Built-in Entertainment Center

Great job on the finish. It all looks very well made and fitted.
How come your client didn't want it going all the way to the floor?

This was in a "playroom", they wanted to slide plastic tubs in and out for the kids toys. Great idea, but I'm not real sold on the appearance, but not my house!

Looks great! Did you use a conditioner before the stain? As far as not going to the floor, tell you friend that, when he wants bottom cabinets fitted in underneath, he can buy you dinner and a case of beer.

I'm glad you brought up the conditioner thing! When I was planning this project, I decided to try conditioning the wood. I took a sample piece of plywood (and following the exact directions on the conditioner, I believe it was to mix it 50/50 with denatured alcohol) and conditioned it before applying the stain. I don't think a single bit of the stain showed up on the plywood. I ended up just doing the whole project with straight stain on the wood. Did I do something wrong with the conditioner?

Other than maybe putting it on too thick, I'd guess no. I've used a 1# cut of dewaxed shellac to condition plywood, and it will quickly cut down on the amount of stain that the wood will take. I've found a 1# cut wiped on with a rag and then lightly hand-sanded with 320-grit seems to work well to condition the Birch plywood I've worked with. Any more and it causes the stain to start to hide the grain altogether.

It's nice work and looks really good.

helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com