Qld maple wardrobe

[artme]

That's looking great Mic!

LLove the quilting in that timber!

[mic-d]

Thanks Artme, there is some lovely figure in amongst it. I had glued and repaired the little broken mouldings below the crown moulding. Seen here in an earlier photo:
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However in a chat with the client he wasn't interested in reusing them. He supplied me with some new maple to make up new mouldings along with two side crown mouldings and asked me to mount the crown mouldings in a different way to the original (screwed). Today I undertook that task. It took most of the day to think, dimension, trial fit, stand back and contemplate, cut some more and repeat several times. I've had to fine tune each side moulding to fit the original front as it was a different size on each end. Lot's of fussy slow work. I used a jig from my coat stand to hold the work while fine tuning.
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I trial check of both corners, seems they are OK. There is a small 19mm moulding that will sit under the crown moulding.
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The mouldings all glued up just awaiting final sizing and my next challenge will be to colour match the new timber.
Attachment 173733

[mic-d]

Well another slow day trying to wrestle the crown mouldings but eventually I had them glued up at the bench then placed on the wardrobe to check the fit. It's not too bad but there will be some fairing and ageing to do. Next I clamped the back of the crown moulding tight to the cabinet with a couple of intervening veneers and glued and screwed the locking batten from side to side. Lastly, I glued in two tension blocks that hold the whole assembly in place.

[mic-d]

After a trip to Bunnys this morning to pick up some extra prooftint colours, I set about colour matching the new timber to the old. First task was to give all the new timber a wash with dilute shellac so the stain wouldn't be so patchy. After trialling many different formulas on scrap wood I settled on a mixture that gave a reasonable match on all the different shades of new timber.
Here is before and after.
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Then this arvo I tackled the repair to the hinge stile where it looks like the door has been ripped off its hinges, taking a large chunk of timber with it.
Attachment 173895
Firstly I made up a quick jig so I could route out the waste. I chose to clean most out with a mortising bit and then did the edges with a dovetail bit.
Attachment 173896
After removing the piece of wood supporting the front edge against tearout, I was not happy to see a little bit of tearout - I must not have put the clamp right over the right spot. I used a piece of silver ash glued in with hide glue, not having any maple left to affect the repair.

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That's just about the back of this job broken, it has now only to be reassembled and final finish applied.

[mic-d]

Apart from the mirror which the client will supply.

I rubbed all the show surfaces back with 0000 steel wool and Liberon Black Bison wax this morning... wax on, wax off...

Here's how it all began
Attachment 174150
And this is how it finished up. It turned out the cup pulls I bought did not cover all the holes in the drawer front and some feint witness marks I found after cleaning the timber suggested it was some kind of oval drawer pull. The pulls I fitted were the best I could find but do not quite match IMO.
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I wish there was a better before photo of the pedestal handle, but I have had to crop this out of another. Very rusty old thing with a broken handle. It had left a very strong witness mark on the door so I really had to reuse it. After treating in my electrolysis bath I fitted a suitable brass handle from another pedestal handle. I darkened this brass handle to match the black of the pressed metal of the back plate.
Attachment 174153Attachment 174154

I did a little bit of selective ageing of the new timber such as the corner on the top of this moulding. (original chipped moulding on the front section)
Attachment 174161

Here is the hinge stile repair
Attachment 174155
I had to use a bit of lubricant to persuade the old screws out of the old door lock and this has discoloured the timber. I think I will have to give the whole door a wipe with oil to blend it in
Attachment 174156
Anyway, there it is. Comments and criticism welcome as usual.

[mattocks]

A very fine job. If I was the client I would be more than happy. I'm guessing that as they are inclined to have the wardrobe repaired rather than throw it out, which happens only too often, that they will be thrilled with your work.
Cheers
Frank

[mic-d]

Thanks Frank, I think the client will be happy, I haven't told him it's finished yet...

[rhancock]

Great work, Michael. You've turned an old hag into a raving beauty again!

[mic-d]

Thanks Richard.

[F_Peter]

A very nice piece of work. I've enjoyed your posts.

[RufflyRustic]

Wow Mic-d. The wardrobe has come up an absolute treat! Nothing better than seeing a beautiful piece like this get a second life I, too, have appreciated your WIP.