Pine wardrobes

[mailee]

I have just started another project. This time it is a set of pine wardrobes which will eventually incorporate a computer desk and shelving.
I started with Pine panels and cut the dados for the shelves.


A dry fit to check my measurements.


Then tested the fronts of the drawer frames to make sure they fit too.


Next I have to make the drawer frames which will house six lower drawers and above a four door robe. This is the first step and then it is on to the computer desk. I am making these modular so I can move them to site and complete the final assembly there.

[mailee]

Had another good day today and started with the drawer frames. Here are some of the mortices cut on the router table.



The Tennons were also cut on the table too.



No this is not the Star of David just a pile of drawer frames waiting to be sanded.



I also got the centre stile for the doors fitted too. This is M&T'd into the upper and lower horizontals.



So far everything seems to fit togehter well in a dry fit so fingers crossed when it comes to glueing it all up. I shan't get much more done this week as I am on an odd shift at work, so it looks like it will be next weekend before I will see any more progress.
Guess I will have to dust off the dovetail jig and get that ready for the drawers next.

[gazza]

coming along nicely Mailee
Cheers,
Gazza.

[simuk]

Looking good mailee.
When you say pine are you talking about whitewood, spruce?

Simon

[mailee]

Yes Sim, I think this is what passes for Pine now although I did ask for pine furniture panel, this is what I get.

[mailee]

Well I have had to take a step backwards today as the wardrobe was too big to negotiate the stairs. I had to cut the wardrobe into two sections, upper and lower which houses the drawers. Well we all make mistakes don't we? I have just started work on the drawers and have finally put the drawer section in glue at last. I shall have more pics tomorrow when the drawers are finished.

[mailee]

Well after my set back I did manage to get some work done on the drawers.
I cut and dovetailed the parts first.

This took me a couple of hours and it was time for a cuppa after this lot.

I put a dado in the rear as I usually do, saves time.

After cutting the slot for the ply bottoms I did a dry fit and it worked!

I then fitted the ply bottoms and finally glued them up.

Then I concentrated on the drawer fronts and cut the parts for these on the router table.

Then I cut a ply panel to the size of the final panel and did a dry fit with these too.

[big-all]

Sept 20, 2008 20:38:42 GMT mailee said:

Well I have had to take a step backwards today as the wardrobe was too big to negotiate the stairs. I had to cut the wardrobe into two sections, upper and lower which houses the drawers. Well we all make mistakes don't we? I have just started work on the drawers and have finally put the drawer section in glue at last. I shall have more pics tomorrow when the drawers are finished.

been there done that got the teeshirt ;D ;D ;D

fortunatly for me it was only the horns holding the plinth on that had to come off

[jfc]

I must remember to get one of those dovetail jigs , looks a good job mate .

[mailee]

I finished the drawer fronts off today and just need to make the raised panels for them. I will have to make another rail for one of them as you might just be able to see in the bottom right of the photo, a piece split off the end just as I ran it through the router table!



I also got the top of the wardrobe assembled after having to dismember them.



Tomorrow I should get started on the raised panels for the drawer fronts and also the doors if all goes well.

[mailee]

I didn't have a lot of time in the workshop today but did manage to get the raised panels made and fitted.



Next job is to fit them to the drawers and then make the doors.

[mailee]

I have had a good couple of days and managed to get a lot done. I got all the drawer fronts in glue up.


Then sanded once they were dry. They are now ready for a moulding running around the outer edge.


I also
ran up the rails and stiles for the doors on the router table and did a dry fit on these.


I finished tonight by glueing up all the boards for the raised panels on the doors ready for tomorrow.


I shall then have plenty of sanding to do, not to mention fitting the drawer fronts to the drawer boxes. ;D

[mrgrimsdale]

Looks good.
One handy tip - doesn't apply to me cos most of what I do is painted - is to do all your finishing sanding esp on panels, before you put them together with the frames. Because you can't get in to the edges after its all put together.

cheers
Jacob

[mailee]

Another good day today considering I had an interuption to build the gate. I started by fitting the drawer fronts to the drawer boxes first.

These took a bit of ligning up but I got there finally.
Then I cut the raised panels for the doors on the router table and had a dry fit of the first door.


Happy that all was well I dry fitted the remainder of the doors to check everything before any glue is applied.

I must remember to apply a finish to the raised panels this time BEFORE I glue them up! Thanks for the reminder Jason.

[mailee]

I have started to stain the panels for the doors and the drawer fronts but am having some problems at the moment. As can be seen the door panels are fine and have taken the stain well.


I am sorry to say though that the drawer fronts are being more problematic as they have gone blotchy.


At the moment I am stripping them and trying to re apply the sealer and stain. I am keeping my fingers crossed to see what tomorrow will bring.

[mel]

mailee
did you use a sanding sealer before applying the stain ??

[mailee]

Yes Mel I applied two coats and allowed it to dry before sanding with 320 grit and applying the stain. This usually works ok for me?

[mailee]

After all the trouble with the stain I finally made some progress today. I got the doors assembled at last and fitted them in place to make sure everything was fine before continuing. I hope to finish the stain on the doors and get them hung tomorrow and then concentrate on the main cabinet.

[dom]

Nice job Mailee.

[mailee]

Thanks Dom and hello again, haven't heard from you for a while, have you been busy mate?

[jfc]

They look nice mate

[mailee]

Well I hope they will eventually look nice as I am having trouble with the staining again. This time it is the doors that are giving me problems. In this shot they don't look too bad and look an even shade.

Now in this shot you can see how some of the panels and frames are patchy.

It is not too clear in the photo but the far end door frame is pretty dark compared to the rest and the closest door panels are much lighter in shade?? It looks like I will have some more sanding and staining to do before I get this one right.

[Dave S]

Looking good, though. Any chance you could post some slightly higher resolution pics once it's finished?

[dom]

Put the dark side near a window so that the light makes it match, don't laugh I've done it.

[mailee]

Things are going from bad to worse I am sorry to say. I stripped the doors once again and re applied the sealer and the stain again. This time the patchiness is even worse as you will see from the photo.

I am now starting to get annoyed with it as nothing seems to improve things. I am at a loss as to what to do next? Anyone any suggestions apart from cutting my wrists that is!