I’m building the bookcase in the Feb. issue of Fine Woodworking. If you didn’t get that issue the bookcase frame is Cherry and the panels and shelving are Douglas Fir. I had Cherry in house for the frame. I didn’t have any thick Douglas Fir to resaw and couldn’t find anything but construction grade 2by. So I got Hard Maple for the back and side panels and 2×12 construction grade Douglas Fir for the Shelves. The Maple panels look great and I wanted to keep the Maple clear or white as possible for the contrast in color. Trouble is, I can’t get the 2by Douglas Fir shelving material to closely match the Cherry frame. Is this matching a lost cause? Should I go get more Maple and glue up the shelves. Don’t want to ruin what is so far a good looking project. Additionally, can anyone tell me how Tung Oil differs from Shellac or Stain followed with polyurthane? Appreciate any help. agriffee
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Replies
I'd personally use cherry for the shelves, rather than the maple. Having two different woods for the case work is striking, but to me the shelves should "blend", and that means the same wood ... same color ... same everything. Having another wood in the shelving would cause me to notice it and ask "why is this different?" and "why are there three woods used?"
I'm also dubious about construction grade Doug Fir. But that's just me, perhaps.
John
John I just bought enough Maple to build the shelves. Each shelf will have a 2 &1/2 " cherry strip on the front. That's the way the one in Fine Woodworking was built except with Douglas Fir. You're right three woods just was too much. Now I'm in a quandary regarding the finish. I'm fairly new with woodworking and have lots of trouble with finishing. The bookcase in Fine Woodworking was finished with Tung oil. Have no idea what that would look like . Have had no experience with Tung oil. Think I'll use de-waxed Garnet shellac with a little brown mixed in. Then probably several coats of wipe on poly. Should still be lots of contrast. Appreciate your response very much. Thanks.
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