Record Shelves

One of the biggest problems for record collectors is shelving. Records are big and heavy. A standard bookshelf is rarely big enough and the shelving available at the big box stores are generally made from cheap particle board. This was a custom piece for Kirk Walther of Iowa City's 'Record Collector', is almost 6 feet long, and hold about 750 LPs. It is 100% furniture grade pine, on hidden casters (so it rolls). I make these in all woods and all sizes. As with everything I build that is for sale, they can be purchased at White Rabbit.

Next Shelf: A custom piece for photographer and friend Bill Adams.

 Bill sent me a photograph of the shelving he was currently using. It was from Ikea and although the overall design was good, like all Ikea furniture, it is cheap particle board and contact paper. He decided to have a version built that looked the same, with a few choice modifications, made of real wood, and WAY overbuilt. Like all my shelving, it will be on casters, so it will roll.

 For both a design choice and a lot of added strength, it is compartmentalized. This piece is 60 inches wide, and about 34 inches tall, and roughly 16 inches deep. Casters and all hardware hidden, as always.

This is where it is at after day one. Still needs a little more sanding, and the back put on it. It also is going to get the standard triple hand waxing. I am pretty excited about this piece so far. I might have to build myself one.

Today I put the back on it, and have been linseed waxing it. Still needs casters, and another coat of wax, then it is out of here.

This is where I am currently at with another custom record shelf. I really like the compartments people are going for. It takes longer, but looks cooler, I think.

The buyer chose to stain this piece 'gunstock'. I normally do not go for stain, but he could not afford to build this out of a dark wood, and considering it is a stain, I dig it. It has several coats of linseed on it now too. After they are dry, I can have my full drum room back. 

'Shut The Box'

'Shut the Box' is one of my favorite ways to pass time with friends. It is perfect enjoyed with some decent beers while listening to good records. This is a prototype for some I am going to make today. It is pine, poplar and mahogany and unlike ones I have built in the past, has a money slot to encourage gambling. Yep, for some reason that makes the game more fun, even if it is just a quarter a game.

On the prototype I stenciled the numbers on and although I have done this in the past, was unhappy with it. I decided to try and hand draw and paint them on. 

 I chose to do the numbering in a cream color I mixed up. The tiles oscillate from mahogany to poplar.

 In this photo the boxes I made are almost complete. Numbers are in, as is the 'leather' bottom pad. They have been sanded and hand waxed. This project (and something a friend, Hayne Davis of Davisound, said to me) really made me rethink staining wood. I feel like if you want a darker wood, use a darker wood. Pine is beautiful just the way it is. Poplar has such a sweet green tint to it. Mahogany is classic wood brown. I love using multiple woods on the same project.

This is the first completed production model, with money slot. When all was said and done I have a couple hours in each one, so with materials, I am working slave labor wages. At least it is a labor of love. I really hope folks dig playing 'Shut the Box' on them half as much as I do.

Doe mount

Doe mount I did this fall (2011). 

It is foam, cotton fabric, acrylic paint, glass eyes, poplar, pine, linseed oil, and pencil. 

I am proud of this piece, and will continue to make my own versions of taxidermy. The photos were taken by Bill Adams.