Step-back Cupboard Build #5: Plane, joint, glue, clamp and repeat.

Tonight was panel making time for the 6 shelves in this cupboard. The bottom and middle shelves are wider because they will dado into the sides. Furthermore, the center shelf gets even more treatment because it forms the top of the closed portion of the cupboard and extends out a little on three sides.

Here is what the finish sized blank for the center shelf looks like:

The lip will be have a thumbnail edge added for a little bit of detail.

There are two lower “floating” shelves and two upper “floating” shelves. They will rest on cleats, not shelf pins. I’m going for a more traditional Shaker look so the adjustment is limited to leave a shelf out or add another set of cleats. Not a big deal but something to remember as I move through the steps.

After this it is on to carcass assembly, then work on the face frames (upper and lower) along with the door for the lower enclosed portion. After that it is time to make the molding. This weekend is also a good time to sift through some hardware catalogs to look for hinges and catches. I may go old-school on the catch and knob, making them from wood but for the hinges I like the look of the ones on Mike Dunbar’s replica (it is his article from Fine Woodworking I’m using for my cupboard). Maybe not go quite as fancy but definitely not plane old brass butt hinges either.

-- Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.