Solid wood bookcase

[AZJoe]

If you decide to go the custom route PLEASE keep us updated, I am sure more then a few of us would love to see pics.

Did I mention I am jealous?.lol

[drcollie]

bookcase0001.pdf

Here's a conceptual sketch mostly for sizing and style/pricing.

[AZJoe]

That is really cool. Not a bad price at all, especially considering what you are getting.

[zinninge]

Duane, any word from John on how my bookcase is coming along? I am so excited it's hard to wait!

[drcollie]

John is going to be on time with it, but not early. Probably be here right around June 14th or so he told me. Won't be too much longer.

[zinninge]

That sounds fine. Since it is for my husband's birthday it doesn't need to be early. In fact, I don't want to take delivery until June 18.

[aaron]

June 14? That's my birthday, so I'm afraid I have to claim it as a present. Oh, and thank you for your generosity.

[AZJoe]

June 14? That's my birthday, so I'm afraid I have to claim it as a present. Oh, and thank you for your generosity.

Funny when she asked on the ETA, I was going to say "Didn't Duane tell you he was sending it to me"..lol

I can't wait to see this thing! I am sure it is going to be beautiful.

[zinninge]

Too bad, guys. Husband's birthday is June 19. AZJoe, as they say, fuggedaboutit. But I will post pix. I can't wait either!

[drcollie]

Drumroll please......

The finished bookcase!

It came out very well, and is right on with the drawing submitted. It's a heavy piece, 100 % made of solid cherry (even the backboards). John threw the first one away, the wood started checking as he was working with it, so he had to get more lumber which meant it arrived today at noon, a few days later than we planned but we will still make the birthday surprise with a delivery tomorrow morning as planned. Everything is 1-board, the top, side and shelves. No glue-ups. Its hand-scraped and aniline dyed, with hand-cut dovetails on the top. This piece has zero flex the way its built, and will be around for hundreds of years. The inlaid part took 12 hours to do alone, its all set in by hand. I asked John how he did it and here's the steps:

The hardest part is the thin weaving segments. He built a tool made of two Exacto Knife blades with a small silicone spacer in between the blades and then scribes out the cherry with it, and 'digs' it out to the depth he wants. Then he uses super-white maple wood and cuts very narrow, long strips and fits it into the groove. One each side of the diamond there is one long thin piece in the weave, then the opposite side must be done in segments (half-round if you will). Once it place its all sanded flush, the the really difficult segment is to seal the maple without getting and of the shellac sealer on the cherry. The sealer prevents the inlay from taking the stain on the cherry. He has to use a very fine artist's brush and magnifying glasses to get the sealer exactly on the maple parts without covering the cherry.

I had John sign it and date it since I knew this was a special piece for a special occasion, and asked him to stand for a photo, too (he's a big man, about 6' 2"). See how much fun custom pieces can be? Each one has a story behind it and you can create something no one else has, a special piece built just for you.