Cabinet for gun safe interior

[markiver54]

Nice work Marine!! Will you have room for long guns in there?
I have a 24 gun safe...almost 600 lbs empty. It sits in my extra room. As far as security goes, not worried. Took 4 very large friends to move it in the house. I built a 2x8 base for it to lift it up some. Not bolted down because in my opinion, it's just WAY too heavy and awkward to be stolen. Please continue to post your progress. Looking great!

Yup, there will be room for a half dozen long guns down one side, but I have another long gun safe in the loading room for long guns where most of those are stored. The loading room stores the ammo, fly rod rack, reel cases, loading bench, powder and supplies... Among other things.

Nice! Got all the bases covered!

[BrokenolMarine]

Another session in the shop this afternoon. Cut out sixteen sides and eight front and back panels for the eight drawers. They will all have to pass over the dado blade to cut the slot for the bottom panels to fit into. While I rested in the wheelchair, I started to think about my numbers again, and went back in to measure the interior clearances between the back of the safe and the closed door. (I extended the tape and partially applied the brake, then SLOWLY closed the door.) This eased the tape back against the partial brake without reeling it in. Hmmm...

My original numbers with the drawer pulls Tina chose would be cutting it really close. I decided rather than full bubble front drawers, they will be flush with the trim, or set back slightly. Would suck to build the entire thing, then have to remove $40 worth of drawer pulls because the safe door won't close.

Measure a lot, don't rush, then you throw less things in the shop.

[BrokenolMarine]

After more thought, I remembered I planned to offset the drawer back forward a couple inches between the side rails. The purpose is twofold... Keeps the contents from getting pushed all the way to the back, and when you stop when you see the back of the drawer you still have a couple inches of the sides IN the tracks so the drawer doesn't drop out.

This way, if there is a slight problem with the clearance on the door closure, (slight problem,) I need only trim a tad off the back off each side rail and I'm golden. Still plan ahead to avoid this, but breathing easier.

[BrokenolMarine]

More shop time. Swapped the blades on the table saw... Installed the stacked dado, set up for 1/4 inch cut, set about 1/4 inch depth. Ran a test pass on a scrap, and test fit a piece of the 1/4 inch hardwood ply I use for drawer bottoms. Good to go. Miss T came out for a few minutes to catch and stack and I ran all thirty two pieces across the dado blade.

Swapped the blades back and trimmed the side pieces to the new length, then calculated the size of the bottom panels, allowing the extra length and width for the dadoes. Made that mistake Once.... Got it all cut out, time for a break, caffine is low. I took pics, I will get them up in a bit.

Drawer assembly next, then processing the walnut to make the drawer fronts.

[markiver54]

Good progress! Exciting...getting closer!

[BrokenolMarine]

Here are the latest pics:

A drawer kit, 32 pieces cut, 16 sides, and the front and back pieces.

10 drawer kit.jpg (120.81 KiB) Viewed 4954 times

Set up the dado and run a test piece.

11 dado pass test.jpg (78.04 KiB) Viewed 4954 times

Then check the fit of the material for the bottom...

12 test fit bottom material.jpg (83.5 KiB) Viewed 4954 times

When that works, run all 32 components and then cut out the eight bottom panels.

13 bottoms cut as well.jpg (134.75 KiB) Viewed 4954 times

Will get out and work on the assembly in a bit.

[BrokenolMarine]

Back in the shop. I normally keep it clean, but when I am working on a project, I keep the shop neat enough to keep it safe, but leave the tools OUT that I am using... don't waste time putting away the stuff I will use again the next day and don't sweep at the end of every day. Just keep the hazards off the floor. So, to some folks, the shop would look a mess.

15 the shop is a mess.jpg (172.45 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

The last session for today, set up to assemble drawers.

16 set up to assemble drawers.jpg (193.72 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

So, did the assembled drawers match your image of what I described?

17 a completed drawer.jpg (97.95 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

Cabinet with eight drawers in place. They still need the drawer fronts and pulls, and I need to put the trim in place and do the finish work.
The cabinet would WORK as it is now. It just wouldn't be pretty.

18 cabinet full of drawers.jpg (105.84 KiB) Viewed 4946 times

A forum member from woodnet came out and cut my cured walnut logs to length for me, as I am not allowed to use a chainsaw any longer per the orthopedic surgeon. I used the bandsaw mill to slice them into slabs. That is where the drawer fronts and trim will come from. The next stage will be interesting. I will be using the power planer or the bandsaw to get the slabs to size.

[markiver54]

Yes, given your detailed description through the process so far, looks great, as I expected! Can't wait to see the finished product.
BTW, your shop is spic n span compared to my small shop.

[BrokenolMarine]

Morning session. Put everything away l won't need in the next phase, swept up a bit, put away the excess wood from the cabinet build, and prepared the shop to roll out the band saw. Taking a back resting break and will start prepping the walnut.

[BrokenolMarine]

Worked a second session, chose some slabs, marked a centerline on ten slabs. Got an edge marked for reference. Went thru those ten and after making my calculations, chose four. Set up the band saw and cut that straight edge. Next came the power planer to flatten one surface on each of tye four. Break time. Back to the table saw next. I'll be cutting 1/4 drawer fronts, and then trim from the extra.

