Wood:
Case - Reclaimed Soft Maple Re-sawn From a single plank
Drawer - Sitka Spruce Sides, Alaskan Yellow Cedar bottoms, Old growth Apple fronts, Claro ( western ) Walnut Pulls
Finish: Shellac
Joinery: Dovetailed Case, Sliding Tenon Dividers.
24” L x 16” W x ” 7” D
Dovetailed Lower case, Mechanically resists the bottom Failing. Slip tenoned case top, Tenoned dividers for partitions, Ship-lapped Back boards inset.
This whole piece was a shaker inspired chest of drawers. But I wanted to give it some lift since it’s so flat and thats where the beveled top comes in. Which is glued on so it’s very strong. The bevel was planed by hand in order to ensure the small flat on the side.
Dividers of the same maple board make up The seven Individual Drawer boxes. These are only 3/8 - 1/4 “ thick. They also graduate thinner at the top to thicker at the bottom.
The most time consuming and tedious part of the cabinet. Each one is different. I wanted each one to either be a solid piece or one piece broken up into several drawer faces with continuous grain.
The top three drawers showcase the use of a single board to make all three faces.
Half Blind Dovetails In thin drawer fronts. The apple wood was from the largest apple tree I have ever seen. Defying how large apple trees are now. The wood has been drying for 25 years.
The sides are old growth Sitka Spruce. A tree that has been over harvested primarily during WWII And for airplanes. It has thousands of uses because of its weight to strength ratio. Being Incredibly strong and light simultaneously. The grain was so tight that each 4” wide piece was easily showcasing close to 50 + Years of life. These kinds of pieces are rare and primarily used by luthiers for guitar tops.
Another wood from the Northwest. Alaskan Yellow Cedar is a very fine grain yellowish wood. It’s incredibly soft but strong and has an amazing scent. Every time the drawers open you can smell the cedar. It helps regulate moisture.
They’re attached with a traditional beveled underside into a groove. And fixed with a slotted screw across the back to allow for expansion.
The Drawers on the Top are only about 5.5 “ x 7” x 2” tall. Enough for bags of loose tea.
Each Pull was turned and sized by eye. The material was actually scrap Claro ( western )walnut from a larger table project. Each pull is unique and similar sized ones were paired on the larger drawers.