| Project by Bill Huffman | posted 10-05-2014 04:07 PM | 3576 views | 17 times favorited | 33 comments |  |
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This is a project I have worked on for way too long, (Work and Football season have really taken their toll). In my continuing quest for better hand cut dovetails and building small cabinets, i built this out of Flame Birch and Peruvian Walnut.
I purchased the Birch with no project in mind, but was intrigued by the density of the wood and wanted to see about swapping the light and dark wood contrast for the case and panels. I really liked working with both woods, the birch worked very well and I was very surprised with the pleasant smell when dimensioning it on the table saw. It has a very sweet smell, sort of like cherry, but not cherry….(??).
I added the small drawers at the bottom just because I wanted drawers, so obviously I need to concentrate on designing for use, but they did find a very nice functional use for housing some nice Balvenie leather coasters my brother and sister gave me for Christmas.
For the finish, I stayed with my friend Bill’s simple 3 coats of wipe on poly, sanding lightly between each, a very light wipe down with mineral spirits and then 2 coats of Renaissance wax hand rubbed in. I don’t know if the mineral spirits are the right way to go honestly, but it does seem to smooth the poly down so I get a glass-like finish after the wax. I am still learning so if anyone has a better way I am very happy to hear it.
My wife named it the Balvenie Cabinet as this is the scotch I settled on years ago. Due to some cholesterol meds I currently take I can only enjoy my Balvenie on a few special occasions a year, but that makes it all the more enjoyable, and as a result I can buy the better bottles!!
-- Im so impressed with what people can do, and I wonder how they do it. Thats what keeps me doing it.
33 comments so far
BTimmons
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2303 posts in 2933 days
#1 posted 10-05-2014 04:27 PM
Killer work! That turned out great.
-- Brian Timmons - http://www.BigTWoodworks.com
GrandpaLen
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1652 posts in 2720 days
#2 posted 10-05-2014 05:01 PM
Beautiful Cabinet work.
I really like the Flame Birch and Peruvian Walnut paring.
Very well executed and an amazing ‘Fit and Finish’.
Best Regards. – Len.
Work Safely and have Fun.
-- Mother Nature should be proud of what you've done with her tree. - Len ...just north of a stone's throw from the oHIo, river that is, in So. Indiana.
jinkyjock
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488 posts in 2022 days
#3 posted 10-05-2014 06:01 PM
A seriously good cabinet for a seriously good Malt.
Cheers (Slainte Mhor) Jinky, (James).
Palliserwoodsman
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33 posts in 3088 days
#4 posted 10-05-2014 06:10 PM
You seem to be a bit overstocked, would you consider sending a wee dram this direction, Sweet cabinet.
-- Owen, Lethbridge, Alberta
stefang
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16711 posts in 3782 days
#5 posted 10-05-2014 06:57 PM
Very beautiful cabinet and fantastic workmanship too Bill. I love flame birch, and I used to get a lot of it, but I haven’t seen any here the last few years.
-- Mike, an American living in Norway.
HillbillyShooter
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5811 posts in 2740 days
#6 posted 10-05-2014 07:15 PM
Great workmanship and very attractive!
-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington
dpow
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504 posts in 3292 days
#7 posted 10-05-2014 07:33 PM
Looks good! The wood, the proportions, the design, all make this a nice combination.
-- Doug
maquinasdemadeira
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98 posts in 2085 days
#8 posted 10-05-2014 09:40 PM
Great cabinet and great scotch too
-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3qxv69z4zdXcKNHgdY7V3g
Roger
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21007 posts in 3252 days
#9 posted 10-05-2014 09:58 PM
Beautiful build.
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
jroot
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295 posts in 1670 days
#10 posted 10-05-2014 10:42 PM
... and indeed Balvenie deserves such a fine cabinet. I’m sipping on one now, and wishing mine was housed so nicely. Well done. Thanks for sharing.
-- jroot
jmartel
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8513 posts in 2598 days
#11 posted 10-05-2014 11:02 PM
Very nice. I really like the style of it. Sort of A&C style, but a little more fancy.
-- The quality of one's woodworking is directly related to the amount of flannel worn.
Lee A. Jesberger
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6866 posts in 4427 days
#12 posted 10-05-2014 11:05 PM
Beautiful cabinet.
Excellent workmanship, too.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Norman1
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121 posts in 3215 days
#13 posted 10-05-2014 11:09 PM
I love wall cabinets and you have really made a beatiful one.
-- Michael A. Norman
LeroyTheLips
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248 posts in 2695 days
#14 posted 10-05-2014 11:34 PM
That will do the scotch justice! Very nice job.
Ryan
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238 posts in 3377 days
#15 posted 10-05-2014 11:34 PM
Nice clean design!
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