Wabi Sabi is Finished

I have completed my Wabi Sabi Cabinet! Happy to be done and moving on to my first project. I learned a lot with this exercise. Not everything came out great but I feel well prepared for my first project.



The Door has been installed and finished with Shellac.



Here is an interesting detail I didn't mention. This is a Flipper Flopper. It is a small piece of wood that slightly protrudes the top of the cabinet. There is a small spring under the Flipper Flopper and when the door closes, the Flipper Flopper puts pressure on the door and latches it.



Here is my drawer flushed up and fitted. Our drawers are done a little different than most conventional cabinets. I make the cabinet carcass just slightly out of square (not a whole lot, I'm talking maybe a millimeter) This gives the drawer compartment a slight taper. I then carefully plane the sides of the drawer with a taper as well. This taper allows the drawer to smoothly open and just before the drawer is pulled out it pinches. This is known as "let go".

It's small details like this that cannot be achieved with machines. This is what separates a regular cabinet from a craftsman's cabinet.

Up Next...

My new project, which I mentioned in my last post. I am in the early mock up stage. I am making a very detailed full size mock up made of cardboard. I'm kidding; it is a very simple box glued together. I use it to get a general size and adjust the proportions of the cabinet. I then use the mock up to make templates that I use to select where I will cut my lumber stock.

And here it is: The Pipe Cabinet



Why a Pipe Cabinet? Actually it is not going to be used to store Pipes. The reason I am calling it the Pipe Cabinet, is that I am using a detail from Jim Krenov's pipe cabinet that he built in 1968. A pipe cabinet usually has a door that allows ventilation. My cabinet door will have a bit of open space but it won't be used for ventilation. It's more of a design detail rather than function. It will be a nice little variation from the usual frame and panel door cabinet.

Once I have made a final decision on my mock up I will make my wood selection. I am still debating what to use. I hopefully will have some pictures up very soon with my selection.