wood too, a very generous gift – but maybe it was worth it to everyone to know that the pile o milkcrates was going away.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Dick, & Barb Cain
home | projects | blog
7041 posts in 1196 days
posted 948 days ago
I’m proud of you, Jeff.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
14160 posts in 1057 days
posted 948 days ago
how exciting!! Congrats.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Mario
home | projects | blog
882 posts in 948 days
posted 948 days ago
That is great. Word of mouth is worth a lot. Hope it works out. Congrats.
-- Hope Never fails
Jeff
home | projects | blog
996 posts in 990 days
posted 948 days ago
Thanks gang. I will probably be getting together with Dan again soon to discuss wood and final dimensions.
I hear ya on the drawers, Dennis. I worked on the sketches yesterday and already have found some areas I will have to modify from my original thoughts. They would have been some costly mistakes… Makes me wonder what I’m not aware of now or not taking into consideration. I’m excited nonetheless!
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
gizmodyne
home | projects | blog
1678 posts in 986 days
posted 947 days ago
Very cool! Send us the sketchup.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
oscorner
home | projects | blog
4572 posts in 1207 days
posted 947 days ago
Congradulations!
-- Jesus is Lord!
Todd Thomas
home | projects | blog
4831 posts in 345 days
posted 308 days ago
getting paid to learn is a good thing:-)
-- Todd, Oak Ridge, TN, Hello my name is Todd and I'm a Toolholic, I bought my last tool 10 days, no 4 days, oh heck I bought a tool on the way here! †