The Dragon Cabinet - finished with pics

[loosetoe]

I know i don't post here too often, but those who remember my work will recall that i mostly build traditional American furniture.

I have been wanting to make more modern pieces. I am also always looking to expand my skills.
About a year ago, i picked up a Laguna CNC.  It's a nice unit with capabilities far beyond this user.  One day i stuck a big piece of 8/4 Padauk in the machine and i let it cut the panel you see below. The process took 18 hours.   I had no intention of making something from the result, but i thought it was just too cool looking to discard.  So it sat in my shop for about 9 months. 



I then decided i wanted to frame the panel.  Again, i wanted to use the CNC.  I wanted to do rails and stiles that i could not easily do without the use of the CNC.  Sure they CAN be done using templates and a handheld router, but the degree of difficulty is quite high IMO.    The process of creating these was the only difficult part of the build for me.  I liked the contrast of Wenge with the Padauk.  The rails are proud of the stiles by about 1/4 inch and taper down to the stiles with a rounded edge at the joint.  A bridle joint goes theough the rails and is obviously visible on the ends.  This then sat in the shop for a couple of months.





Finally i decided to "complete" the thing.  I build a cabinet of Wenge with a veneered hemlock-over-plywood back.  I wanted the interior to look calm as the exterior is not.

The completed cabinet:

The pins and handle are brass.  The finish on the dragon is semi gloss nitrocellulose lacquer.  The case is finished with shellac and Satin Crystalac super-premium.



Blum self closing hinges are sued because they are concealed.



A close up of the joinery and pins on the door


The handle and its recess




The side of the case.  A simple rabbeted case pinned with brass pins.
The rear panel sits in a rabbet and has a french cleat attached which holds the case on the wall.







I think the outcome is quite elegant.

I took the piece to our local Maker Faire this weekend where i asked many of the folks there what they thought should be kept in such a case.
One young woman rolled her eyes at me and replied, "The souls of your enemies, Duh!"
Just maybe...that is appropriate.

-Wayne

[fredhargis]

Oh, man...that really is nice!

[Wild Turkey]

Incredible.

Just incredible.

[TomFromStLouis]

Way cool. That padauk is perfect for dragons! Good to know and very nice to see.

[barryvabeach]

Wayne,  I have to agree it is not exactly tradition American furniture, at least not as we perceive that term, but it is still pretty great.  Keep up the good work.

[Herb G]

Freaking awesome! I love it.

[Bill Holt]

+27 to what everyone else has said!

[AHill]

I gotta say the 18 hour wait was worth it, and you certainly did that panel justice with the cabinet.  Wow.  Very, very nice.  I like the brass pins, the door pull, and that panel is simply amazing.  It's one thing to use a CNC router. It's another thing to know how to use it.  Very well done, sir!

[jteneyck]

I think your description that it's elegant is bang on.   The design, the wood, the brass pins.  It all just goes together - beautifully. 

John

[Tacknight]

That is freaking cool!