The Woodshop Shed

Norm Vandal Queen Anne Lowboy

Furnished content.
(from Lumberjocks.com)


This Queen Anne lowboy is pretty much an exact reproduction of Norm Vandal's version in his book on Queen Anne furniture—one of my favorite books of all time. I made the legs about ten years ago, and then got divorced, which as many of you know, can put a crimp in project completion goals.I was sitting around staring at the legs, and thinking that if I wasn't going to make the dang thing, I should burn them. But instead of doing that, I made it. Which burned time. These things, as anyone who's ever built one will tell you, are tedious works of craft.I made it for the woman who helped me raise my boys post-divorce. Her husband angled for the dang thing, and I just said 'uncle'. I had professional pictures taken because once it's gone, well, it's gone. I'll bet there's probably a meal or two in it for me, though. Honestly, I can't thank the family enough for their kindness. I'm still in their debt.Everything is period-worthy. The dovetails are hand-cut, the fan, hand-carved (thank you Frank Klausz!) the legs hand-rasped, and so on. I made the drawer fronts out of one figured piece of walnut, strategically laid out. Nerve-wracking, but beautiful. I put an insertable dovetail in the top, as Norm described in his book, for wood movement. The wood itself is claro walnut, which is what we get out here. It is super nice. I got it from an orchard outside of Colville, WA. The yellow birch is also locally sourced.Every now and then, I think I'd recommend getting a real pro to shoot one of your pieces of furniture. He did a great job.As Cap'n Jack Sparrow once said “I hope you all saw that, because I will NOT be doing that again!” But memory fades. Who knows?P.S. Horton Brasses, Minwax Tung Oil Finish. For those that just had to know. Router edging on the top was the classic Queen Anne Whiteside bit.

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