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This is a small linen cabinet that I built for my daughter. The original plan was from the Woodsmith Bead Front Bookcase. She mentioned wanting a small cabinet and I came across that plan. I did alter the dimensions a little, replaced the lower drawers with a door and added a door to the top with an adjustable shelf in each section.

I sent her a picture of the original and told her what the plan was to change it. Then she said something that I never thought I would hear from her; "can you make it a little more rustic?". Rustic? Really? Just thought that was odd from her…

So I bought some Calico Hickory from my local dealer. It's frame and panel construction so I decided to stop by Lowes on the way home since I had my trailer and see what they had for 1/4" oak ply. Just needed some fairly small panels so I started picking through the smaller "project panel" section and came across a few that had some spalting on the "back" veneer. I said to myself, "well that looks rustic", so I got them and used them backwards, non-oak side out, for the panels and split them so the grain flowed between them. I also glued a piece of that to a 3/4" piece of the crappiest oak ply I've ever seen for the top panel.

Then came the doors. I wanted to do something different that just plain doors. I had seen a video from that single plywood challenge thing a while back where someone had woven strips of plywood for a door panel. I thought that would be worth a try with hickory and not plywood.I told my daughter and wife about it and then they started with the "I can't wait to see that" crap. I wasn't sure if they were meaning that they were sure I couldn't make that work or they were really excited to see that so I had to make it work. It was challenging but I think it came out pretty good. The strips are 7/64" thick, just under my blade kerf. I made 5 mortises in the top and bottom frame pieces with a drill bit in my drill press for the vertical pieces. The glued 3 sides of the frames together. When those dried I weaved, or wove, or woved, the horizontal pieces in. Getting that last side on was tricky too but got some ideas from another video I saw. Keeping them square under all of that pressure didn't work out perfectly but I did the best I could. Once everything was all dry I put splines in each corner with some Sapele scraps. Also made the door pulls from Sapele. The doors are kept shut with small magnets in the corners. Just enough catch.

I applied a coat of dewaxed shellac as a seal coat and then scuff sanded. Let it cure for a few days and then sprayed it with 5 coats of EM6000 semi-gloss lacquer. I'll let it dry for several more days and maybe wax it before delivery. Overall it's about 49" tall, 13" deep, and 26" wide. Oh, and hickory is brutal on tools…

Thanks for looking. I think it's rustic….

Gallery

Comments

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Wow, that is different, don't see woven doors on furniture very often, kinda makes you think of Wicker, but clearly not that. It certainly looks like it was a lot more work than a frame and panel door would normally be, and it is tight looking in the pics, so I would say you got it done.

Overall I wouldn't say "rustic" though, not really sure which style, kinda free-form, but I wouldn't go with rustic. The biggest thing is what does the Daughter say? If she likes, it's winner winner….

How many hours in this? It looks like it was a process, and being Hickory…..Yes I agree it's a tough wood to work, and requires SHARP tools. It will always tell you when your tools dull though, that's when it starts tearing out, and splintering.

I was also struck as I don't remember ever seeing a piece of plywood where I looked at it and thought, this is spalted….. But darned if it isn't on those side panels.

Nice work on this. You nailed that weave, and for solid wood of that thickness that is saying something. A hickory basket is a bear to make, and strips for baskets are much thinner, a lot more flexible.

Good job, and I imagine a lot of firsts.

*late note. after posting my comment I went back, and looked through the pics again, and on the close up of the weave it appears that was "curly" grain. So double down on harder to work, and because of the harder/softer of any curly wood, that weave is even more spectacular.
 

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Thanks, therealSteveN. Not really sure of how many hours. It seemed like it took a lot longer than it should have, but I think that has a lot to do with the heat! I'd get to the end of the day and look at my progress and have to really concentrate and figure out exactly what I accomplished. It did take several weeks. Just weekends and a few hours here and there during the week; not every night though.

My daughter really likes it and my wife wants one too. I told her she'd just have to look at pictures….

I didn't really notice the curl as I was ripping the slices but was happy when I did finally take a look at it. If I had to do it again I would probably go with bridle or half laps for the doors. I think that would be easier to keep square.
 

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About the Wife…..REPEAT AFTER ME…... Happy Spouse = Happy House, Happy Spouse = Happy House, Happy Spouse = Happy House, LOL.

I think the weave is perfect for that piece. The only thing I've wondered looking at it, was what it might look like if there were more color variation between the frame, and the weave, say darker weave, with frame same as this one, or vise versa..
 

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Very lovely and unique. I think it is perfect. I have not used Hickory in so long…
 

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Beautiful work, very unique with the doors!!
 

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WOW the weaving is awesome
 
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