building display cases

I know I have been quiet in this space.  I have not been sick or traveling.  I did have a funeral to go to which having a good person die is always sad.  This was Koda Bear's  other grandmother who died so all of Tuesday was mourning her and supporting that side of the family.

What I have been doing this week is brushing off old skills and learning new ones to build the display cases for the boyos.  Monday, I ran a table saw for four hours after spending eight hours building a cut list.  Knowing what I do now, I would have changed cut list.  I would have spent another four to eight hours on it to really make sure I had what I wanted.  Another spreadsheet would have been created!  I learned a lot since Monday.  This was just the first step.

I had help with the table saw.  I am not big enough to manhandle 3/4" plywood sheets by myself.  I just do not have the wingspan or the the strength.  But when it was all done, this was the pile that was brought back to the shop.

Knowing what I do now, I would have made this pile much more organized. I would have probably taken a day with the cutlist to do that.  I got tired of "which piece of wood do I need and where is it."  That was me. I said it out loud a bit but thought it a lot!

To build the display cases, I learned how to use a pocket hole jig.  The first time I tried to use one, I was totally confused and ended up not using it.  Now, I can run of these like a pro.  Not that I cannot get better at it, because I can.  

By the end of Wednesday or mid Thursday (I cannot remember anymore), the frames for two of the three display cases were built.  The corner one still needs to be built.  I handed it off to my Beloved because he was having a tough time installing drawers so I may finish it.

The next step was building drawers.  Lots of drawers.  The boyos decided they wanted mostly drawers and not shelves for knife storage.  It started out as 32 drawers total.  It is going to end up with 37 drawers total.  After yesterday, I now know that I have that I have to remake two more because I built two too big.  I need to add more clearances. 

My biggest learning here is that I should not have precut my drawers.  I could cut the drawer heights I wished and the lengths of the sides but the front and back?  No.  Going from the computer to human measurement and divider placement did not keep the drawer sizes the same.  

But most of them are done and ready for installation.

That is what I spent nine hours doing yesterday.

I got really good at installing drawers.  This is another places though that I can tell that I have been working with too many computer generated clearances as a scientist and not human hand done clearance.  An extra 1/16th or 1/32nd of an inch here and there would have been helpful.  

I would say we are half way done with the display cases.  There are more drawers to build, more to install, and the corner case to finish building.  Then, the drawers all need faces and the countertop needs to be built.  So far, was this easier then Ikea?  But, the display cases are better dimensions and less expensive.  Now saying that, the counter top is going to be a custom butcher block that I will probably end up building.  The total could run more then Ikea.  But for an artisan knife shop, artisan display cases make since.  The cost, including labor may come in to less then what installed cabinets from Ikea would have been.  

I was asked the question, do I enjoy this?  I do.  There are times that I am frustrated but I am learning new things.  I think the frustration levels will go down as I have better skills.  Also, I need to know when stop better.  I have come in from working on this project this week and been so worn out I could barely move.  Last night, I hurt until I went sleep.  I am better this morning but I can feel it.  

I have been asked to put together a quote for a corner seating area in one of the boyos kitchens.  He does not enjoy wood work.  After this is done, at least to putting the counter top together, I will give him that quote.

It is an interesting windy road I am traveling.  It is awfully fun and I am incredibly grateful that I get these choices!