As promised, here is the final installment on the Walnut Display Cabinet.
First I wanted to show how it looked after bleaching. It was interesting to say the least. This is my first time with this procedure. Bleach, stain and finish. I keep coming back to, a lacquer finish. Maybe I’m just lazy but it is faster and I can control it, Usually. But any way——
Here it is in the house with the phone on it. There are no glass shelves in it as yet, I’ll get them in a couple of days. Also if you look closely, the glass is still dirty. I couldn’t clean it very well because the putty is still soft and I might push out a glass. Mentioning the glass, it is old glass I got from an old house that had the windows replaced. Some if it has small bubbles and all is wrinkled. I think it makes it look classier.
The next picture is of the cockbead on the doors and drawers. If you remember I goofed and cut too deep on the door lip and rather than make new doors, I just put on cockbead instead.
Last is a picture from the side. You can see the shelf frames to hold the glass shelves. You can also see that it has a mirror in the back. This was also some salvage. My neighbor was going to throw away a mirror on an old dresser so I got it before he threw it!
Well this has been a long and somewhat interesting build but once again, ignorance and brute force overcomes skill and cunning.
I hope you all have enjoyed this as much as I have. P.S. The wife is really tickeled.
Charlie M.
-- God makes the wood beautiful--I simply rearrange it to make it more useful, hopefully.
6 comments so far
ND2ELK
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6220 posts in 671 days
posted 472 days ago
Hi Charles
Really love this cabinet. Deffinately going to be one of my favorite! Charles you have done an outstanding job on this piece. You are a true craftsman of your trade. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
acanthuscarver
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157 posts in 610 days
posted 472 days ago
Charlie,
It turned out great! Love the proportions. Feet are very nicely done and the carved pinched corners on the top are perfect for the piece. The cockbeading is also right in keeping with the style of the piece. Glad you kept up the hunt for some old glass. That repro stuff just looks different. Keep up the good work.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
jeanmarc
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1751 posts in 614 days
posted 471 days ago
good job.beautiful cabinet
-- jeanmarc manosque france
depictureboy
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309 posts in 540 days
posted 470 days ago
I am curious why you bleached it, then stained it back dark. If you were going to do that why not use a less expensive wood like ash? I realize you couldn’t get the figuring that you get from walnut, but I dont get the reason for the bleaching.
I am just curious because I am new to bleaching, and I always admired walnut for its darkness.
It is a very beautiful cabinet though.
-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.
Charles Mullins
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94 posts in 609 days
posted 470 days ago
Thanks everyone for the compliments. It was a first effort at this type of muntins and they were sort of labor intensive and a first in walnut for this kind of building. I have stocked rifles in walnut but that’s all.
Chuck, I copied everything in the cabinet from different sources and hoped it blended well. I cut the glass myself and the arched top pieces were done like you told me and it worked great! I broke only one piece and it was a rectangular piece. Also your crituques are very much appreciated. Thanks!
Depictureboy, the reason I bleached it was primilary because the walnut in the cabinet was all different colors from dark to sap-grain cream and I couldn’t stain it all to match without making it too dark. Also, old walnut takes on an orangeish brown tint with age and I wanted to present that color ‘cause that’s what I like. I learned the technique from Lonnie Bird. I saw his walnut secretary in Fine Woodworking and fell in love with it and I loved the color, so I asked him how he did it and he was kind enough to give me technique.
Thanks again folks. AND the most important thing is the wife LOVES IT!
Still living and learning—-
Charlie M.
-- God makes the wood beautiful--I simply rearrange it to make it more useful, hopefully.
depictureboy
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309 posts in 540 days
posted 469 days ago
“AND the most important thing is the wife LOVES IT!”
Very true, very true….and thanks for the clarification…
-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.