LumberJocks

Aalto Inspired Tea Cart

Project by bfd posted 88 days ago 418 views 2 times favorited 30 comments Add to Favorites
Aalto Inspired Tea Cart Aalto Inspired Tea Cart Aalto Inspired Tea Cart Click the pictures to enlarge them

I am happy to say that I have completed my most recent project…Finally! More challenging then anything I have previously done. The project took 70 hours to complete not including the roughly ten hours it took to figure out and build the bending forms. I am very happy with the end result. The client picks it up tomorrow and since I am not shipping this piece I will get her reaction first hand something I seldom get to experience. I have blogged most of the process minus the final push due to the deadline. Again, materials are quartered figured ash veneer and ash solids, white mosaic glass tiles, and Painted MDF wheels. The client provided the clear plastic insert and I also wove the basket that it sits in. Dimensions: 35”L x 21”w x 28 1/2”H. The client who is also a designer came up with the design borrowing heavily from Alvar Aalto.

Here are a few more detail shots.

And some shots of the jig I build to help aid in assembly and to transport

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com


30 comments so far

View CoolDavion's profile

CoolDavion

143 posts in 362 days


posted 88 days ago

I caught pieces and parts of the buliding, very nicely done.

View darryl's profile

darryl

986 posts in 864 days


posted 88 days ago

great shape on the legs/handle.

-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~

View Jarrod Zion Murphree's profile

Jarrod Zion Murphree

230 posts in 261 days


posted 88 days ago

Brian,

Definitely one of my favorite projects on LJ. Incredible work, your blog was great, and your attention to detail is impeccable.

Maaaahhhhhhh-velous.

Regards, JM

-- Jarrod, Eagle Nest, NM http://anthologyfinefurniture.wordpress.com

View Kiersten's profile

Kiersten

35 posts in 190 days


posted 88 days ago

Gorgeous! Simply amazing!!

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

View mdf's profile

mdf

35 posts in 513 days


posted 88 days ago

Great job!

View kolwdwrkr's profile

kolwdwrkr

475 posts in 127 days


posted 88 days ago

This project looks really good. I like the bent lamination a lot. How do you think the MDF wheels will hold up? I guess it probably won’t get rolled around a rock garden, lol, and shouldn’t matter. Piece looks good. Great job

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

View Bigbuck's profile

Bigbuck

1050 posts in 201 days


posted 88 days ago

Very nice, it came out great.

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View DAN's profile

DAN

3500 posts in 520 days


posted 88 days ago

I like it.

-- ..... art for lifes sake ... danwalters@lumberjocks.com

View trifern's profile

trifern

4974 posts in 304 days


posted 88 days ago

I really like the bent forms. Thanks for sharing.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

View iozl's profile

iozl

2 posts in 337 days


posted 88 days ago

Wow, this is really cool. I’m excited to check out your blog to find out how you did the bending.

View FritzM's profile

FritzM

104 posts in 350 days


posted 88 days ago

you nailed it Brian! Congrats! Way to take a big risk and see it through. I bet your client is psyched!

-- Fritz Oakland, Ca http://www.muegenburg.com (dedicated to my other hobby)

View woodyone's profile

woodyone

223 posts in 128 days


posted 88 days ago

Very Good.

Woody.

-- Woody, UK

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

729 posts in 529 days


posted 88 days ago

Slick :) I love steam bent work and this turned out great, sure she’ll love it.

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

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

12282 posts in 698 days


posted 88 days ago

awesome.. you need a third person there to snap a picture of her look of amazement when she sees it :)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View ChicoWoodnut's profile

ChicoWoodnut

749 posts in 353 days


posted 88 days ago

Nice job Brian. Making those bent laminates looks like a challenge but you have pulled it off perfectly.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

View Dennis Zongker's profile

Dennis Zongker

293 posts in 129 days


posted 88 days ago

Nice craftsmanship!!!

