Project Wood Cabinet: the Craft of Art and Beauty
Woodcraft or carpentry is a pastime for some, a passion for some. If you're bitten by the woodcraft bug, then let's say that you can prepare some of the most amazingly beautiful items of furniture out of wood. The real beauty is in your artistic creativity. Wood cabinets are a very popular project among woodcrafters for this very reason. Building a wood cabinet gives you ample opportunity to showcase your talent in every way.
Building a wood cabinet is your way of telling people that you have arrived as a woodcrafter. This is not a stool or a table. It is much more than a desk, even. It is the single largest item of household furniture. A wood cabinet is not just popular with the woodcrafter; everybody loves the look and 'feel' of a wood cabinet! Maybe it reminds them of a cabinet from their childhood. For some it speaks of culture and cultural values. Wood is the sign of durability unlike plywood. Wood is the sign of nature unlike plastic and steel. Whatever be the reason, wood cabinets are never ever going out of vogue! And as long as there are woodcrafters, there's going to be wood cabinets. The wood for these cabinets can range from pine and cherry to birch and willow.
Wood is a natural choice for making a cabinet. It is durable unlike plywood which starts disintegrating after a few years. Wood just goes on and on. If you want to make a cabinet as a sign of artistic ability then you won't want your work of labor and love to fall apart after just a few years. That's why it's got to be wood! More, you can do so much with natural wood that you cannot do with plywood or pressboard. You can carve wood and flute it and engrave it, but you can't do any of those things with plywood!
Making a wood cabinet may appear daunting at first but it is not so. That's not to say that it is a trivial project, not at all. The important thing is to get your ideas down on paper. Document every detail of the project. Organize yourself and your work. If you do that you will surely succeed. This primary documentation of your plan, your intention is called a blue-print - a project map so to speak.
Once the plan is filed, you must decide on the finish. What finish will you use? That is simple enough. The cabinet should match the other articles of furniture in the room. So if they're all light colored, that's the finish for your cabinet. And if they're all dark colored then that's what your cabinet is going to be like.
Finish means 'varnish', a light coating which allows you to see the wood grain beneath. But you have an option. You can paint the cabinet when it's done. That way you have more control over the tonal effect of the cabinet. Painting is an excellent idea and does not detract from the natural beauty of the wood cabinet. Just avoid colors that are hideous, or clash with the room's decor. If you have a friend who is an interior designer, then it will be a good idea to get his opinion on which color to paint the cabinet.
Wood is a good durable medium for artistic expression. And a cabinet is a good article of furniture to put your mark on. Putting the two together, a wood cabinet is an ideal project to establish your credentials as a quality woodcrafter. Remember, this is a three dimensional work of art, more like a sculpture rather than a painting. Consider it your 'David'. Put your heart and soul into it. That way you will feel truly proud to say: 'I did it!'
