121 – Cabinet Project Tour

Video - June 14, 2010

A quick Whisper Mini tour of my recent 6-panel cabinet project. Want to learn more about how these doors were made? Check it out!

Outtro music provided by El Saxofonista! Thanks Horacio.

Discussion

Beechwood Chip June 14, 2010 12:09 pm

Custom Outro! Cool! Oh, and the cabinet’s OK, too, I guess. :-)

The cabinet design is just perfect. I’d love to see it in the same room as the gadget station.

Reply
runningwood June 14, 2010 2:00 pm

Once again Marc this is beautifully done. Nice work

Can you tell us what precautions were taken for the top cherry panel surrounded by walnut to prevent expansion damage ? I assume that is cherry and not cherry ply or a veneered panel.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer June 14, 2010 3:12 pm
  
  No it actually is veneered ply. It was the only option to get the look the client wanted. So the bottom and the top are the only places I had to use ply.
  
  Reply
  - Jan October 1, 2010 3:01 am
    
    In our countries (Czech Rep.) we are usually working with soft wood ( spruce, pine, alder ) and rarely oak, beech. All components, technology, structures and working process are little bit different. Do you make furniture from soft wood ?
    Thank you for your Website, I can practise on your intelligible english ( compared to CNN )
    
    Jan
    
    Reply
    - thewoodwhisperer October 1, 2010 3:24 pm
      
      Thanks for the kinds words Jan! I actually don’t use softwoods all that much in my work. I really prefer hardwood when possible. Just a personal preference really.
stinker June 14, 2010 2:05 pm

Very nice indeed. I’m chomping at the bit to join the guild but I’m pretty sure my wife would stroke out. Any chance you guys will do a monthly membership plan in the future?…I realize if probably works better for payment fees and the like. 15 or 20 bucks a month doesn’t make her look at me funny when she’s looking at bank statements. Keep up the great work.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer June 14, 2010 3:14 pm
  
  We are definitely trying to figure out how to make the monthly thing word. No promises, but its something we are thinking about.
  
  Reply
  - Brian June 15, 2010 2:57 pm
    
    ohhhhh, that’d be awesome. I think I could swing a monthly fee instead of a one big fee. I’ll be excited to know if/when it happens.
    
    Reply
jerryS June 14, 2010 3:11 pm

I too was wondering what techniques you used to minimize the wood movement of the panel with a mitered surround.
Please tell.

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Dan M June 14, 2010 3:50 pm

Thats an awesome cabinet. I love the contrast on the door panels. It also has that Asian feel with the thicker curved legs. Sweet!!. You deserve a little “me” time Marc.

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Dan Drabek June 14, 2010 5:40 pm

Great job Marc. Do you happen know what kind of things your client is planning to keep in this pretty little cabinet?

DD

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- thewoodwhisperer June 14, 2010 6:44 pm
  
  No but I can probably find out. Its going in their formal living room.
  
  Reply
Donnie Gaskin June 14, 2010 6:42 pm

A wonderful build Marc. I know your client has to be pleased.

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Vic June 14, 2010 8:04 pm

I’m glad you “me time” produced such a beautiful piece. Very nicely designed and executed.

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Dean June 14, 2010 8:34 pm

Superb cabinet Marc! I wasn?t sure of the scale until I saw you standing next to the completed cabinet.

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Duane June 14, 2010 9:00 pm

Terrific Design!! I enjoy the choice of woods and the walnut on the panels adds so much to the overall look and feel of this piece of art. Great job Marc.

Can you say fall Guild Build?………

Are the legs made from one thick board or are they laminated?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer June 15, 2010 10:21 pm
  
  Legs are a single thick board Big D.
  
  Reply
Adam June 14, 2010 9:00 pm

Once again, another wonderful piece from the hands of Marc! Is ply the only solution to the bottom? I know it is on the top, but is there a way to use solid wood on the bottom?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer June 15, 2010 10:20 pm
  
  As long as you can manage wood movement, it is possible. You could potentially secure the panel with a spline that is only glued in the back, pushing the bottom panel forward during expansion. But if the bottom is right up against the doors, that could create some issues over time. But its not impossible, just takes some planning. For ultimate stability and longevity, I do believe sheetgoods are the best option.
  
