Worked three hours on the doors today. I flipped them over and gave the backs a final coat of shellac, then once they were dry I reattached the hinges. Not being able to wait, I brought the big outside glass doors and the smaller speaker covers into the house and attached them to the main body. It looks great! What an amazing difference doors make.
I still have to do some final trimming on the window separators (the wood crosspieces that make the doors look like true “divided light” doors). Once they’re trimmed to final size (a matter of a couple millimeters only) I can epoxy them into place. I also have to attach the handles. Erin and I decided on authentic solid brass A&C hinges, handles, and handle plates. They cost a pretty penny but it was worth it. They add a very nice authentic touch to the piece.
Also today: I bought a stained glass grinder and a couple of small hand tools. I’m all set to start my stained glass cutting. I have to design the panel and spend a few days doing some test pieces, but I’m very excited about this. I’ve read a couple of books and spent hours online familiarizing myself with the technique of making stained glass projects. I’ve got the glass all ready to go. I did some research on grinders and decided on an upgraded hobbyist model. Hobby Lobby had it and I availed myself of their weekly 40% off coupon, which saved quite a bit. I ended up getting this model, but for a significantly lower price. I plan on adding stained glass to my list of Maker Skills. I think it’s safe to say I’ll have some more stained glass elements in my future projects. BTW, if you go to Hobby Lobby often, check out their site for the 40% off coupon. You can use one per day for unlimited days on anything at full list price. Probably not worth it for small things, but if you have to buy a more expensive tool or supply, it can save you a bunch. You can find the current coupon here. Just print it out and give it to the cashier.
At dinner tonight I asked Erin if she wanted a matching mirror to go over the entertainment center and she immediately said yes, then made the brilliant suggestion of incorporating a stained glass element into the mirror that echoes whatever design ends up in the entertainment center. Smart! So at some point I’ll be doing that piece as well.
Home stretch! It’ll for sure be done by Christmas (barring any sort of idiot operator error on my part with the stained glass grinder).
Total time: 179 hours.