| Project by TheDane | posted 96 days ago | 722 views | 0 times favorited | 14 comments |  |
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Who would think a cupboard that is 18” wide, 24” high, and 3” deep would cost over a Grand?
This one did … sort of. The material for the cabinet itself only cost a few dollars (maple scraps from a millwork shop going-out-of-business sale, some plywood, a sheet of acrylic, about $3 for the hinges and knob, $8 for yardsticks, and some home-brew shellac). The rest of the cost was what you might call ‘collateral damage’ ($200 for material for a new workbench, $250 for workbench hardware and vises, $500 for a new jointer, etc. You need tools to build these things!).
Seriously, this was a fun little project that helped me learn a little about using hand tools. And it filled a real need for my wife’s sewing room. She has a growing collection of thread, and needed a way to organize it and make it convenient. Sewing is her hobby and she creates some really terrific handiwork (see picture of quilt with the creator).
Full disclosure: The design is not all mine. Some guy that advertises in sewing magazines sells a ‘pattern’ for about $10 … I put ‘pattern’ in quotes because there is no plan, drawings, etc. It is a just a narrative that directs you to basically nail some pine boards together. The one good thing in his ‘pattern’, and the only thing I used, is the mitered yardsticks used around the face frame.
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi
14 comments so far
3fingerpat
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922 posts in 568 days
posted 96 days ago
I like your style of thinking ;O) Looks like our wives suffer from the same hobby. I know I will be copying this for sure for my wife’s sewing room. Nice work.
-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"
TheDane
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209 posts in 563 days
posted 96 days ago
A couple of details … the case is 3/4” thick and 2 1/4” deep with a 1/4” rabbet to receive the plywood back. The door is 3/4” x 3/4” with a 3/32” rabbet to receive the acrylic. The 6 shelves are 1/4” thick, 17” long and fit into dadoes in the cabinet sides. Shelf spacing sis 3”, which should accomodate just abotu any common sizes of thread on spools.
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi
3fingerpat
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922 posts in 568 days
posted 96 days ago
My wife loved your post and promptly pulled out the plans she bought of this project for me to build for her, go figure.
-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"
reggiek
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719 posts in 170 days
posted 96 days ago
Very Nice.
I’m with you 3finger…my better half is into sewing – and she is also into collecting dolls….to me its about as exciting as watching the lawn grow…and I’m sure my tool/wood infatuation has the same effect on her. I have learned over the years to compliment and acknowledge her accomplishments (whether I know what the heck they are or not) – I am sure she does the same for me….One thing for sure though she sure enjoys when I make something that helps her out….
-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!
CharlieM1958
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7696 posts in 1118 days
posted 96 days ago
Now I have to convince my wife she needs one of these…. I could really use a jointer. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
a1Jim
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17211 posts in 477 days
posted 96 days ago
Time to move on to your $2000 vanity.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
MsDebbieP
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14188 posts in 1060 days
posted 95 days ago
haha good story :)
great idea for the yardsticks. End result: priceless!!
well done.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
TheDane
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209 posts in 563 days
posted 95 days ago
a1Jim … Gee, I dunno … can you build a vanity for just $2K? How much does a new Delta Unisaw cost? (lol)
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi
kcrandy
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85 posts in 332 days
posted 95 days ago
A new project is just a reason to buy a new tool.
Do tell us about homemade shellac! Love to have the formula.
-- Caulk and paint are a poor carpenter's best friends
patron
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2465 posts in 241 days
posted 95 days ago
good way to go ,
really positive thinking !
after the bathroom ,
maybe some porch furniture ,
mortised of course !
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
Innovator
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3125 posts in 313 days
posted 95 days ago
Nice cupboard, and I agree you need tools to build stuff.
For this reason I love new projects.
-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
TheDane
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209 posts in 563 days
posted 94 days ago
kcrandy—I grind de-waxed orange shellac flakes into powder in a coffee grinder. For details:
http://lumberjocks.com/David/blog/6109
http://www.inthewoodshop.org/finish/polish.shtml
-- The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. -- Vincent T. Lombardi
papadan
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483 posts in 268 days
posted 84 days ago
$1,000 cabinet, I think not! More like $1,200, LOYL has to fill it with thread now and that stuff aint cheap. LOL Nice job, and “no” I aint showing it to LOML.
-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com
Cantputjamontoast
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174 posts in 332 days
posted 32 days ago
I understand ,
you would not believe how many $800 trout dinners or 900 dollars meals of duck I have had. It is all cheaper than a shrink getting you to spill your guts about having weird feelings for you Mom or the fact that they treated your sister better than you.
About Shrinks
My favorite line is DeNiro telling Billy Crystal the shrink “if you turn me into a ….... I’m gonna kill you.”
-- "Not skilled enough to wipe jam on toast!"