We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. However, this does not impact our recommendations.
The first issue of Woodworking Magazine has been sold out for a long time, but we still get comments and requests for it regularly. So we’ve done two things: First, we’ve reissued that first edition (along with four other issues) on a CD that is now available. And second, we’ve also asked draughtsman Louis Bois to make a SolidWorks “live model” of the cover project available for a free download.
You can open this file using a free little program from SolidWorks that you can download for both Mac and Windows machines. With the program, you can open up the drawing file and examine the project to your heart’s content.
For me personally, this project is a bit of a nostalgia trip. After I built this cabinet in 2003, we sold it to an employee here at our publishing company, so I haven’t seen the thing in years. It was great fun to open the 3D model and take the thing apart.
All in all, I think I’d change very little to the project. Depending on my mood, I might change the sub-top piece a bit to reduce the weight: Instead of using a piece that was the full depth of the cabinet, I might change it to a thinner rail, maybe 2″ wide or so, up behind the cabinet’s frame. The most time-consuming thing about the project was getting the top and bottom to fit snugly against the carcase. So a thinner rail there would make things easier.
The hinges are also a problem. I used the Amerock non-mortise hinges to keep things simple. Since then, that particular hinge has had some quality issues in my opinion. So I’d probably simply buy a more delicate and traditional mortise hinge if I built it again.
Hanging Shaker Cabinet Assembly.EASM.zip (405.48 KB)
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
With some help from Louis we solved the problem of seeing green when viewing the project models on the Macintosh. I just downloaded the most recent build of eDrawings for Mac OS X (version 6.3.0.142) and now all of the models that I have open with wood texture!
Thanks again Louis.
Sorry, Chris… That question was actually directed at you, not Steve.
Hi Chris –
The 3D models of the projects are really great. One question that I have not been able to figure out with the eDrawings Viewer. All of the models except the Roubo Bench have green color surfaces. The Roubo Bench has a much nicer wood texture. Is there way to setup the viewer software to use the wood texture for all the models?
I am using the Macintosh version.
steve