Cabinet Restoration, before

I had the opportunity to study the old masters. A local tattoo artist had this in his shop and it caught my eye, under all the dirt and age was an incredible piece. We got to talking and I offered to restore it as best I could, although it occured to me it may be too far gone. I think he was hesitant to send this piece off to live with a stranger for a few months, but within a few days of our discussion, he called, and I was on my way to pick it up. After getting it home and into my tiny shop I stood back and gauged the pile of work ahead of me. Overwhelmed, and feeling in over my head, the cabinet sat in the corner aging and gaining more dust while I slowly developed a plan of attack in my meager head. When I was between other projects I would sit and stare at the piece. This allowed me to realize that as with everything we build, it is simply a series of steps to an intended outcome. Small, manageable steps are not nearly as difficult as the beast as a whole. I was wrong, it was all tough. But it taught me a lot. I don’t know when it was built but these guys knew what they were doing. Beautiful tight joints, although dry, still together under years of humidity then dryness, heat then cold, storage, then hard use. The drawer box bottoms had shrunk both length and width wise and the interior framing was failing but it was still standing proud, demanding respect. It took longer to complete then I thought it would, but it is done, and I am a better craftsman for the experience. The owner couldn’t be happier and I will be compensated with an original piece of his incredible art. He is truly a master tattooist and the piece he has designed for me is stunning, it will be a priviledge to wear it.

-- Sometimes when I am building something and it is out of square, I just bend my square.