Company Name: noneI built a portable sawmill, cut up all these different types of hardwood. Let it air dry, and now built my first piece of furniture. It is a wall mounted gun cabinet. The wood is solid cherry. Please point out any details that would make my work better. My joints fit pretty good using the equipment on hand.
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| Posted By: | kol |
Looks pretty good. Do you have a backpanel? The door overlay looks a little skimpy, the stiles and rails seem fairly wide for a display cabinet. Hinges may not be typical on furniture but rather on old kitchen cabinetry, or at least none that I've seen. With an overlay that small I would have gone with a flush mount. You kind of lose your proportion with that top rail. Crown looks good. Base moulding sure catches your eye with the way it sticks out the side like a ledge. You may want more detail to tie it into the cabinet or use a thinner board.
Other than cosmetics, I can't really tell if it's well built from the pictures. Can you take pics of the drawer and base? I think it looks good for a first piece. I would say get some furniture project books, joinery books, etc. and let your talents fly. You obviously have some if this is your first piece. Enjoy the work as a hobby while you can, because turning it into a business will kill your desire. Good job. If anyone thinks I was harsh, I'm sorry - he said to criticize.
| Posted By: | kol |
Sorry, Ironworker. I thought you were looking for criticism so that you can learn for the next build. Otherwise I would have seen it as an average build and skipped the thread. I think that you are talented and can take it a long way. However, since you asked for our thoughts I threw in the things that may help you make better decisions on your next build, such as the wide stiles and rails. Personally I would think that using 1/2" material for the rame would be better if it were skinnier in width. You said that you were adding gluing area but you would have the same amount of area no matter what. A wider board is more prone to twisting than a skinny board if it is adhered to the cabinet. About the base, it looks as though you may have made the base separate. I would have made it to a closer tolerance to the cabinet width so that there isn't such an overhang or ledge.
Anyway, criticism sells the work. People will see it for what it is and will comment. If you don't learn from what people perceive you can't learn the design aspect of the work. Building is the easy part, making it stand out, look professional, and be "yours" is the hardest part and may take a while to learn. Just keep at it, and you'll do great. It's a nice looking piece.
| Posted By: | Jeff |
Nice first piece. Is it your design? The only thing that really stands out to me at first glance is that wide top tail on your frame. You should use that extra space for display. The crown looks nice, Looks like it is three pieces of the same routered edge. YOu might try mixing two or three different styles to give a better flow to the crown. The other think I may change would be the base. Looks nice if it is setting on the floor, but if it's going to hand on the wall... it seems to be somewhat distracting to the eye. I'd say that learning to recognize balance and proportion is one of those things that comes with lots of time and experience...you're on your way, good job.
| Posted By: | James |
Nice job Ironworker. I'd hang it in my house and be proud of it if I had built it. It looks similar in proportion to a few that I recall seeing when I was a kid. The larger upper area was used to tuck away stuff one did not want seen. The lower area was made to look like a small mantle with a cabinet sitting on it. Those others were not made of cherry either. Very purty wood you have there. I particularly like the selection of the wood for the lower door. One thing I am surprised by - no lock. Post picks of the back panel when you can.
Must be a real kick to have made this from scratch, real scratch, not just rough lumber; building the mill to sawing the log yourself to drying the lumber to making a finished piece. There must be true satisfaction in that.
Glad to see a hobbiest post something here. Was thinking of doing it myself when I complete my project. Pretty intimidating with all the pros around. They can be critical, after all, they are pros and paying customers are probably worse, I know I am :) Thats why I plan to keep my current job and have fun (as much as the LOML will allow).
Keep makin sawdust,
James
| Posted By: | Ironworker |
Jeff,
It is my design that I know of. I'm pretty limited on tooling (router bits). Though I purchased my jointer before I could start building.
James,
People come by wanting to buy my wood. It is too sentimental. Just as you put it, from scratch.
Kol,
I will take your advice in my next building.
Thank you all for responding