[markiver54]

Coming right along Marine, keep the progress coming as well!

[BrokenolMarine]

Spent all day yesterday at the VA, several appts, the most important, the semi annual with my primary care doc. Really like this retired Colonel. Spends enough time to cover the bases. Renewed my scripts for the next six months, went over my ongoing issues but made no changes, and ordered labs and an xray to cover a fall that has created a painful continuing shoulder issue.

So. No work on the project yesterday. Woke up this morning and the one shot made my right arm so sore...
I went out anyway, and got a little done. This is a fluid design, and during the downtime at the VA I decided how i would address the drawer fronts and trim. This meant I needed to trim 1/4 inch off the front of each rail. Pain in the butt, but a cool little saw, chisel, and mallet got that done. Then I ran the draw front slabs and trim slabs across the jointer to prepare them for bookmatching, or slicing them into 1/4 inch slices.

Pain levels caused me to break for the day. This next phase is critical, and I want sharp focus. I will try and post pics with notes later.

[BrokenolMarine]

PICS as promised.

After processing the Slabs the in the earlier steps, I marked the center, then a straight edge.

20 marked the centers and edge.jpg (157.78 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

I chose the best and cut those on the bandsaw.

21 cut an edge.jpg (181.12 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

The best four were squared up and shaped.

22 best four shaped.jpg (170.63 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

Ran them thru the power planer to take out bows and rough faces.

23 power planed.jpg (111.82 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

A warm day let me work with the shop door open, a long view from outside the roll up door.

24 long view from rollup door.jpg (163.82 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

As discussed in an earlier post, the design is fluid. I changed the way I was going to deal with hiding the rails, so I needed to trim them back 1/4"

25 trim the rails.jpg (107.98 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

Now that I knew how I was going to deal with the drawer faces, time to trim the blocks to size.

26 drawer face to width.jpg (89.06 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

The blocks could be bookmatched to produce the faces. Each block yielded about three faces.

27 bookmatch on band saw.jpg (110.33 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

I also ran the cutoffs thru the bandsaw to produce the trim for the cabinet.

28 faces and trim.jpg (131.5 KiB) Viewed 4722 times

All the bandsawed items were run thru the planer to take away the rough faces, but will still need to be carded to smooth them out.

Next up? Sanding and fitting, then finishing and mounting hardware and we are done.
(I may also make a standing rack to fill the dead space between the off side of the cabinet and the safe wall, to store files and other items.) This would be an hour ... unfinished as it will be hidden from view.

[RanchRoper]

What a nice shop.

[BrokenolMarine]

What a nice shop.

When I did that fantasia hippo move in 2017? and we didn't know if I would walk again, Miss T had our guy waiting when i came home from the hospital. We knew that I needed access for my chair either way, and the 12 x 20 Amish building I had used for twenty years wasn't going to do. We moved it aside, to become Miss Ts work shop, and built this one.

With the lower interest rates at the time, and the small amount remaining on our balance, we refinanced the house for ten years, added the funds for the shop, and the payment stayed the same. . We did it right, heated and AC, finished walls, plenty of windows and good lighting. Drop down plug over the workbench. Yup, dream shop. Took years, but i have it.

[markiver54]

Again, Marine, great progress , what a nice shop. Mine is too small to have some of those great tools you have. Looks like you have dust collection issues covered as well. Very frustrating for me with just a large shop vac. Keep up the good work! Can't wait for completion.

[BrokenolMarine]

Again, Marine, great progress , what a nice shop. Mine is too small to have some of those great tools you have. Looks like you have dust collection issues covered as well. Very frustrating for me with just a large shop vac. Keep up the good work! Can't wait for completion.

Years ago, when we were first married, l was in an 8x10 building l built myself, and using a small black and decker shop vac for dust collection. I didn't start to really build up the tools until the kids started to graduate and move on... No regrets... But with four kids at home, I did most of my woodworking with basics. When l added the Amish building, and a tool here and there each year... It was great. In most cases, I waited until i could buy quality, that way i bought once.

Most of the large tools you see are more than fifteen years old... Still running. Some have been upgraded or rebuilt, but... Still going.
Wait... So am I... Upgraded, rebuilt.

[markiver54]

You have obviously worked hard and patiently. You deserve everything you have built. If I didn't live in city limits and had the land, I would expand my shop. I'm very happy for you!...and jealous I might add!..

[BrokenolMarine]

I took a lot of gruff for where i live from my friends back when i was working. No one wanted to visit. They said the directions should read, drive to the edge of the country, turn right. It was just an hour... But it was in the boonies. I still like it. I can work in my shop at 2am and no one cares. Lol.

[Mags]

.
Had similar reaction to where we live. "not quite the edge of the world, but you see it from there"

I took a lot of gruff for where i live from my friends back when i was working. No one wanted to visit. They said the directions should read, drive to the edge of the country, turn right. It was just an hour... But it was in the boonies. I still like it. I can work in my shop at 2am and no one cares. Lol.