Hi everyone ! :)
I started carpentry a year and a half ago, i'm kinda proud to present you my first solo project : a wooden bar made with some ash olive tree ! The size is 1800 x 1100 x 520 (in mm), it took me 80H to complete it.
Tell me what do you think about it, if you like it or not and how can i be better I also made a video on how i made it if you are curious :
https://youtu.be/LBACC3ERal0

Thank you for your help !

Paul

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First of all, you did a good use of the color differences with the panelling balancing side to side. The proportions look good.
Be careful of gluing cross-grain components. Your top is glued to the drawer box sides with perpendicular grain orientation. This will create stress with seasonal wood movement. Top to rail connections allow for movement with slotted screw holes or other methods

You must have found a great customer to pay for 2 weeks of work on that simple piece. Thomas is correct, you will have major issues with the top and the top shelf with your cross grain construction.

@Thomas Gardiner: Thank you very much for you advice Sir !!! i didn't know about that gluing cross-grain components thing, will follow this advice next time :) thank you again !!!

@RichC : i'm an apprentice i am the one who paid for it haha i did it on my free time, my boss allowed me to work within the carpentry as it was my project of end of the year :) i didn't sell it, i gifted it to the family that hosted me last year :)

[edited] Hang in there as there are many people on WoodWeb who are willing and able to help. [edited] Bar looks really nice. Keep up the good work.

There are plenty of threads on this forum you could read to explain how wood expands with additional moisture content, however, the best book I have read on wood science and putting it into practice is "Understanding Wood" by Bruce Hoadley. It is well worth reading.

More information like; I am an apprentice in the original post would help clarify a lot. Most professional shops charge $100/hour or more. So to say that took 80 hours means that was an $8,000 bar plus materials. That was the point I was making in my post.

Yes, that is one expensive bar/education. I've done it, and so have most professionals. I see it now more often with people that buy CNC machines and make things that do not fall within the guidelines.

I would suggest Bruce Hoadley's book "Understanding Wood" for your time not in the shop. If has the fundamentals, and good explanations of why.

There are two rules about working wood:
1. Wood moves
2. Woodworkers will all disagree on how best to contend with the movement.

@RichC "More information like; I am an apprentice in the original post would help clarify a lot. Most professional shops charge $100/hour or more. So to say that took 80 hours means that was an $8,000 bar plus materials. That was the point I was making in my post."

=> i agree i got that a lot, but at first as i was saying i sarted a year and a half ago carprentry i thiught people would understand this is not my shop, we right it next time :)

@Dave Sochar "Yes, that is one expensive bar/education. I've done it, and so have most professionals. I see it now more often with people that buy CNC machines and make things that do not fall within the guidelines.

I would suggest Bruce Hoadley's book "Understanding Wood" for your time not in the shop. If has the fundamentals, and good explanations of why.

There are two rules about working wood:
1. Wood moves
2. Woodworkers will all disagree on how best to contend with the movement."

Thank you so much Sir ! Will look into this book for real i dont have enough litterature on the subject to be honest :) Thanks again !

Paul, your project looks great. Only a few people out there can achieve something as impressive as this with minimal experience.

As Thomas Gardiner mentioned, watch our combining cross-grains. Seasonal wood movement can impact your furniture's look, structure, and durability.

You've inspired me to give making furniture a go instead of milling logs for farm fencing.

The great thing about the internet is there are tons of sites with wood furniture patterns, and the folks here at Wood Web are super helpful.

Paul, what do you have in mind for your next project?

80 hrs? too long but you'll get faster. More like 40-50 for something like this. Looks good as others mentioned... wood movement with the top. Good luck ahead.