Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Sculpted Mahogany Vanity - Shaping the Integral Handles

I've been kinda quiet about the handles on this bathroom vanity.  No better way to keep your stuff safe than leaving the handles off!

The funny gash down the middle of the frontmost panel is actually room for integral handles shaped from the panel itself.  For some reason, I like furnishings with almost hidden handles or at least handles that don't look like they could handle the drawer.  In the case of this vanity, the handles try to follow the sculpted pattern.

This whole project is a bit of an exploration and I like how these came out.  For a different way to attach shop-made handles, give this entry about my closet dresser drawers a look.

Next episodes will cover reinforcing the handles, applying the fronts, and wet-sanding the whole thing.  Getting there, slowly... knowing my luck, I'll finish right when the energizing cooler weather arrives :)

6 comments:

  • Anonymous said...
     

    The gaps you had between the fret saw and Japanese saw kerfs reminded me of something a clients once said regarding her wonky walls and my straight woodwork: "If anyone looks that close, I'll smack 'em!"

  • HalfInchShy said...
     

    ha ha, true! There's a bit of a reason for putting this experiment in the guest bathroom!

    Considering all the curvy sculpted pieces you do, I'm surprised you've had something intentionally straight to get such a comment!

  • Anonymous said...
     

    It seems to me given your drawer design that you may problems opening your drawers. Because all your drawer 'pulls' are off center it will rack the drawer slightly to that side, making it difficult to open. That is why pulls are in the center. I hope for you sake it does work, but I'm not convinced just yet.

  • Brian Q said...
     

    Looking good Paul.

  • HalfInchShy said...
     

    Thanks, Brian!

    Anonymous... you have a great point and it's actually why the bottom drawer has the handle in the middle as it will likely be the heaviest drawer. I guess I took a chance that the other slightly off-center handles wouldn't bind. As it is now, the drawers are applied in the shop and I'm very happy with how they move although I haven't yet tried them loaded. No binding!

  • Brian said...
     

    my jaw about hit the floor when you said you were putting the lizard pulls on... i think you should definitely use them.