Bookcase Challenge entry

That’s a pretty cool design!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Gwurst,
Don’t defeat yourself like that. You obviously have some dedication to your education of Sketchup. I know a lot of people who cant do curves, let alone ones that intersect properly like yours. Nice job. Personaly, I think you could embelish a few things, make a few additions like a base, etc… and have a real first class entry. I know you can do it.

BTW… Look up “bending plywood”, it makes this project very do-able.
Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

I like what you have drawn. Like Tom says, give it a shot.

Thank you for the kind words. I don’t mean to diminish my work, it’s just a very simple project and unlikely to be considered the best entry. I think it stands pretty-well on its own merits, though.

I looked at embellishing the project, but the curvilinear design does not lend itself well to that I’m afraid. In the end, I decided a minimalist approach would be best. I did have one other design option, but felt the radius on the base was just too-much to be able to physically achieve:

While I COULD build this if I really wanted to, I just don’t have a real desire to do so. It is a very modern piece and wouldn’t go anywhere in my house. I also have a small shop and no room to create the steam bending box and jigs necessary to make the piece.

As a side note, if you look closely you will see that the two intersecting arcs are not the same. I tried just flipping the one piece, but I did not like the way it looked. In the end, the outside arc has a gentler slope than the inside arc. I started with the inside arc, so if you used the gentler slope on both pieces it might look better, reducing the number of bending jigs needed to just one. I think the slight angle variations add character, though.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

Oh, and my apologies if you have trouble viewing the pictures. They’re running on an XP web server at my house and it only allows 10 connections at a time, so you may need to refresh later to see them.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

Looks cool, and you wouldn’t have to steam anything, a bentwood lamination would do just as well and is very easy to do in a home shop. It’s how I did the curves on the bow of my boys boat bed

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

That’s a coool design! I think you should at least try to build it – the design itself actually just may win.

-- --Chuck

Looks cool, and you wouldn’t have to steam anything, a bentwood lamination would do just as well and is very easy to do in a home shop. It’s how I did the curves on the bow of my boys boat bed

Interesting idea. I did a quick Google search and people seem to be doing those bent lamination glue-ups using 1/8” luan or an 1/8” bending poplar. Apparently there is a 1/16” Wisa Italian bending plywood as well, but I’m not even sure where I’d get the 1/8” stuff. I’m still not sold on actually building this project, but that is certainly something to consider for future curved project work.

Of course, if PWW insists on me trying to build this I’ll give bent lamination a shot! :)

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

Hi Gwurst,

You have an interesting design which you have obviously given some thought. The basic premise behind the contest is not winning or losing since everyone who enters is a winner in some capacity. The contest is really designed to get creative ideas flowing and stretching your woodworking further than you would normally be inclined to go. Those who design, build and complete their individual projects within the alloted time frame are all winners. GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I think you’ve got a better design there than you believe. Sometimes “less is more”.

I hope you build it, too!

-- Earle Wright, Lenoir City, Tennessee

Hi Gwurst.

Cool shelves! I like the curves. I’ve especially had a tough time doing much curved work in SU.

-- johnjoiner

very cool…
it’s almost an “X and O” design.
very creative

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

from what ive seen so far , its got my vote

gwurst,

I suggest you contact Neil, at Furnitology Productions . In fact, just this morning (Sunday, March 30) he posted about The Rough Cut forum , and states the forum is ”...what I term, a “building or working forum”.”

Neil is one of the premier experts on laminations today, (as is John Fry ), and a fantastic teacher. I am certain he will be glad to suggest how best to tackle this beautiful bookcase.

-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com

I don’t think this would be as hard to build as you might think, it is only one form incorporating both pieces on opposite sides and four laminated parts in two sessions, the strength would have to come from the base and the center shelve, but you know all that ready, its a nice design simple and elegant, good luck.
Joey

-- Joey~~Sabina, Ohio http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/