Dresser top WIP

[mickthetree]

As I mentioned to Chill I should have extended the bottom curve down to the top of the next shelf.

As a consiquence of not doing that I'm trying to work out how best to deal with the bottom shelf which is also the top of the drawers.



This shows what I intend to do. Create one long shelf which sits directly on the sides and around the centre upright.

You might be able to see that I intended to recess this shelf into the side.



But i'm thinking it might just be better to sit it directly on the sides and not rebate it in.

Just cant decide on how to tackle this. Any ideas?

[Chems]

I like your recess idea, will add strength as well to the whole construction.

As its old pine you don't need to worry about expansion to much at all, I guess it will have done its moving since been machined years ago.

Looks good and I want more pictures!

[mickthetree]

.....cont

cut the first curved bit on the bandsaw, then realized that theres not enough clearance in the throat to cut the others!! so I made a series of cuts close to the line and chiseled the waste away.



Then used the spokeshave to get down to the line.



Once I had the curves all cut in the sides and in place I moved onto the housings for the shelves. Cut one set first using the router and square





Can leave a bit of a rough line (cheap bit and well used)



but a light touch and a sharp chisel quickly gets rid of the fluff.




put the backs together and copied the lines onto the other side



did the same with the fronts



then joined these new marks together and routed as before.

Router bit isn't wide enough to do the whole thing in one pass so I have to move it, before I do the other side I chamfered the edge to stop it blowing out (had this troubloe before, lesson learnt)



Pic of the stopped housing. I was extending the lines in this shot onto the edge so I could copy them onto the other board. I used the ruler held up against the routed edge and extended the line



I then routed the edges of the shelves which are 5mm over length at each end so fit to the housing.



then cut the front end to fit over the front of the housing




I now have to finish fitting the shelves, then cut the bottom shelf then assemble.

Then onto the drawers!!

[mickthetree]

Finished the rebates on the shelves this morning and thought I'd have a trial fit.




All comes together nicely. The top and bottoms are dovetailed and ready to fit. I need to work out how I'm going to do this bottom shelf now and then it can all go together.

[Chems]

Looks really good, its difficult working with pine. What finish are you going to use?

[mickthetree]

Chems, sorry for not replying before, they did want to paint it but looks like they are going to wax it now to match their dining room table.

Glad this one is only for a mate. its taken months!

decided it was time to put it all together, but I dont have any clamps big enough, so it was glue and a hammer!

The dovetails went together really nicely. Very pleased with them indeed.



I next had to figure out this bottom shelf, so I cut the board to length and ripped to width. Planned the sides and shot the ends.

I used an off cut to work out this end joint and after some head scratching came up with this



Made the same cuts on the actual shelf and in it went. I really should have taken a shot of this before it went in, but forgot. Its a solid shelf with a groove cut in the middle so it fits around the middle upright.

Really really pleased with how its all come out. All of the joints are really tight and close. no gaps. which makes this one all the worse as it stands out so badly.



Not sure how I managed to cock it up so much, but the photo does actually make it look worse than it is. Not sure it can be bodged either. Any thoughts??



Now need to make some drawers! Simples!

[Chems]

I've filled bigger holes than that with the old glue and sawdust trick. Just have to remember it won't take the wax well. What about a wedge repair planned back, if you hammer it in well it been pine it will all mush together and you'll be hardpressed to spot it.

Good job overall!

[OPJ]

Looking good so far.

Filling that gap isn't going to be easy... I'd be inclined to just leave it and make sure you don't make the same mistake next time!

Fillers could make a mess of it and, if you tried to glue something in there, you'd have to ensure that the grain matched and was following the same direction...
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Olly.

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