This is one of two cabinets I just finished for a local art show for 55+ people. I guess age does have its benefits sometimes! I have always wanted to make one of these Krenov cabinets as a bucket list thing. The base is cherry, the outside is eucalyptus veneer, the inside is avodire veneer, and the top and bottom of the case and the shelfs are butternut. I guess you could say this cabinet took me over 20 years to make as the Raquet Tailed Kingfisher birds on the cabinet were cut over twenty years ago because I liked the look of them, well I never found a good project to add them to, so they were kept between a couple of pieces of glass all this time. Although this wasn't a difficult project, I did have a few learning moments and a few setbacks. For example, I glued up the back of a panel with the veneer tape on the glue side. I've heard of this happening to others and thought "how could someone do that!". The answer is almost always, you're in a hurry. There is a sinking feeling in your gut when you take a panel out of the press and think " Where is the veneer tape?" Sometimes all you can do is laugh at yourself and continue on!
-- Paul--- Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. — Scott Adams
Norman to answer your question, I taped the whole picture together then cut the sides and doors to size after but before I glued them to the panels. You can give yourself a little leeway on the length, but you really have to pay attention when you size the parts after the glue up. My doors were made from plywood wrapped with 3/16th solid wood with the plan to plane them down to at least 1/8th. this gave me room to shift the doors up or down as needed. Also, I did an inlay on the door sides to give the look of a continuous flow. If I do another, I will definitely plan for that door thickness in the drawing, as I didn't, I had to add to the stems and didn't get the exact look I was looking for. The photo shows the veneer before it was cut, I hope that helps.
-- Paul--- Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. — Scott Adams
I love the 'simplicity' of the marquetry - a very attractive piece. "Where's the veneer tape?" Yes been there, worse is if there's a bit of blue masking tape sticking out, that you release has been sandwiched. Sandwiching veneer tape in the press works, but glue doesn't stick to masking tape!!
There are some pieces of furniture that you can count as art. This is one of those. Very well done. I found a contradiction in your text: this cabinet took me over 20 years and the answer is almost always, you're in a hurry It's clear what you mean and I totally get it, but there's something comical about it.
