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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/patio table with storage

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Expert: - 5/23/2011


Question
To my new patio, I'd like to add an 8'x 2'table, about 34" high, for potting, storage of garden stuff, and a place to set my small BBQ.  Under the counter/table, I'd like shelves with cupboard doors to keep all the 'stuff' out of sight.  
Do you have plans for such a construct . . . or can you give me a quote (ball park, of course) on a) creating plans and b) constructing this from cedar.  Many thanks for your attention to my question.   :o  JH

Answer
Hi Jo Anna, I am not aware of a plan like this readily available, and if it is to see weather, having doors of any type and "dry" storage will not stand up to the elements. Cedar is also very soft, and will dent, scratch and mark as a work surface...Mahogany would be a better choice, and a relatively inexpensive source would be Mahogany decking available at many home improvement sources.Of course, to fashion a custom piece like this would take some good planning and building it would require a pretty advanced degree of skills and some power tools like a table saw.I would expect any good Carpenter or cabinet maker in your area would be willing to take on such a challenge....it's not really something I can do easily from here, and I am not allowed to quote pricing, etc. in the forums, but I would imagine something like this would start at around $300 or so to construct and go up from there, depending on how intricate the design gets.It would be wise to design such a thing to drain well and allow spacing between the pieces to allow quick and easy drainage of weather. A 'slat' type construction like you see in outdoor Teak and mahogany furnishings....please post back if need be- regards- Greg
Here is the sort of thing that can be purchased..:

http://www.teakpatiofurnituresales.com/catalog/item/6789741/6767539.htm

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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