  Reply
Doug June 15, 2010 6:12 am

Absolutely beautiful! Love the mix of wood colors/species, the angles, everything!

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kentuckybill June 15, 2010 7:56 am

Another nice piece Marc. Wish it was going in my LR.

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Kris Lauer June 15, 2010 9:15 am

Great little summary on the cabinet. I also liked the input about the shelf pin holes. It makes it look like big box stuff when you have holes all the way up! Can’t wait to see the next project. Putting it together like the guitar build will be great if that is what you end up doing. Always a pleasure to see your work.

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kelly fagan June 15, 2010 3:25 pm

Marc, Iv’e been a frequent visitor of your awesome website. Iv’e incorporated some of your ideas into a few of my projects. Just joined the guild yesterday and am excited as a new member. This project is flat out awesome. I would love to give it a shot, Any chance of plans or dimensions. Anything would be greatly apprecited. Thanks and keep up the great work. You don’t realize how much all the tips and ideas help us in our own endeavors

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer June 15, 2010 9:03 pm
  
  Hey Kelly. If you email me, I can send you my SketchUp drawing. Keep in mind my personal SketchUp drawings are very bare-bones and only show the absolute necessary joinery details.
  
  Reply
  - kelly fagan June 16, 2010 3:30 pm
    
    thanks for the reply Marc, my website is apexgym@mchsi.com. Thanks again. keep up the great work!!!!! By the way this is to get anything you may have on that awesome paneled cabinet as far as measurements etc, thank you!
    
    Reply
Neil Capper June 15, 2010 7:47 pm

Looks great!

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Matthew Egan June 15, 2010 8:47 pm

Im stealing that door design! i have been working on a 36”x36”x36” aquarium stand that is made out of padauk frames with panels of wenge veneer and i was wondering would i would door for the doors. just so happens i have a killer piece of BE maple lying around =) i’ll post pics of the blatant theft when its done!

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer June 15, 2010 9:01 pm
  
  Steal away my friend! I am flattered!
  
  Reply
runningwood June 16, 2010 11:19 am

Marc, don’t take this the wrong way, but I have been looking at that cabinet and the raised two tone panels ( which I really adore) and kept thinking those panels look very familiar.

Then it hit me , I was a child of the 70s and recalled those paneled station wagons!! LOL LOL LOL

http://champinside.files.wordp.....-wagon.jpg

Do you see it ?!?!?

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Bob Dennison June 18, 2010 10:30 am

What is that weird black spot on you chin ?

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- thewoodwhisperer June 18, 2010 10:37 am
  
  haha, we call that “facial hair”. Most adult human males are able to grow this stuff on their face. Unfortunately, some can’t. An even more unfortunate, some women can. :)
  
  Reply
Ben H June 22, 2010 10:20 am

Very Nice, love me some walnut and cherry

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mike haines July 17, 2010 7:07 pm

Very cool choice of woods. I like the matched walnut veneer, it really makes the piece.

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Guestjacob August 6, 2010 11:08 am

Very nice looking cabinet!

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Pete August 10, 2010 11:16 am

Hi Mark just discovered your wonderful woodwhisperer site. Love the cabinet very much, design style quality etc. But? one tizy winzy little crit. Dare I say it. When using slotted screws they all need to finish facing the same way, normally vertical. A tiny issue I know, but my master who taught me used to literally throw his mallet at me if he saw anything he didn’t like. Sure makes you concentrate!!

Great work though

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- thewoodwhisperer August 10, 2010 11:36 am
  
  Haha thanks Pete. I was nailed for that already in a few other forums. ;).
  
  Reply
Dan Ray October 7, 2010 9:46 am

Hi Marc, this is a beautiful cabinet, Just out of curiosity what methods did you use to attach the top to the cabinet?

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- thewoodwhisperer October 7, 2010 10:21 am
  
  Thanks Ray! I used homemade wooden clips that lock into a groove in the rails. This top is made from ply so movement isn’t much of a concern like it would be for solid wood. But I still used the same connection methods out of habit.
  
  Reply
Tom Atkins October 17, 2010 7:44 am

Love it Marc,

Wood U mention the finish U used – oil?

