"Mark & Juanita" wrote in message

Out of curiosity, what makes the casework "prototype" vs. the final
design?

Good question!

Basically, the material used, it being the first time to try out/use "the
method", and the fact that it is difficult, if not impossible, to
incorporate some of the key design elements of a traditional Mission piece
(IOW, the "frame and panel" sides is what gives these pieces a good deal of
their "look" IMO, and to incorporate these into this "method" of doing the
casework skirts on the edges of some less than desirable woodworking
practices).

I wasn't so sure I would buy into the concept until I got into it so I
executed the project as an experiment rather than if I was trying to create
a "museum piece" with traditional joinery from the get go, and that almost
always colors the way I do the little things.

Although I did take a great deal of care in the "fit" of the parts/joinery,
I used plywood drawers (well crafted nonetheless) and purchased drawer
slides instead of the wood drawers I plan for the final iteration.

.... and I'm still not thoroughly convinced this is a good method, even with
some changes.

While I like the concept of the strength and resistance to sagging/racking
of "the method" (this is what attracted me to the concept originally as I
dislike the "six legged" designs), there is generally a good reason for
traditional joinery techniques (frame and panel sides) in like pieces, and
this is certainly a departure from that traditional method.

And, while I took great pains in selecting two woods for the 1 1/2" thick
"laminated sides" that have almost identical wood movement characteristics
(both quarter sawn, to boot), I'm still not convinced that gluing legs to
any material that has a dimensional instability greater than plywood is
something that will stand the test of time.

At this point, and should I use this approach in the final piece, there are
two changes I will definitely make with regard to what I did on this piece
as far as the basic casework:

I will use a top grade plywood for ALL the case work instead of a secondary
wood, which will make it lighter and provide as much dimensional stability
over time as any wood product can; and I will change the joinery on selected
parts (dovetail both the front/back top rails into the top of the posts, for
starters)

Very nice looking piece

Thanks ... While I like the look that was achieved despite the inherent
limitations vis a vis design elements like top and bottom side rails, I
would prefer to be more comfortable about the "time tested" nature of this
method versus more traditional methods ... that despite the very reason I
embarked upon it was that these wide pieces don't seem to historically do
well in that department.

I know ... kinda hard to reconcile, but I can't help it. I guess the upshot
is that I'm still casting about for a solution to a problem that wouldn't
pop up until way past the time I would have the ability to worry about it.


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Last update: 6/1/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)