Black Lacquer Bookcases

Chris, this is a real handsome pair. I like the flutes which are not quite as easy as one would think. Just the slightes miss-spaced flute shows up. The finish is lovely.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

Really high-quality pieces. Don is right about the flutes and the finish.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Chris, Classic lines, they’ll remain is fashion forever!

-- Dan in Central Oklahoma, Able to turn good wood into saw dust in the blink of an eye!

I do have a slight mis-spacing. I cut the flutes by cutting the center flute and the moving the fince to cut the next two on either side. If you think about it, if you are off 1/32 of an inch with the center, that will make the two sides off 1/16 from each other. It is compounded and you can see that every easy by just looking. I kind of fixed it by sanding a little to help them match.

-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm

Chris -

These are very nice. I like the flawless finish! The flutes look great.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

they look fantastic. You did a great job. My sister wants me to build her a bookshelf for her house.

-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com

These are really nice. You did fantastic detail but tastefully. I find most bookcases busy with detail and I overcompensate with mine by understating them. These are really quite nice!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

These are beautiful bookcases!

I like the idea of using MDF for the shelves. That would save some $$$ and MDF is very flat and would take the finish nicely. I have never used it for shelves though, since I didn’t think it would have enough lateral strength to carry the books without sagging. I’ll have to check out the “sagulator” – thanks for the tip!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

I’ve never had any problems with using MDF especially when hardwood is applied to the front. In the quote I originally figured putting a back support on the shelf like I did on the front, but that would have been an overkill. The eye can see a deflection of 1/32 per foot. I have about a 2.5’ span on shelf. That would give me a little under .08 total allowable deflection. By putting in the size of the shelf and the weight (I figure 20lbs/foot) in the Sagulator I get a total sag of .07”. So I am good even without adding the hardwood trim of hardwood. One draw back to MDF is if dropped on the corner, it doesn’t hold up as good as other materials, but not a big risk on shelves that are not handled much.

-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm

Very nice looking bookcases. Excellent woodworking job. jockmike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Great BookcasesChris. I like the flutes and the color. The picture seems to have a greenish tint. Is that a reflection off the wall?

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

It is very hard to take a picture of black. You get a reflection off it real easy and can’t see any detail. I had to take it with the flash off and I alway turns out green. I usually fix it in Photoshop, but didn’t have time. Any know any secrets on taking pictures of black objects.

-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm

stunning/ very elegant looking!

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

These came out super!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Chris, In regard to the maple cap you applied to the front of the shelves; how thick was it, and how did you attach it? Was it with biscuits / dowels or what?

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

The maple cap was around 3/8” thick. I had to take it down from 3/4” because of the fluting. The shelf would have came out flush with the face frame past the edge of the flute. Sometimes I rabbit out 3/8” x 3/4” on the hardwood to make the trim look smaller and make it a better joint, but since the cap was only 3/8. I just glued and nailed it.

-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm

Nice job Chris!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Thanks for the comments. I’m new to this site and everyone is very nice.

-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm

Great job Chris. They make a nice set of matching book cases.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com