If you’ve been following along since Tuesday, I’m making a Cherry wood storage unit to go behind my couch, which we can put beverages on, and store front door type stuff in, and also keep the dogs bed underneath so that I can eliminate the gigantic 24x36x48 inch crate that sits in our hallway. I had bought Cherry to make a desk, but the front entrance is more pressing a matter right this minute. So I am adjusting course and building more storage instead.
Now I originally thought I had bought all my boards at 8ft long by 12 inches wide, but that was not the reality. I fought the idea of doing some pretty extensive glue ups, but I have since given in because I want 11.5 inch wide panels to make the whole thing, so now we are in the midst of a multi stage glue up because I do not own enough clamps to do five at once, three of which are at least 67 inches long. That takes a whole lot of clamps. While I’d love to have enough to do so, I have nowhere to keep fifty extra 24-48″ clamps (or longer). Space is at a premium in my garage shop.
Funnily enough when I don’t have items in clamps the shop feels spacious (at least to me), but the second I have to glue anything the space shrinks like a reverse Tardis. Then I find I have to walk the long way around everything in order to get from one side of a panel to the other. Most unprofessional! Ha.
I am now realizing that I cut my “final” lengths far too soon, so I can foresee this unit being slightly shorter than 34 inches tall, and potentially a hair less than 68 inches long. No matter, as 68″ was the absolute maximum length that I had available, so a slight reduction won’t matter. I’m the client, and I’m building the damn thing, so nah-nah!
Once all five panels are glued, and clamped then I will begin the process of scraping off the glue squeeze out. That can sometimes go smoothly. Unlikely given how things have gone this far. Then I will rip them all down to the correct width of board. And then begin the process of planning the thickness down to where it all matches. Cross cut on the table saw sled to get my final_final lengths. And I can then work on cutting my box joints, and routering out some channels for the shelves to sit inside. Use my dado stack to cut shoulders on the ends of my shelves. Round over my corners and edges, sand, assemble and add a finish. Bish-bash-bosh! Done like dinner.
Follow along to see what other stupid mistakes I make while wood working in-between paid gigs. Have a laugh on me. The best part is when I get upset I can split wood before hand to smash out my anger and frustrations before I even begin. It’s all coming together man. Just you wait and see.
Greatwall Studios Graphic Design 