Tansu Style Cabinet

This is the second tansu style cabinet we have made. The first. at the bottom of this post, was now nearly 20 years ago and I sort of forgot exactly what's involved in making one of these. There are a ton of parts already and we're still getting started .... (260 pieces of wood, plus the hardware is roughly the final tally).... Interesting project though .. Click the pictures to enlarge ..

Hardware on ... first coat of finish

Waiting for the hardware now

7/3/08 shows the seperate top unit and the back of the base cabinet

The assembled case

Original sketch above and CAD drawing below

First iteration / variation to the right

Final shop drawing ... all drawers

Showing the interior drawer supports

Starting the dovetails for the 17 drawers

Starting the interior frames .... we're gonna count the pieces of wood so far tomorrow ...

The fronts and backs of the case are glued up, but the ends are not yet. We left some pieces out so we can see what we're doing inside while we'e building the drawer supports...

Sanding parts of the top case prior to first rough assembly

The top 3 case 'skeletons' assembled

Showing the crotch cut boards we'll use for the side panels ... They'll be split and half used for each end of the upper cases. I've got a great board for the top panels too.

First assembly with all the panels prior to final fitting and glue up ...

ALL the parts on the two carts are for inside the cabinet ...

drawer sides and drawer supports

The original ... 1989 ... Danby, VT Still 100%

Golf

Just so you know .... My life is not all woodworking and writing this blog. I read, a lot, actually, and mostly not about woodworking. And play tennis, and, this summer, play golf. Mostly I play with the previously mentioned Bill LaBerge at the local Lake Saint Catherine Country Club where we literally 'tear up the course' as often as not. Today is Bill's birthday and we plan to head out after lunch. Since I have previously loaned him Carl Hiiasen's 'Downhil Lie; A Hacker's return to a Ruinous Sport'. I thought a birthday golf post would be just the thing for him. It's from John Updike's 'Golf Dreams', quoted without permission, but with the intention of encouraging you to buy the book or get it from your local library where I got my copy. Golf writing, in the right hands, can be extremely entertaining; more so, at times, then the game.
Click on the entry below so you can read it ....

A Custom Window Grill

gold leafed and polished ... Click th epictures to enlarge ...

After a moment of temporary confusion, we 'got er done' and ready for paint and gold leaf below


We've actually been puttering on this project, figuring it out part by part over the last couple of weeks while the construction project that will be it's final home was idling along. We now have a delivery date so we're starting the push to get it together and finish it up .... It will be a grill over a piece of glass in a passage door, and it's based on a design by Gilbert Poillerat (French 1902-1988), known for his metal work. It's been fun so far and I can't wait to see it all come together.


The original inspiration page .. Unfortunately we won't be able to charge as much as Gilbert gets these days ...

The full size drawing and the parts ready to assemble
6/20/08

Getting the 'bows' cut and ready to weld

The joinery of the frame (round tenons in holes, welded from the outside, is complete and the arrow needs the ball on it. Unfortunatelym the forged ball we bought was hardened by the
manufacturing process and it's proving tough to drill ... we'll get it ... heat it, cool it, heat it, cool it ... The arrow is looking pretty cool ...

6/824/08 Home stretch .... 'Bows' assembled and located, twisted wire detail explored ....