I am making duplicates of my 16.5 solid walnut case.
It takes about 20 hours to make 2 of them, figuring in planing, cutting, drilling, putting them together, routering, finishing(with poly), and wrapping them for mailing.
FYI, I use the following electric tools:
planer
chopsaw
table saw
drill
router
finishing sander with 220 grit
Each case is made entirely of solid high quality walnut that has been drying for over 20 years.
here is a picture of the walnut case compared to the original case, and an unfinished case:
note above how the support braces are gone in the walnut case--walnut is a VERY strong wood so these are completely unnessessary. also note the strong edge braces and how the front is routered out. I routered out the front of the top panel underside so it would fit perfectly, just like the stock one. the drill holes were not easy either--I had to start from the 3/8" bit and go all the way up the line to the 1/2" bit, shaving off just a little with each bit. this is absolutely necessary to prevent the edges of the holes from burring up.
for the poly, I apply 2 coats, sanding between each one. below you can see a pictures of a polyurethaned case--nice 'n' shiny!!!
Oil is a much more time consuming process as you must apply at least 5 coats for a thick enough finish--oil is very thin. but, it looks great and is FIXABLE unlike polyurethane. If you scratch or ding it up at all you just apply another coat and your problem is solved. Oiled cases also look more natural than poly'ed cases.
When I finish the case, I finish the ENTIRE thing--the whole underside too. this keeps the wood from warping from heat. I will also include a strip of insulation to cover the panel lights and keep heat from the case.
I also cut the case exactly 1mm shorter from back to front--this way the case is isolated from the heatsink and thus will not warp from the heat. And, trust me, this 1mm does not have any effect on the looks of it at all--it looks like a gap meant to be there in the first place.
Unfinished cases are $100, poly-urethaned cases are $125, and oiled cases are $135.
PM me or email me if you are interested.
Thanks!
Henry
It takes about 20 hours to make 2 of them, figuring in planing, cutting, drilling, putting them together, routering, finishing(with poly), and wrapping them for mailing.
FYI, I use the following electric tools:
planer
chopsaw
table saw
drill
router
finishing sander with 220 grit
Each case is made entirely of solid high quality walnut that has been drying for over 20 years.
here is a picture of the walnut case compared to the original case, and an unfinished case:
note above how the support braces are gone in the walnut case--walnut is a VERY strong wood so these are completely unnessessary. also note the strong edge braces and how the front is routered out. I routered out the front of the top panel underside so it would fit perfectly, just like the stock one. the drill holes were not easy either--I had to start from the 3/8" bit and go all the way up the line to the 1/2" bit, shaving off just a little with each bit. this is absolutely necessary to prevent the edges of the holes from burring up.
for the poly, I apply 2 coats, sanding between each one. below you can see a pictures of a polyurethaned case--nice 'n' shiny!!!
Oil is a much more time consuming process as you must apply at least 5 coats for a thick enough finish--oil is very thin. but, it looks great and is FIXABLE unlike polyurethane. If you scratch or ding it up at all you just apply another coat and your problem is solved. Oiled cases also look more natural than poly'ed cases.
When I finish the case, I finish the ENTIRE thing--the whole underside too. this keeps the wood from warping from heat. I will also include a strip of insulation to cover the panel lights and keep heat from the case.
I also cut the case exactly 1mm shorter from back to front--this way the case is isolated from the heatsink and thus will not warp from the heat. And, trust me, this 1mm does not have any effect on the looks of it at all--it looks like a gap meant to be there in the first place.
Unfinished cases are $100, poly-urethaned cases are $125, and oiled cases are $135.
PM me or email me if you are interested.
Thanks!
Henry