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#1 ·
The design

Here is my attempt to build an affordable wooden 4 drawer filing cabinet.

I rule out:

Plwood, as it is way too expensive in Australia for anything but the most expensive style of furniture.
MDF, I built a single draw prototype and, even when using frame construction, it was way too heavy.
Melamine, may be a good choice but for this project I don't think it looks good enough.
Solid wood, as it is too expensive.

My current choice is to go with premium (knot free) pine and pine panelling (not knot free unfortunately).

The style is intended to be country/rustic/shabby chic

I attach the first iteration, I think it may be top heavy, and I might turn the panelling around to reduce the number of V-grooves.

Cabinetry Furniture Chest of drawers Drawer Rectangle


I have a Sketchup file if anyone is interested in a closer look. I can't see anyway to upload anything but images here but as this is my first "blog" perhaps someone can confirm that (or not).

Anyway if anyone has any suggestions, critique, tips, all will be appreciated.
 

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#2 ·
A half scale prototype

This is my half size prototype made entirely out of pallet wood (besides hardware).
Finish is home made chalk paint with a wax finish (shabby chic) - the finish doesn't photo very well but I am very happy with it, it came out the best I have been able to achieve so far.

This size is perfect for DVDs etc.

(I did a more thorough write up but the text disappear after I uploaded the pictures for some reason).

White Wood Fixture Wood stain Natural material


Furniture Cabinetry Drawer Wood Wood stain


Brown Cabinetry Furniture White Drawer


Rectangle Wood Drawer Gas Composite material


Cabinetry Furniture Wood Drawer Rectangle


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Plank
 

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#3 ·
The build

Just some photos of the main build:

Fixture Wood Shelving Wood stain Building


Cabinetry Wood Wood stain Floor Flooring


Cabinetry Furniture Shelf Wood Drawer


Brown Cabinetry Drawer Wood Natural material


Cabinetry Furniture Drawer Wood Chest of drawers


Cabinetry Drawer Dresser Chest of drawers Wood


Cabinetry Drawer Natural material Wood Wood stain


Cabinetry Natural material Wood Drawer Wood stain


Cabinetry Dresser Chest of drawers Furniture Drawer


Cabinetry Drawer Wood Chest of drawers Rectangle
 

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#4 ·
The reveal

The finished project:

The finish on this project is shop made country/shabby chic using chalk paint made from cheap flat ceiling paint tinted with even cheaper poster paints, mixed with not-so-cheap calcium carbonate, and shop made finishing past wax made from a chunk of bees wax and boiled linseed oil.

One coat of Ivory chalk paint, 2 coats of Cyan chalk paint (first coat epic fail due to miscalculation of amount required), and 2 coats of finishing wax after sanding and distressing.

Note: I would have preferred all black hardware but couldn't source it. I may go back and paint it black but as the hardware is all solid brass (not cheap) I am a little loath to do that.

Cabinetry Fixture Wood Door Wood stain


Fixture Handle Wood Door Wall


All in all the objective was achieved, an all solid wood (mainly premium pine) 4 draw filing cabinet (one draw is actually a stationery cabinet). The use of reclaimed pine lining helped keep costs under control. Not a skerrick of plywood in the whole thing, and, most importantly, no fat, greedy, lazy, rip-off merchant plywood supplier was involved or fed during the whole of this project ;-) Oh! and the same can be said of paint suppliers too!.

Only 2 more to go!
 

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#5 ·
The reveal

The finished project:

The finish on this project is shop made country/shabby chic using chalk paint made from cheap flat ceiling paint tinted with even cheaper poster paints, mixed with not-so-cheap calcium carbonate, and shop made finishing past wax made from a chunk of bees wax and boiled linseed oil.

One coat of Ivory chalk paint, 2 coats of Cyan chalk paint (first coat epic fail due to miscalculation of amount required), and 2 coats of finishing wax after sanding and distressing.

Note: I would have preferred all black hardware but couldn't source it. I may go back and paint it black but as the hardware is all solid brass (not cheap) I am a little loath to do that.

Cabinetry Fixture Wood Door Wood stain


Fixture Handle Wood Door Wall


All in all the objective was achieved, an all solid wood (mainly premium pine) 4 draw filing cabinet (one draw is actually a stationery cabinet). The use of reclaimed pine lining helped keep costs under control. Not a skerrick of plywood in the whole thing, and, most importantly, no fat, greedy, lazy, rip-off merchant plywood supplier was involved or fed during the whole of this project ;-) Oh! and the same can be said of paint suppliers too!.

Only 2 more to go!
That is one cool build! Nice work!
 

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