Ça Commence

I've been commissioned to build a wall unit whose primary job is to be a liquor cabinet. Inspiration for the cabinet came from classic Danish wall units and from the room where it will reside. The room is quite large with 12' ceilings. There will be three boxes, and five shelves, with three shelves wrapping around a corner in the room.

To get my head around the corner, I decided to make a scale model of the room, and design the piece on it.

Scale model 1"=1', hearing protection for scale.

The model proved to be a very useful design tool, and a great way to convey the project to the clients.

With the design approved, I went to get some lumber. We decided on Sapele for the exterior of the boxes and the shelves, and maple for the interiors and drawers. The boxes will have sliding doors.

The car groaned a little when they dropped the 4/4, 24"
wide, 16' long piece of Sapele on it. I had
to cut it up before getting it inside.

Careful planing was needed to ensure that I would have enough stock with just the one piece of Sapele, and I think it'll work. The lumber yard had another piece just like this one, but I left it behind.

This is about as organized as I get. It's
proving to have been worth it.

I sawed the veneer at a friends shop, and have been jointing and gluing them together since. The big box is about 70" long, and I'm glad I only had two edge joints to do at that length.

70" edge joints pushed the limits of my
bench. The #6 was hanging off both
ends of the bench to make the cut.

Using my Hamler insert in my #6.
Works well.

perfect

i love it when the grain cooperates. 

ottawhat? podcast

last week i was a guest on a local ottawa podcast. ottawhat?'s format is conversational and relaxed. we mostly talked about woodworking and the ottawa region.
so if you've ever wondered what i sound like, here's your chance.

http://www.ottawhatpodcast.com/2015/06/58-jacques-breau-end-grain-woodworks.html?m=1

canadian quotes

i recently did a Q&A with canadian woodworking and home improvement. it's accompanied by a video slideshow. it was a fun process.

here's the result (slideshow is at the bottom, follow the link): 

https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/video/canadian-woodworking/canadian-quotes-jacques-breau

Tools Tools Tools

i just got a new tool. Always fun.

it's a 10" inca jointer/planer that's replacing a 4" jointer and 12" planer. it takes up about half the space, and gives me much better jointing capacity. it's a nice, clean machine with decidedly swiss features, like the planetary gear drive system.

good times.

On news stands now

My latest cabinet, Dark Horse, is featured on the cover of the February/March issue of Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement. Inside the magazine, is an article documenting the building of the cabinet.
Writing articles on woodworking is a lot of fun, and something that I hope to do more of in the future.

https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/current-issue

On the Curve, May 4-15 2015

I have been asked by the Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinet Making to lead a two week session on curved joinery this coming May. The class is open to anybody interested in furthering their knowledge of off 90* joinery. I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to return to Inside Passage yet again. After having completed the Craftsman program in 2006-2007, and returning as an assistant to Robert many times since, Inside Passage, the place and the people, have nestled themselves into a cozy corner of my heart.

We will be covering dovetails, mortise and tenon joinery, installing glass in a curved frame, and curved frame and panel construction. There will also be time to start working on the development of a project, for those who wish to do so. And, of course, we will push any limits that may come up.

For those who may not know, the Inside Passage School is located on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia in the village of Roberts Creek. The school is situated in the heart of the community a few minutes walk from the Georgia Straight. The setting is ideal, and the shop is well equipped. 

For more information check out the website: http://www.insidepassage.ca/joineryonthecurve

Or call Yvonne at 1-877-943-9663