To all,
This is and update on a work in progress I posted awhile back. Hopefully there are some die hards still at Knots that will read this.
Well, I created a challenge for myself. I thought I was being clever by building some compound curved doors for a cabinet but when I started thinking about how to hinge them I thought I may have outsmarted myself. The hinge stile curves both on the side and the face and each corner comes to a point. I decided knife hinges would be the best/only option. In order to install the hinges at the correct angle I had to establish the chord of the arc of the door edge. Simple enough, just cut at stick the right length with two square ends and then lay it point to point on the door edge and use it to mark the tapered rabbets I have to cut by hand to accept the hinges. Then I had to cut some little tapered mounting blocks to fasten the cabinet side of the hinge.
I was amazed when it all went together on the first attempt. I think I want to go back and rework the mounting blocks and make them a little nicer. also I was a little disappointed with the size of the notches I had to make in the corners of the door for the hinge knuckle but the hinge could not be installed at the same angle as the door edge. In other words, I could not dap the cabinet side of the hinge into the cabinet because had to be square to the chord which force me to take the full depth of both leaves of the hinge out of he tapered door rabbet. I was able to leave most of the wood on the face of the door to cover most of the hinge.
Getting the doors installed was a small victory for me on this project and I should be able to complete it quickly form this point. Just need drawer pulls, shelves, detail sanding and finish. Easy compared to where I’ve been.
Bret
Replies
Curved Doors
Bret
It looks a very unusual but very nice piece. I have done some curved but not compound curved work (don't have the gutz) and admire your courage. How are you going to finish it?
wot
So Much Energy
Bret , I love the piece , the doors are amazing before you hinged them .
I have to agree with wot and the Ray the Injun Rider , that is truly FWW .
we are here still
thanks for sharing , d
wow
Reminds me of an Ester "egg" we built that had to open (so a figure skater could emerge) the hinges were tough and they had to be hidden with ribbons and bows to keep the thing looking like an egg.
But you doors are a real technical challenge! (and have no place to hide) how did you layout and cut the mortise and tenons on those doors?
And who is the client Dr Seuss? - Just kidding Bret, you have a remarkable piece here, certainly one of a kind as the rest of us admittedly are too scared to attempt it.
What was your inspiration?
Robert.
You are you and that is true as there is no-one else in the world more you-er than you! (Dr. Seuss)
For some reason people think of the Cat In The Hat when they see this cabinet. I think the client should be the Mad Hatter.
I pictured this cabinet in my mind and I built it mainly to see if I could. Now that I've done it, it seems easy.
Once it's complete I was thinking I might do a tutorial on the entire process. Whatta ya think?
Bret
Curved Doors
Bret
Sounds like a great idea, I for one would be interested in the proces.
wot
Honestly I look at this work you have done Bret and think I should be reading it in fine woodworking as the back cover story and masters class topic for this month! No kidding. Work like yours is the main reason I read knots. I have a lot of years in woodworking and it becomes harder and harder to find real originality out there. Keep up the creative work and hope to see more of your work in the future. If FWW don't put your work in the Mag, make the tutorial so we can all see how you were able to build this challenging piece.
Robert.
Robert,
That's awful nice of you to say!. I'm glad you appreciate my work. Sometimes I feel like I'm just bumbling around in the shop.
Bret
Bumbling guy
Yeah me too sometimes Bret. (actually ...glad I am not the only one!)
But as someone said on knots There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore looking like an ass. I think we have all been there. Keep the faith.
Anyway keep up the creative juices and hope to see your finished project in FWW 220.
Robert.
Very True
Robert , What you say is true and I for one recognize the talent and experience we have and have had here on this Knots forum and feel they are second to NONE .
Bret is a very creative maker with many years wisdom , it shows in his work and is inspiring to me .
When we post pictures of wip or finished pieces we have made we are sharing not showing off or gloating .
Most any other forum is prolly a great place to also learn and share as well , there are many experts out there .
In the last year or so tutorials were made and posted in this forum , Samson may have been when we all tried to kick in .
A Gentleman from Puget Sound named Bob Smalser sp) has been posting how to's for 5 years that I know of .
Bret's piece is due more then 5 comments , it just shows how little traffic there is here but even when there was more folks did not always comment good bad or indifferent as though they were not interested because it was not a hand cut dt er sumthun .
When it is completed and He posts it in an online gallery we use for professionals in business , I will bet they flip out and drool over it and they will once again feature his project as a special piece .
regards , dusty, boxmaker
Bret
It seems you have found your solution without much trouble. I have already re-loaded the picture of your piece several times, and like it more each time.
I also agree that you should carve Seuss characters into the doors, or something. It would be very fitting.
Great job.
Hey, Dusty the Boxmaker!
How you doing, you ole' coot? It's good to see that some of the old guard are still hanging around here. You, Richard, Ray Pine.......
Maybe the site's not dead after all......
Happy Holidays, everyone, and my apologies for the small hijack, Bret. Nice looking work.
Jeff
Jethro , is that you ?
Hiya Jeff ,
Very good to hear from you , been a while we miss your presence .
Rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated , wouldn't you say ?
best regards ,dboxmaker
That's really an exceptional
That's really an exceptional piece, Bret. Great work.
Jim
Curved Doors
I, too, have not been here much lately. The previous incarnation of Knots kind of put me off, but I can see there is reason to come back more often.
When I first saw the opening title, I envisioned outwardly curved doors which might have required hinges similar to what is used on some automobile hoods and trunk lids. (Apologies, Richard.) Excellent work, Bret, both in design and execution. I'm still working some of the design around in my head. Did you have to do anything special to the geometry of the center gap to get it to open properly?
Again, I'm impressed.
Paul
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