New knife storage cabinet, architectural salvage,need ideas about where to get a top.

scotchleaf

scotchleaf

Joined
Oct 23, 2006
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I just bought this cabinet, with 33 hand dovetailed drawers.

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Its 65" long and about 26 wide. The guy I bought it from said it came from an old building - said it was built in. It was used for blueprints.

I had to replace the top front board, put on some feet, and re-glue and brace the sides, but other than that it is in good shape.

Problem is, no top - I put a piece of plywood up there, but it just isn't cutting it. Any ideas where to get a (cheap) good looking top?

Also, any ideas how to age the brass handles that don't match?
 
That is really nice! Lining the drawers?

Maybe a veneered (spelling?) plywood or veneered solid core? I've used a veneer tape (glued on) to the plywood edges before and it looked good for what I needed. Find a used solid table top to your liking and cut to fit? A piece of an old bar top would be pretty nice. It probably wouldn't be too horribly expensive to choose wood planks of your choice, run them through a jointer and glue them up edgewise. Solid wood flooring of your choice over a piece of plywood?

Not sure about the brass. What would vinegar, lemon juice, or muriatic acid do?

Let us know what you come up with. Mike
 
If there's an IKEA nearby, you can get a butcher block counter top piece. You can easily trim it to size.
 
If cost is an issue, keep the plywood and cover it with ceramic or marble tile and apply trim pieces or matching bullnose tiles to cover the edges.

I did a bar top with ceramic tile years ago. one of the big box hardware stores had some 12" square ceramic for ~$.79 on sale at the time. I did the bar top for under $20. I din't leave gaps for grout. Just butted them together. Lasted for years. Probably still there (bar stayed at the house when I moved).
 
Get some cabinet grade oak-faced plywood and stain it to match.

You can veneer the edges and have a very nice piece.

It looks like a honey oak stain would match pretty well.

best

mqqn
 
A few ideas...

1. Take a ride around neighborhood during trash day, you might run into someone throwing out an old bookcase or table made of real wood and you can snag it, cut it up, strip/stain it you need too.

2. It's garage sale season, roam around, again looking for old tables/bookcases for real wood that you can scavenge. You might even stumble upon some knives or knife related items. I have found some sharpening stones this way.

3. Check craigslist for tables, bookcases, or scrap. Chances are you can find something close to you that is cheap.

Not sure on how to age the handles. Maybe post in the knife makers sections, they probably have some ideas.

3.
 
If the handles come off, you can soak them in Windex overnight and they'll come out all shiny and new and matching looking. (use real Windex brand Windex, the kind with ammonia - great way to make anything metal shine with zero effort.)
 
I would create a top out of 1-by lumber. 1X14, 1x12, or whatever necessary, using the biscuit joiner to create a top deep enough. Then router the edges, sand the top, and stain it a distinctly different color than the drawers. Finally, attach the top to the drawers from underneath with "L" brackets.

Probably cost $10-$15 in materials. :thumbup:
 
Use tongue in groove hardwood boards and stain them to match the rest of the cabinet. I have seen the various types of wood flooring sell for very cheap prices.
 
thanks all. So far I've just "veneered" the plywood's front edge with redwood (I think) and applied some butcher block oil. still need to stain the top or cover it.
 
gazz98 said:
A few ideas...

1. Take a ride around neighborhood during trash day, you might run into someone throwing out an old bookcase or table made of real wood and you can snag it, cut it up, strip/stain it you need too.

2. It's garage sale season, roam around, again looking for old tables/bookcases for real wood that you can scavenge. You might even stumble upon some knives or knife related items. I have found some sharpening stones this way.

3. Check craigslist for tables, bookcases, or scrap. Chances are you can find something close to you that is cheap.

Not sure on how to age the handles. Maybe post in the knife makers sections, they probably have some ideas.

3.
Click to expand...

Logical thinking !I like your advice .
 
You can get marble seconds from a stone company, maybe big enough or 2 matched pieces.

Home Depot sales pre-laminated counter tops in dozens of patterns.

A solid core door stained and polyed would look cool too.

Larry
tinkerre
 
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