-- Dennis Zongker

View bfd's profile

bfd

303 posts in 344 days


posted 88 days ago

Wow, Thanks everybody for your comments! Now to start another bent lamination project this weekend…a floor lamp.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1753 posts in 254 days


posted 88 days ago

superb work very beautiful concept congratulations

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View oldskoolmodder's profile

oldskoolmodder

301 posts in 217 days


posted 87 days ago

That has seriously got to be the best looking tea cart I’ve ever seen! Great Job!

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

View LeeinEdmonton's profile

LeeinEdmonton

94 posts in 119 days


posted 87 days ago

What flair & craftmanship….beautiful. For that reason….I don’t like the wheels, they divert attention from the excellence of the cart. Quick…paint them mellow yellow before she sees them.

-- Lee

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

539 posts in 122 days


posted 87 days ago

I was just about to say the same as Lee I don’t like the wheels as they let this wonderful ,nay ,beautifully designed and made piece .I am sorry but otherwise beautifully made.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

View bfd's profile

bfd

303 posts in 344 days


posted 87 days ago

Lee & Scotsman

thank you for your comments and know that I respect your advice/opinion regarding the wheels. I just want to pass on some additional background on this. The clients design was based on the Aalto originals that I have attached. Besides the bent lamination the oversized white wheels are the second most important design element and truly give the cart its modern ethereal quality. It also helps unify the use of the white tile. Again just my opinion. Our differences in opinion is what make all of us unique in what we build which I personally think is great. Thanks for your honesty.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

View oldskoolmodder's profile

oldskoolmodder

301 posts in 217 days


posted 87 days ago

Brian, I had the same thought about the wheels as the fellows above, however after seeing the original pics, I can see why you would honor the original idea. VERY modernistic.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

View EternalDesign's profile

EternalDesign

85 posts in 532 days


posted 87 days ago

You killed it nice work man. Im looking forward to the lamp.

-- Brian, Eternal Furniture & Design http://www.eternal-furniture.com Repurpose Reclaim,Stay Green

View Jojo's profile

Jojo

374 posts in 509 days


posted 87 days ago

I’ve never been a great Aalto fan—too scandinavian for my tastes. Who would imagine… Duh!—but I got to say that I find your design way much streamlined and overall better that the more boxy original inspiration.

Yours has an ethereal quality that Aalto’s, unfortunately, lacks.

kolwdwrkr: On the issue of the durability of the MDF wheels, maybe making a small groove centered in the edge and inserting a glued rubber “rope”, you know, like a giant toric joint, would solve it. But then, perhaps it would draw too much attention from the rest of the design. What about an edge lamination/veenering painted in white?

In any case you did a great selection of woods and materials and an amazing job with this project, Brian.

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://www.japanese-woodworking-tools.com/ · http://twitter.com/japanesetools

View bfd's profile

bfd

303 posts in 344 days


posted 87 days ago

Hi Jojo, Thank you. I too was worried about the the mdf simply being painted out on the edge so I did use a laminate edge banding before I painted out the wheels giving it a crisp look at the same time protecting the otherwise fragile edge of the mdf.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

View Napaman's profile

Napaman

2092 posts in 614 days


posted 87 days ago

turned out great!!! I hope you sell a million…get it in some boutique-eee mags…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...119 days to sanity...

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1684 posts in 240 days


posted 86 days ago

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/

View Jojo's profile

Jojo

374 posts in 509 days


posted 84 days ago

See Brian? Great minds think alike… :o)

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://www.japanese-woodworking-tools.com/ · http://twitter.com/japanesetools

View Alejandro Galo Moreno's profile

Alejandro Galo Moreno

75 posts in 151 days


posted 58 days ago

Great job. The bent lamination well done. I agree with you in the solution you used for the wheels. I like scandinavian design, specially went it doesn´t look like a ot of different parts just put together, I prefer some kind of integration, of “melting” together of the components.

-- Alejandro Moreno, CANARY ISLANDS

You must be signed in to post the comments.

Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

Woodworking StoreApparel StoreMake a Donation
Bookmark And Share This Page
  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: All views and comments posted by members are not necessarily those of LumberJocks.com or of those working on the site.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase