Dressing table

Nice job on the top and drawers. Did you pattern routing to cut the top?

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

Thanks Karson. I created two templates using a fairing curve, one concave, the other convex. I transferred the template outline to the top pieces, rough cut with a bandsaw, then finished it up with a flush-cut router bit. I followed the same process for the “false” drawer fronts, except cleaned them up with a sander (tough to get a router bit that tall). Then I made a form using the same templates and laminated/bent three 1/8” maple pieces for the ultimate drawer fronts.

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

Are you stating that the drawer fronts are 3/8” thick. They look thicker.

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

Hello DAVE
Great project ! really awesome work. beautiful choice of materials and methods. Warm Welcome to lj’s !!!

DAN

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Welcome to Lumberjocks. Great first project. keep ‘em coming!!

-- Thos. Angle

Here are some “under construction” pictures.

The template:

Partial top glue-up:

Laminating form:

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

Karson asked “Are you stating that the drawer fronts are 3/8” thick. They look thicker.”

I used a “false front” from thick maple, cut inside and outside to match the profile of the top. (There’s probably a name for what I’m calling the false front, but I can’t think of it.) Then the “real front,” from the 3/8” lamination was attached.

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

Great post. Anything special related to the pins on the drawers? Just dowels?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

That is really pretty… It looks like pretty intense work tho.. Did you take all those little blocks and cut them out and glue them to get the curved look? What type of try are you using?? You did a really good job…

Cheryl

Very impressive work. I appreciate the matched grain across the drawer fronts and the drawer lock and pin detail. The angled detail on the sides really adds to this too. Is this your own design?

-- Matt - Syracuse, NY

Wow. Thanks for all the nice – and quick – comments and questions.

WayneC – I used a rabbeted half dovetail on the drawers and added the small pins for a little more strength. I wasn’t really thinking looks, but I like the way they turned out.

You’ll see that the sides of the two outer drawers are asymmetrical. The outside side is a couple of inches shorter than the inside side. As you might be able to tell from this picture, I cut the front rabbet on the long end first on a 1.5” (?) block of maple, then glued to this a second 1.5” block of maple and cut the other front rabbet. I used this approach because I cut the rabbets on a router table (no handcut dovetails for me – sorry).

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

yakerjax asked: “Did you take all those little blocks and cut them out and glue them to get the curved look?”
I first bent a long piece of 1/4” stock to get a pleasing look – this is the fairing curve. I then glued the small blocks to attach the curve to a piece of MDF to make the convex template. Then a second 1/4” piece is butted up to the first, and the same “glue a billion blocks” technique is used to make the matching concave template. I learned this approach from a FWW article from a few years back. I can easily get a issue number if anyone is interested.

“What type of try are you using??” – Sorry, don’t understand the question…

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

MattD asked: “Is this your own design?”

Yes, although I borrowed some design elements and techniques from others. I managed to come up with the technique I described above for joining the asymmetrical drawers (but I won’t claim that this was original or even the best approach).

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

Very nice piece and Welcome to our little Community. Got to reall appreciate a craftsman that has wooden floors in his shop. Got to be easier on the feet that the cold, hard concrete in my cramped shop. I really like your detailed explanation of your project.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Beautiful piece of work! I’m intrigued by the “glue a billion blocks” method that you described. I have to confess, I don’t completely understand what it was for. Are they just a means of securing the fairing curve to the template? Is the curve removed after the blocks are in place? Sorry, I’m probably not understanding well at all what you did. Surely, the end result is pleasing! Nice work!

-- Robb

beautiful: elegant, delicate, soft.
Nicely done

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

That is really beautiful. The curved front really “makes” it!

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

Beautiful work!

What type of spraying equipment did you use on the project?

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

Robb – Sorry, my description of the template construction was pretty clumsy. This picture should clarify how the blocks secure the curve to the MDF:

Even better is Carol Koebbeman’s FWW (#179) article from which I learned the technique. And it turns out that the FWW website even has a video: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/wvt116.asp

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

TomFran asked about spraying equipment. I used:

- Porter-Cable Gravity Feed Spray Gun #PSH1 w/ standard nozzle

- 27 gal air compressor (6.0 CFM 40 psi, 4.0 CFM 90 psi)

- Deft waterborne acrylic finish (w/ no thinning).

As I mentioned, this was the first time I sprayed, but won’t be the last. I especially appreciated the efficiency in finishing the drawers.

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

Dave, thanks for the clarification! Again, wonderful work. Looking forward to seeing more!

-- Robb

wow very impressive

-- JAnderson: Columbus, OH

Beautiful craftsmanship.

-- Doug, Cass City, Michigan

I like this piece a lot, clean design and perfectly executed, good job all round.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Everyone has pretty much said it all.

But i really love this piece. it’s very relaxing on the eyes to me. the mellow/warm tones. really show the beauty of the design.

“Great Work”

-- Jason, Wood Working Has Taken Over My Life. And I Love It.

Beautiful table, I think you did a great job of designing.

I may be a little late with this comment, but I decided to view all of your projects today.

That’s my new plan for now. This site is so busy its been real hard keeping up.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Very nice! Thanks for posting the process pics, and the link to the video! Very nice resources!

-- Blessings, Steve. Upstate NY. http://www.campingclassics.com

Really, really refined work!

-- Roger - Havertown, Pennsylvania

Wow! That is really beautiful work. This is going into my favorites! I want to modify this front design for a hall / sofa table. Welcome to LJ.

-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke

I am glad Tom pulled this from the archives, or I wouldn’t have seen it. Great job on the table. How’s the mirror and chair coming?

Thanks rikkor. The mirror is finished – I’ll get it posted one of these days. We’ve moved the chair down in priority, so it’s now pretty much buried in the project queue.

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

Beautiful table

-- jeanmarc manosque france