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- thewoodwhisperer October 17, 2010 8:09 am
  
  Pure tung oil only. This is specifically requested by the client, despite my urging otherwise. :)
  
  Reply
Paulg October 29, 2010 3:02 pm

Great look cabinet. love the doors

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Fred Morady December 20, 2010 6:20 am

Beautiful piece, Marc. Inspired me to build a similar piece. Getting close to finishing. I want to keep the maple as white as possible and am having trouble finding a finish that does not add some yellow. Any suggestions?
Have learned a tremendous amount from your website.
thanks so much.

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- thewoodwhisperer December 20, 2010 9:04 am
  
  Thanks Fred. Just about anything water-based will keep the wood looking white. That should do the trick. Good luck!
  
  Reply
Tim January 25, 2011 11:20 pm

can you share how the doors were made?

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- thewoodwhisperer January 26, 2011 8:25 am
  
  Sure can. Here you go: http://www.thewoodwhisperer.co.....sed-panel/
  
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Tim January 26, 2011 6:27 pm

How did you join the panels to the legs?

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- thewoodwhisperer January 26, 2011 7:27 pm
  
  The frame is attached via mortise and tenon and the panels site in a groove in the legs and frame.
  
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Tim January 26, 2011 9:24 pm

Are the panels 1/4 inch thick?

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- thewoodwhisperer January 27, 2011 7:23 am
  
  I honestly don’t recall whether they were 1/4″ or 1/2″ with a rabbet. Both would look the same from the outside.
  
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Chris December 29, 2011 5:50 am

Marc,
This seems like a rookie question, but that is because I am one. How did you fit the bottom into this piece, did you dado it into the bottom or just cut to fit the inside? I ask because I am going to attempt something similar and what should be simple design in my sketchup has stumped me.

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- thewoodwhisperer December 29, 2011 7:38 am
  
  Hey Chris. I honestly don’t remember the exact details. Most likely I just used a piece of veneered ply and attached it to the cabinet via dados. The inside corners needed to be notched to fit around the legs. Shoot, now that I think of it, I might have even used Dominos to join the bottom panel to the sides and back….
  
  Reply
  - Chris December 29, 2011 2:35 pm
    
    Thanks Marc I’ll fumble my way through it. Which is saying allot, because before finding this site I don’t think I could have fumbled my way through much. Thanks again, and keep up the awesome site.
    
    Reply
Kyle Evans August 31, 2012 5:59 am

What do we have to do to make this the next guild build?

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Archie Kinnear September 2, 2013 11:47 am

Hi Marc, lovely looking cabinet Im very impressed. I have a question.. I noticed when you showed the hinges you had used slot head screws however the slots where not all facing the same way (Horizontal or vertical).

I was taught the they should be (my gaffer beat it into me) especially external slot screws lining up vertically to allow rain to drain out to help curtail rust.

Do you think this is an OCD and not worth the bother? I’ll call my boss up and give him hell either way.

Beautiful work Sir.

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- Marc Spagnuolo September 2, 2013 12:33 pm
  
  I think for the sake of presentation you should probably align them. For a piece like this it’s purely visual.
  
  Reply
  - Archie Kinnear September 2, 2013 12:51 pm
    
    Thanks Marc, its the little things that I need to begin to take me to the next level.
    
    Between your good self and my reading of James Krenovs With Wakened Hands it makes me feel eager to become more proficient in my journey and work.
    
    thanks again
    
    Reply
Colin Worley August 18, 2014 12:28 pm

Hi Marc, Love your work. I was wondering if you remembered what you used to finish this cabinet. It looks great. I’m in the middle of building a coffee table for my house using walnut and maple, and I’m trying to decide on the best finish.

Thanks again

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 18, 2014 12:44 pm
  
  Boiled linseed oil or Tung Oil. The customer doesn’t like varnishes so he insists on oil.
  
  Reply
  - Colin August 19, 2014 10:14 am
    
    Thanks Mark. If you were finishing it for your own house what do you think you’d use?
    Love your videos,
    
    Thanks again
    
    Reply
    - Marc Spagnuolo August 19, 2014 10:26 am
      
      Thanks Colin! I’d probably just use a wiping varnish. Easy to apply and looks great!

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121 – Cabinet Project Tour

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