| Project by Halfbubblepastplumb | posted 63 days ago | 382 views | 1 time favorited | 7 comments |  |
 |
This set of ash shelves was designed for the last house we lived in . 39 inches long, about 36 high. The arches are steam-bent oak. The curve is the same as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which I’ve always admired. You get that curve by suspending a chain between two points. I did that, plotted it onto a piece of plywood, and built a mold for the oak to bend around. Steaming is low-tech and fun. A hot plate, a piece of 4” pvc drain pipe, a tea kettle,some radiator hose, and Voila! Bending on hot oak is cool: it goes on the mold like a piece of frozen rubber. You keep expecting it to shatter, but she just goes right ‘round the corner. Finish is lacquer.
-- Dave E. "People who are competent are worth the oil it will take to fry them in hell." --Mencken
7 comments so far
stefang
home | projects | blog
1656 posts in 234 days
posted 63 days ago
That’s a very imaginative and attractive design and a good build Dave. I saw the arch back in 1965 when I took a route 66 trip to Chicago from Los Angeles. It was a long way off but still very impressive.
-- Mike, American in Norway
John Stegall
home | projects | blog
216 posts in 416 days
posted 63 days ago
I once worked with a guy whose sil was the contractor on building the arch. I especially like how you cut the arches into the shelves. I imagine that made it very stable.
-- jstegall
huff
home | projects | blog
1630 posts in 185 days
posted 63 days ago
Dave, That is one cool design. Great job.
-- John @ Myrtle Beach
Innovator
home | projects | blog
3125 posts in 313 days
posted 63 days ago
It came out fantastic.
What a great look.
Rob
-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
choppertoo
home | projects | blog
63 posts in 213 days
posted 62 days ago
Very cool design Dave. I really like the look.
-- The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that our aim is too low and we reach it.. Michelangelo
Jimi_C
home | projects | blog
201 posts in 135 days
posted 62 days ago
I live in St. Louis, definitely like this one :)
mcoyfrog
home | projects | blog
824 posts in 494 days
posted 60 days ago
great design, sleek, simple, elegant I love it
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug