Variation on Gregory Paolini's Arts and Crafts Bookcase (FWW #179, Sep/Oct 2005)
I'm a novice hobby woodworker. This is my first crack at anything leaning towards "fine woodworking". It was inspired by Gregory Paolini's Arts and Crafts bookcase that appeared in FWW magazine (#179, Sep/Oct 2005). Because I still don't own a planer or jointer, I used home center 3/4" S4S red oak (and 1/4" plywood for the side and back panels), and so I had to change the dimensions slightly from the original plan - not quite a "beefy" as Paolini's version. This project was a challenge for my skill level with many "firsts" for me: mortise and tenon joinery, frame and panel construction, vacuum press veneering, and the finishing process. I began the finish with a diluted amber dye, then used two different colors of gel stain (teak first, followed by dark walnut), and finally several coats of wipe-on poly.