Tea Cabinet
Popular Woodworking|August 2022 - Issue 266
The elegant arched case of this tea cabinet is a great way to practice bent lamination and showcase some unique wood.
Dillon Baker
Tea Cabinet

PROJECT #2216

Skill Level: Advanced

Time: 3 Days

Cost: $150

If you're like me, it's difficult to imagine beginning the day without a piping hot cup of a caffeinated beverage. For some, this beverage may be coffee, but for the rest of us, it's more than likely tea. Consumed only second to water, tea possesses a past that's as long as it is complex. Dating back as far as the Han Dynasty (second century B.C.), lore has it that Emperor Shen Nung-while passing through the countryside experienced a gust of wind that caused a leaf to split from a branch and land conveniently into his boiling cup of water. Regardless of whether you believe this legend to be true or not is irrelevant because what's undeniable is tea's omnipresence and global popularity. So, what better way to celebrate the ritual of waking up than by constructing a shrine to house your favorite beverage? Follow along step-by-step as I take you through the process of building a tea cabinet that's as timeless as the tea itself.

Creating the Form

Start by creating the bending form for the main carcass. I used 3/4" Baltic birch plywood, though any plywood can be used for this application. The radius of the form should match that of the interior of the finished cabinet. I chose to oversize the depth (i.e., thickness) of the form to account for refinement once the lamination has cured.

Once you have the bending form constructed, go ahead and drill a series of holes (1¹/2" in diameter) around the perimeter. There is no perfect formula; just create enough holes to provide sufficient clamping pressure around the lamination.

Resawing Veneers

Esta historia es de la edición August 2022 - Issue 266 de Popular Woodworking.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición August 2022 - Issue 266 de Popular Woodworking.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE POPULAR WOODWORKINGVer todo
BauBuche
Popular Woodworking

BauBuche

This laminated material comes from Germany, and is made of hundreds of layers of European beech.

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Square Platter with Textured Rim
Popular Woodworking

Square Platter with Textured Rim

Adding a bit of texture and colour to a square platter is a great way to dress up a simple design.

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Excedo Side Table
Popular Woodworking

Excedo Side Table

With one board, you can put together this side table that packs in a bunch of great woodworking techniques.

time-read
6 minutos  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Lignomat Mini-LIGNO DX/C
Popular Woodworking

Lignomat Mini-LIGNO DX/C

One of the hardest things for me to explain as a woodworking instructor is the importance of knowing the moisture content of the wood you're working with.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Gen II Compact Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver
Popular Woodworking

Gen II Compact Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver

I have to confess this review is coming from a fairly biased space-the first generation ONE+ HP Compact Drill is probably my favorite drill I've ever owned.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Inlays with Origin
Popular Woodworking

Inlays with Origin

Origin, the hand-held CNC from Shaper Tools, makes creating inlays effortless.

time-read
5 minutos  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Deluxe Scriber
Popular Woodworking

Deluxe Scriber

There are often times, where there's simply no substitute for the right tool.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Ryobi Compact Barrel Grip Jigsaw
Popular Woodworking

Ryobi Compact Barrel Grip Jigsaw

A jigsaw is a great tool for all sorts of quick cuts in the shop. With that in mind, the ONE+ HP Compact Brushless Barrel Grip Jig Saw is just the right size to make it a go-to choice.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Ultrashear Flat Top Blade
Popular Woodworking

Ultrashear Flat Top Blade

Several issues back, I introduced our readers to a new lineup of blades from Woodpeckers.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024 - Issue 281
Metabo HPT 12" Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw
Popular Woodworking

Metabo HPT 12" Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw

In my shop I have fairly high standards for a miter saw.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024 - Issue 281