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I made a pair of these display cabinets for a local electric cooperative. They were putting up a new office building and had to take down a very large red oak tree. I was asked to design and make a pair of display cabinets from the wood, where they could display things like old insulators, lineman tools, and such. The tree was way too large for me to mill on my Woodmizer LT15, so the coop had it milled elsewhere. I provided a cut list so that we could maximize quartersawn lumber to get stability in the wide back, top, and bottom panels and take advantage of oak's ray flecks. I dried the sawn lumber in my solar kiln, which took about eight months (we loaded the kiln in late September, so it was a winter drying period, not conducive to good solar drying in Eastern Virginia). Since the tree had grown out in the open, it had its share of blackened wood from lightning strikes (I ruled out metal in the tree, since I could find none), but otherwise it was sound lumber and made very nice cabinets. To top off the piece, the door pulls were turned in the shape of glass insulators found in electrical distribution.

Red Oak Quartersawn, Double Strength Glass, Walnut Pulls, Shellac Polish
72"H x 50"W x 22-1/2"D (A 40" wide version was also made)

Here's a four part video series about making these pieces:

View on YouTube

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
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3,100 Posts
Very nice! Should last the company for years. Even better that it is made from a tree on their property!
 

· Registered
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19,753 Posts
Excellent work Andy a very nice piece.
 

· Registered
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1,480 Posts
Very nice. I'm impressed with the lines. Simple but effective. Beautiful work. I like it a lot.
 

· In Loving Memory
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8,391 Posts
Extremely nice work on this Andy. I have always like this type of display case as it looks light but still has a good sense of presence.
 

· Registered
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41 Posts
Thanks for all the nice comments. Andy
 

· Registered
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5,387 Posts
I also like your Cabinet,The porportions are very good.It almost looks wider at the bottom that gives it a solid heft, yet it has a nice airiness to it. Bravo Thanks for sharing.
 

· Registered
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41 Posts
You are very welcome, Aj2.
 
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