| Project by matt garcia | posted 122 days ago | 617 views | 3 times favorited | 27 comments | ![]() |
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
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27 comments so far
GaryK
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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?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
snowdog
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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"..
Bradford
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622 posts in 273 days
posted 122 days ago
That is a beauty.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
tenontim
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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
trifern
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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.
mjlauro
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190 posts in 212 days
posted 122 days ago
Great stuff, this is what I aspire to. Thanks for the posts.
pipes
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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 ?
jjohn
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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
Chris
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1164 posts in 442 days
posted 122 days ago
Wow…. Very impressive work Matt. Did you use Genuine Mahagony?
-- Chris
stanley2
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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
cowboy
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65 posts in 238 days
posted 122 days ago
Wonderful piece Matt you should be very proud
Cowboy
Kerry
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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
jockmike2
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4026 posts in 697 days
posted 122 days ago
Beautiful highboy, has the look of a master carpenter. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
willwall
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12 posts in 163 days
posted 122 days ago
great !
What kind of finish did you use?
-- Enjoy life !!
Kipster
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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
matt garcia
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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
miles125
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899 posts in 456 days
posted 122 days ago
Just a beautiful cabinet. You should be proud.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
Dusty56
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1024 posts in 139 days
posted 122 days ago
Superb job !!!
-- Dusty56@comcast.net
DocK16
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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
Scott Bryan
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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.
gbvinc
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363 posts in 397 days
posted 121 days ago
Very nicely done!
griff
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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
Bob A in NJ
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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
Les Hastings
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417 posts in 224 days
posted 120 days ago
Excellent work Matt!
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
Beginningwoodworker
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369 posts in 124 days
posted 120 days ago
Thats a real nice high boy.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
ND2ELK
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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
acanthuscarver
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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