Work continues, albeit slowly, on my built-in bookcase project. Last weekend I got the top up and the lighting installed. I used low profile xenon lights from Rockler and they turned out really well. Super easy to install. The rest of the top, not so much. There were lots of mistakes there, but fortunately, easy to cover up and those that weren’t will be covered by the crown moulding.

There are some visible gaps in the center section on the top panel. That piece just rests there, allowing me access to the wiring / transformer for the lights if needed, so there isn’t any way I can think of to get it to rest flat. Maybe something will come to me.

Also, the computer monitor is absolutely swallowed by the the compartment that it rests in. I may just have to go look for something a little bigger. Bummer

Other than those minor things, I’m really happy with it. Now on to the moulding, doors, and the search to find a chair that looks like it actually belongs!

For example, for the longest time all of our A/V gear was stacked on an end table with video cassettes (have to find some way to use those things these days) between various components to provide room to breathe. Buying an entertainment center was always in the back of my mind, but I just kept putting it off for one reason or another.

Well, I finally decided enough is enough. My plan is to go through my house room by room and give each a makeover of some kind. There is a lot of making over that needs to be done, so this year we’ll probably just stick to the ground floor.

First up was the living room. Unfortunately, the living room is probably the one in the most desperate need of help. All of the furniture was either really old, or cheap or both. It was also dominated by a 57″ rear project television set. That set was flanked by the A/V gear I mentioned above, and one of those cheap particleboard bookcases you might get at Wal-Mart. This was filled with a few books, but mostly video games and movies. There was also a CD stand over in the corner filled with CDs. Also in that area was a “toy basket” that my kids use, but more often used by kids that my wife watches from time to time. Along the opposite wall is a computer armoire with the same kind of construction as the bookshelf. Not only is there a computer there, but some other odds and ends.

What I wanted to do was hide most of this stuff in cabinets and generally make the living room look a little less cluttered. As I thought about it, I decided a proper entertainment center would go a long way towards providing a home for the movies, games, and A/V gear. So, we finally broke down and purchased a lovely entertainment center and clear out a lot of clutter. But there was still the computer to consider. It occurred to me I could probably build a set of cabinets / bookcase / computer desk along the wall where the old television set used to be and still not have it take up as much room. In addition I could take books and items from the upstairs bookcase and move them downstairs, freeing up some room in the bedroom.

Bookcase from hell

After much thought, I came up with a design (using Google SketchUp) for a bookcase that would provide some storage space for the things I’d like hidden away, as well as the computer and provide shelves for some books as well as various decorative items. It was going to be pretty enormous. Ten feet long and stretching from floor to ceiling. I was going to make it all from MDF, paint it white to match the molding and transition border round the top of the living room, and add matching crown molding and baseboards to make it look truly built in.

I figured it would take a few weeks.

I was spectacularly wrong.

I’ve been working on this bookcase for… ever. I don’t even know when I started. I just know that it goes on and on. A lot of this has to do with my make nearly complete lack of experience. I built some rolling cabinets for the garage a couple years back, but that was nothing compared to this. There are about 100 pieces in my design. It may not be obvious at first, but besides the various sized shelves and dividers, I also built in channels to hide cords for the computer equipment and lighting. In addition, to provide strength and help with alignment, all the side and back panels have dados cut in them. And there are some corners that were rounded overs, and and ogee cut along the desk surface… It’s just a ton of work.

I’m probably about two thirds done.

The cabinets are done. And most of the shelving. I just have a couple pieces to work on there. Next up is the top section and the lights. Then the molding and baseboards (and I get to learn about coping joints), then finally the cabinet doors where I’ll learn how to make raised panel doors.

So that’s my project these days. I’ve created set on flickr with a few pictures of the project. I’ll try and post more as I move further along. One day, hopefully before I die. It will all be done. Then I can relax and admire my handiwork for a bit.

Then move on to the dining room.

Dining Room Floor (more on flickr)

So about a month ago I finally got around to a long planned hardwood floor installation in my dining room. And despite it taking more time, money and obscenities, than I originally planned on, it really was pretty enjoyable experience overall. It also got me thinking: “I wonder if I can create something real out of wood that I wouldn’t be ashamed to admit was my creation”. I already had most all the tools I’d need (so I thought). I’d just need to get the wood, and hardware… oh and a router, may to have to cut some rabbets, dados and such… I bet I can use my $90 benchtop table saw to rip 4′ x 8′ sheets of plywood just fine…

I thought I’d start by creating something for the garage that would serve as storage for that increasingly cluttered area and serve as a mobile work surface for any future projects I might undertake in the future. With that in mind, I begin sketching up my mobile tool cabinet / work table thingy. And then I discovered Google Sketchup which made design much easier and also revealed a few problems. The final design for those with playing along at home: Cabinet_40x26.skp.

Design in hand I figured on two 4′ x 8′ sheets of oak plywood. Later some oak edging from in the few exposed ends to preserve the illusion of a solid piece of wood, some casters, hinges, screws, polyurethane, other assorted hardware and poof! my cabinet would be done. Not exactly. I screwed up the bottom straight away. I cut it a bit too small, so I figured I’d just adjust my dimensions elsewhere and I’d be fine. A nasty kickback with the table saw gouged up a one of my shelves later on (and also taught me to keep the guard on my table saw unless there was no way around it) and so I bit the bullet, bought another sheet of plywood and pretty much started over. I’d like to say from there, things went smoothly, but I made plenty of mistakes. Several pieces were not square, the mitered edges didn’t turn out exactly right (though surprisingly inconspicuous), a 1/4 of dado cut before realizing it was in the wrong location (the worst of the mistakes, but inside the cabinet on the back), minor tear out here there and everywhere, etc., etc.

The Completed Cabinet (more on flickr)

So the cabinet is all done. I learned plenty and I am actually pretty happy with the finished product. So much so that I’m considering a companion cabinet / miter saw table with shelves for the next project. It should actually be easier. Maybe next time I’ll post updates as the project goes along. I considered doing that this time, but I kept imagining that the final post would be something along the lines of: “Took sledgehammer to cabinet today. Renewed WoW subscription.”