"charlie b"
Off The Rack vs Tailor Made
>
> Most of us, when we get to making a solid wood pieces, as opposed to ply
> and face frame, start with "off the rack" stock (S4S boards bought at
> The Borg, "lumber store" or perhaps from a lumber yard that deals mainly
> with construction material). Typically the wood is 3/4" thick - or
> less. If we want to make something that is greater than 3/4" thick we
> have to fake it - tapered legs made of four mitered edge pieces glued
> together, maybe some molding/ trim around a fire place mantle or table
> top, etc.) Long shaped parts that must be thicker than 3/4" - a chair's
> rear legs, a contoured solid wood chair seat, a tall curved leg, a
> cabriolet leg and the like aren't even on the To Do list. Granted, you
> can mail order cabriolet legs, but you have to take what you get. > snip >
> Of course, when you move away from "off the rack" stock and straight
> parts, a bandsaw becomes a "must have" tool. The resulting design
> possibilities that open up boggle the mind. And while your wood is
> drying, you'll have plenty of time to think of what it will become
> because it will help you by whispering in your ear. Stand two or three
> slabs up against the wall, stand back and get into a conversation. >
> If you've started with wood a step or two before Off the Rack, how did
> it change your design approach? What did it do to your joinery
> repetoire
snip
I try never to use "off the rack" S4S 3/4" stock. Its a design thing. I dislike the look of most custom furniture that has standard 3/4" boards as its main use. I reminds me to much like IKEA junk. With the exception of kitchen cabinets, I try, when ever possible, to use slightly larger or smaller stock for most projects. It is true that lumber prep, resawing, jointing and planer work, take some extra effort but I feel it justified by the final outcome.
Dave
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