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Bonnet Top Highboy in Genuine Mahogany

Project by matt garcia posted 122 days ago 617 views 3 times favorited 27 comments Add to Favorites
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matt garcia

172 posts in 123 days


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highboy chest mahogany

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Bonnet Top Highboy in Genuine Mahogany Bonnet Top Highboy in Genuine Mahogany Bonnet Top Highboy in Genuine Mahogany Click the pictures to enlarge them

Here is this years pride and joy! After I finished the Lowboy, I was ready for another challenge. I originally wanted to build another lowboy, in a different species, but started contemplating a Highboy. So I ordered the plan from New Yankee, and a set of legs, and here it is. Every aspect of this project was meticulously planned out. From the bookmatched side panels (upper case, and lower), to the one piece, 16” wide scroll board, to the bonnet moldings that originated from a solid piece of 12/4 Mahogany. The lower case is constructed exactly like the Lowboy, with the exception of the dust frame in lieu of the 2 piece top. The upper case is joined with through dovetails. The drawer dividers are dadoed, and dovetailed into the side panels. The bonnet top is formed with Italian bending plywood, and veneered with mahogany veneer. All of the drawers are rabbetted half blind/through dovetail joinery, in Aspen and faced in Mahogany. This is my first project to apply carving. The center of the scroll board, and the 2 middle drawers feature a carving. And a not too bad of a carving if I do say so myself. The finials were turned by Bruno Wesolek, the famed Houston woodturner (thanks, Bruno!!). Bruno loves this piece, and coming from him, it means a lot!! I went all out on the solid brass hardware on this piece also. I stared at a picture of a Highboy all summer, wondering if I could do it! I guess I can!

-- Matt, Houston Texas


27 comments so far

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

8411 posts in 439 days


posted 122 days ago

Great looking Highboy!

I did the opposite and made the highboy first and then the lowboy. Mine are also made from mahogany.

Working with mahogany is great, huh?

Click for details

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View snowdog's profile

snowdog

593 posts in 433 days


posted 122 days ago

That sure is something to be proud of. Congratulation.

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

View Bradford's profile

Bradford

622 posts in 273 days


posted 122 days ago

That is a beauty.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

View tenontim's profile

tenontim

844 posts in 195 days


posted 122 days ago

Great work, Matt. That is a beautiful piece of furniture. Thanks for the post.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

View trifern's profile (online now)

trifern

3413 posts in 218 days


posted 122 days ago

Awesome craftsmanship, lumber choice and finish.

-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.

View mjlauro's profile

mjlauro

190 posts in 212 days


posted 122 days ago

Great stuff, this is what I aspire to. Thanks for the posts.

View pipes's profile

pipes

51 posts in 167 days


posted 122 days ago

Nice work Matt. Mahogany is nice looking wood and even nicer to work with

-- Larry...IF A MAN SPEAKS IN THE FOREST AND THERE'S NO WOMAN TO HEAR HIM, IS HE STILL WRONG ?

View jjohn's profile

jjohn

393 posts in 164 days


posted 122 days ago

How long did it take for you to finish this one ? Must have taken some time. A lot of different challenges here. You do SO! very well with the carving seeing it was you first time. Great job. Well done.

-- JJohn

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1164 posts in 442 days


posted 122 days ago

Wow…. Very impressive work Matt. Did you use Genuine Mahagony?

-- Chris

View stanley2's profile

stanley2

183 posts in 246 days


posted 122 days ago

Matt – very nice work – I’m trying to work up the courage to undertake a period piece – yours is inspirational

-- Phil in British Columbia

View cowboy's profile

cowboy

65 posts in 238 days


posted 122 days ago

Wonderful piece Matt you should be very proud

Cowboy

View Kerry's profile

Kerry

104 posts in 241 days


posted 122 days ago

Ahh, my dream project…. I love it. Must be a joy to have in your house.

Great job,
Kerry

-- Alberta, Canada

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

4026 posts in 697 days


posted 122 days ago

Beautiful highboy, has the look of a master carpenter. mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

View willwall's profile

willwall

12 posts in 163 days


posted 122 days ago

great !

What kind of finish did you use?

-- Enjoy life !!

View Kipster's profile

Kipster

833 posts in 204 days


posted 122 days ago

Beautiful highboy Good choice of grain.

-- Kip Northern Illinois ( If you don't know where your goin any road will take you there) George Harrison

View matt garcia's profile

matt garcia

172 posts in 123 days


posted 122 days ago

Thanks guys!! Well to answer your questions, I started this the day after Thanksgiving, 2007. I finished it on 3/12/08. So I guess it took right at 5 months, working on weekends, and weekday evenings. I like to dimension my lumber, and cut my joinery, dry fit and glue on the weekends. I spend the weekday evenings sanding. The finish is Seal a Cell sealer in and out, and Armor Seal for a top coat, 4 coats. Yes, this is Genuine Mahogany, with the exception of the scroll board, it is African. I really wanted a one piece board for the scroll board, and I couldn’t find one in that width(16”).
Gary, you were the inspiration for me joining! I did see your Highboy, and Lowboy. They were the first pieces I looked at, in fact. Stanley, don’t let the appearance of these pieces detract you. I felt the same way you did, when I first built the Lowboy. Just remember to cut your side panels to length, and width in pairs, along with the back panels, and front apron. That was the hardest lesson for me to learn. It is a common practice for me now.

-- Matt, Houston Texas

View miles125's profile

miles125

899 posts in 456 days


posted 122 days ago

Just a beautiful cabinet. You should be proud.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

1024 posts in 139 days


posted 122 days ago

Superb job !!!

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

View DocK16's profile

DocK16

408 posts in 538 days


posted 122 days ago

I GUESS YOU CAN! Looks like the Leigh Jig came in handy on the drawers.

-- DocK, WV

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

8577 posts in 273 days


posted 121 days ago

This is a stunning piece. You did a wonderful job on the construction and finish.

Great post.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View gbvinc's profile

gbvinc

363 posts in 397 days


posted 121 days ago

Very nicely done!

View griff's profile

griff

422 posts in 213 days


posted 121 days ago

Smooooooooth Very nice cabinet, wona try one myself oneday

-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

303 posts in 450 days


posted 120 days ago

Outstanding work. Norm’s plans and your craftsmanship are a great pair. I made his lowboy last year and trying to decide on the highboy piece next. Congratulations on a job – very well done.

-- Bob A in NJ

View Les Hastings's profile

Les Hastings

417 posts in 224 days


posted 120 days ago

Excellent work Matt!

-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)

View Beginningwoodworker's profile

Beginningwoodworker

369 posts in 124 days


posted 120 days ago

Thats a real nice high boy.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

2268 posts in 225 days


posted 116 days ago

Exquisite design and detail. You do some very nice work. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

View acanthuscarver's profile

acanthuscarver

106 posts in 163 days


posted 107 days ago

Matt,

Awesome highboy! Great job, nicely done. Keep up the good work.

-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com

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