| Project by David | posted 264 days ago | 1268 views | 2 times favorited | 11 comments |  |
 |
A Cherry Display Pedestal
This was an interesting project to build despite its small size. This was a small commission piece to display a bronze of General Ulysses S. Grant for a Civil War aficionado. As a woodworker, the interesting aspect was to witness the evolution of the design from an initial sketch that arrived via FAX to the final full size construction drawings that made it out to the shop.
Original Sketch FAX
My initial design was worked out on SketchUp referencing the concepts from the FAX sketch. I solicited input from a number of sources and slowly refined the design. The exciting part of this was for me to step outside my straight linear “blanket chest” comfort zone . . . well I know I have a long way to go but it is a step in the right direction!
Initial SketchUp Drawing
Leg Options in SketchUp
Spending time in the drawing process was very fruitful. It gave me an opportunity to work out reveals and molding details, as well as, carcase construction details. Having the full size drawing hanging on the shop wall was extremely useful and kept me on track during the build. This was especially helpful during breaks where I wasn’t able to work on the project because of my regular job or family obligations.
Top Front Corner Detail from Full-Sized Drawing
Bottom Front Corner Detail from Full-Sized Drawing
The main wood is solid cherry with solid poplar as a secondary wood and MDF panels veneered with maple and flat sawn cherry.
Milled Cherry Stock Stickered and Adjusting to Shop Environment
I used maple as the interior veneer to add a sense of brightness. I carefully choose and positioned the cathedral pattern of the flat sawn cherry veneer for the exterior panels. To do this I made a small MDF frame that approximated the panel opening. I used this frame to position the grain pattern and to lay out cut lines on the veneer.
MDF Frame Used to Lay Out Door Panel Veneer
Veneered Door Panel with Centered Cathedral Pattern
I always try to include leg levelers if possible to accommodate any uneven floor surfaces. For this project, I used 1¼ square white oak with ¼-20 steel threaded inserts and felt covered leveling feet that were concealed behind the cabinet legs.
Shop Made Leg Leveler
The finish was ½# shellac wash coat to prevent blotching followed by 1# cut amber shellac for tone followed by 6 coats of WaterLox Original Formula thinned 50:50 with mineral spirits. Two coats of clear wax completed the finish schedule. The final touch was a makers-mark giving appropriate due credit! This makers-mark was a white water slide decal made on my computer.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
11 comments so far
WoodSpanker
home | projects | blog
298 posts in 285 days
posted 264 days ago
That looks fantastic! Will only get better as it ages. :) Thanks for the incredible detail on your workmanship – you are a fantastic craftsman, but those of us in Portland just are naturally, aren’t we!
-- Adventure? Heh! Excitement? Heh! A Woodworker craves not these things!
David
home | projects | blog
1982 posts in 1032 days
posted 264 days ago
WoodSpanker -
LOL! Thanks for the kind comments.
David
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
woodworm
home | projects | blog
8184 posts in 483 days
posted 263 days ago
Nice work on both the pedestal and the detail from sketch to finish!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
jcame
home | projects | blog
68 posts in 469 days
posted 263 days ago
David, I like the fact that you had a solid design plan throughout the process. I wish I were more sketchup savy, but I’m afraid to try it I guess. (Not so hot on the p.c.) I also follow The Folding Rule and its very informative. Keep up the GREAT work!!! By the way, beautiful piece!! Cherry is one of my all time favorite woods.
-- Jed,Ala,jmwoodworks057.com
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20575 posts in 715 days
posted 263 days ago
This is a really nice piece, David. I really appreciate the documentation that you added with it as well. Too often this is a part of the “history” of the project that is not included. I find it refreshing to get an idea of the process that was followed for a project from its initial design through plan finalization and then seeing the completed piece.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Chris Davis
home | projects | blog
554 posts in 875 days
posted 263 days ago
Thanks for the detailed posting of this project. You know you learn someting with each project. I love the leg adjustment. Great work.
-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
14161 posts in 1053 days
posted 263 days ago
very BEAUTIFUL
and thanks for the progress pix.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
dsb1829
home | projects | blog
369 posts in 520 days
posted 263 days ago
As always, great attention to detail. Leg levelers are a necessary evil in most homes. I like how these have been incorporated. Nice work.
-- Doug, woodworking in Alabama
Dusty56
home | projects | blog
3458 posts in 581 days
posted 263 days ago
WOW , She’s a real beauty right down to the hardware choice ! The levelers’ picture was a great addition along with all of the other tips that you’ve provided here . The finish looks perfect right now . I’d love to see this again after a few years of the Cherry being exposed to sunlight .
This is a great posting of an even greater project : )
Wonderful job , David !
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
7608 posts in 1111 days
posted 263 days ago
You are clearly a perfectionist, and it shows in every aspect of this piece… from the design right down to the tag hanging on it. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
David
home | projects | blog
1982 posts in 1032 days
posted 263 days ago
Thank you for all the supportive comments. Cherry is one of my all time favorite wood species to work with in the shop.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com