“Solid” oak dresser / tv stand

This was an interesting project that began when I heard my students say “hey there’s some guy in here”. I look around to see a man standing in our bay roll up door peering inside. Language barrier aside we spent the next 30 minutes making exchanges about what constitutes a solid oak dresser. When asked if we could build him one I replied, only for what I assumed was considerate confirmation, “sure we can, everything will be oak lumber, except the sides naturally which will be plywood…” and I was quickly cut off by “ no no, solid like the one I have at home”. I said it will be solid but it will be plywood sides because it would be difficult to glue up that width and it just isn’t done. After leaving it alone we concluded the dimensions by a series of hand guestures which never ceases to amaze me when people want something built and you ask about sizes and they say “oh about yea wide, and make it chest tall or taller…”.

So he sends me a pic of one at home and sure enough the side is a seamless grain panel 24” deep and to no avail could I convince him it was plywood. So this was constructed by two of my senior students who were quite advanced. We did not have any plans but what I drew out on paper and was constructed in such a way that with the back panel installed, not a single layer of veneer edge could be seen in 360 deg. I never mentioned the construction materials again as neither did he and I let it go. I’m not sure if he thinks it’s “solid or not”. Fellow “Wood Buddy” Wuddoc assisted in glue up of the top as I was having diffulty getting our joiner fence square. To the customer request, 100lb ball bearing guides and a dvd shelf on top. The basswood drawers are assembled with 1/2” box joints using the Incra ibox jig