Walnut Wall Cabinet

I wanted a very exclusive item for the display at HomeShow Daily. It had to be on the wall because almost all the floor space was taken. I drew a sketch and decided to use Walnut because it is the all American wood. Besides I was sick and tired of Alder. I started drawing and it just grew from there. I wanted arches and panels and carved leather on the door. I wanted it to look better than “just another kitchen cabinet”. The main wood is quarter sawn Walnut. I used four pieces of Alder plywood for the top, stretchers, bottom and fixed shelf.I decided on the ply because it helps to eliminate expansion problems. The bottom and shelf are set into 1/4 inch deep dadoes. The solid top is a piece of alder ply with a 2 3/4 inch edge mitered on. The door and drawer have a 3/8 inch lip. The dovetailed drawer slides on the plywood bottom and is guided by side rails and kickers. Carleen insisted the movable shelf had to be solid Walnut. I stained the fixed shelf with Benwood Special Walnut stain and was quite happy with the result. The back panel is 3/8 shiplap Maple left natural. The cabinet was finished by first brushing on a good coat of boiled linseed oil then wiped off and let dry for about 48 hours. Next came two coats of shelac followed by about 8 coats of SW Medium Rubbed Effect laquer. The leather is skirting and was given a coat of olive oil then Neatlac followed by Sheridan Brown Fiebing’s Antique Finish and Fiebing’s Tan Coat. As you can see in the photos the panel is removeable. The pulls are from Tandy and are screw back conchos. Tandy sells a post to make a screw back concho into a drawer pull. I wanted to have hand made conchos from sterling but all my silversmith friends were busy, maybe later.
From the time I made the first drawing of this project, something about it said “Russian”. After I got the top and crown molding on it really took on that look to me and I decided it looked like a Russian Orthodox Icon Cabinet. I could be wrong because I’ve not seen many of those but that was my impression. I’ve decided to do another of these from Pecan. Instead of the top portion of the leather carving I will carve a Long Horn steer head. I think I’ll name it “Icon” and ship it to Texas.
( sorry about the poor pictures I ahd to photograph this in the display because my camera was in Hawaii when it was finished, darned kids!)

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon