| Project by matt garcia | posted 568 days ago | 1980 views | 3 times favorited | 31 comments | ![]() |
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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































31 comments so far
GaryK
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9533 posts in 884 days
posted 568 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?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
snowdog
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808 posts in 879 days
posted 568 days ago
That sure is something to be proud of. Congratulation.
-- "so much to learn and so little time"..
Bradford
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787 posts in 719 days
posted 568 days ago
That is a beauty.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
tenontim
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1319 posts in 640 days
posted 568 days ago
Great work, Matt. That is a beautiful piece of furniture. Thanks for the post.
-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com
trifern
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7894 posts in 663 days
posted 568 days ago
Awesome craftsmanship, lumber choice and finish.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
mjlauro
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239 posts in 657 days
posted 567 days ago
Great stuff, this is what I aspire to. Thanks for the posts.
pipes
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52 posts in 612 days
posted 567 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 ?
jjohn
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391 posts in 610 days
posted 567 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
Chris
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1469 posts in 887 days
posted 567 days ago
Wow…. Very impressive work Matt. Did you use Genuine Mahagony?
-- Chris
stanley2
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278 posts in 691 days
posted 567 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
cowboy
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64 posts in 683 days
posted 567 days ago
Wonderful piece Matt you should be very proud
Cowboy
Kerry
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131 posts in 686 days
posted 567 days ago
Ahh, my dream project…. I love it. Must be a joy to have in your house.
Great job,
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada
jockmike2
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7323 posts in 1142 days
posted 567 days ago
Beautiful highboy, has the look of a master carpenter. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
willwall
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22 posts in 608 days
posted 567 days ago
great !
What kind of finish did you use?
-- Enjoy life !!
Kipster
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1072 posts in 649 days
posted 567 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
matt garcia
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722 posts in 568 days
posted 567 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
miles125
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1425 posts in 901 days
posted 567 days ago
Just a beautiful cabinet. You should be proud.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
Dusty56
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3470 posts in 584 days
posted 567 days ago
Superb job !!!
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
DocK16
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710 posts in 983 days
posted 567 days ago
I GUESS YOU CAN! Looks like the Leigh Jig came in handy on the drawers.
-- DocK, WV
Scott Bryan
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20707 posts in 718 days
posted 567 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.
gbvinc
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538 posts in 842 days
posted 566 days ago
Very nicely done!
griff
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927 posts in 658 days
posted 566 days ago
Smooooooooth Very nice cabinet, wona try one myself oneday
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
Bob A in NJ
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530 posts in 895 days
posted 566 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
Les Hastings
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953 posts in 669 days
posted 566 days ago
Excellent work Matt!
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
Beginningwoodworker
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4187 posts in 569 days
posted 565 days ago
Thats a real nice high boy.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
ND2ELK
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6202 posts in 670 days
posted 561 days ago
Exquisite design and detail. You do some very nice work. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
acanthuscarver
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157 posts in 608 days
posted 553 days ago
Matt,
Awesome highboy! Great job, nicely done. Keep up the good work.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
mgradwohl
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190 posts in 709 days
posted 319 days ago
Just saw this project today—nice work!
Bob A in NJ
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530 posts in 895 days
posted 304 days ago
Matt
Ok, this is the gold standard for me now. This is every bit as nice as Norm’s. So far, I’ve got the sides, back and front apron done, (all the easy stuff). I’m curious about how long ((# of hours) you have in the “S” molding. I’ve got Norm’s video and he sure makes a lot on the second episode (drawers, carving, roof, turnings). How long did the “S” take you? Did you do it the same way Norm did?
This is just “Great work”!!
Bob 1/26/2009
-- Bob A in NJ
janice
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299 posts in 321 days
posted 290 days ago
Very, very nice piece of furniture.
-- Janice
Lee A. Jesberger
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3710 posts in 875 days
posted 280 days ago
Hi Matt;
I don’t know how I missed this project.
Fantastic workmanship.
Simply masterful.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com