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[Phil Tomlinson]

My weekend project to prepare four samples of materials to use for the back of the Puzzler's Display Cabinet. 

Looking for some feedback from y'all.

The Mission finish is very close to the finished look of the cabinet itself. The other options are a "pickled oak", which gives a lighter, more reflective surface that still retains the characteristics of the quartersawn oak.  Or a painted background of either white or black--which would probably be a very flat finish in the final shot.

Apologies for the quality of the photos.  I still have a LOT to learn about trying to get good images of this thing.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Eric Fuller]

I'd go with pickled oak.  Still shows woodgrain, but is light enough to contrast with the items displayed.

[Canuck]

I'm a big fan of 'Mission' style , those are some 'fantastic' puzzle boxes by the way!

[Robert Yarger]

Sorry to make the decsison more difficult, but I have to go with the black.  Mainly, I just like the wood grain and the fact that it does not look like wallboard.  The segmented boards seem a little bit old fashioned.  Why don't you just back it with a large mirror so that you can see my puzzles from the front and back at the same time.

 

[Peter Wiltshire]

Hmmmmm it is a puzzle cabinet and black for me is more mysterious.  I second the black background.

Robert you have to vote up top, "Pickled" is winning 3 to 1 

[Canuck]

 Why don't you just back it with a large mirror so that you can see my puzzles from the front and back at the same time.

Won't that give away a big clue to opening your boxes?

[Robert Yarger]

I thought Peter would like the mirror idea the most.  It is more magical.

I say match the panel backing with the current wall scheme of the place it is going to be put.  That way, it appears that you have no back at all, but you can use it to hide a doorway to a secret room.

[Canuck]

Why do you have to take things 'There' all the time!

[Phil Tomlinson]

Thanks for all the feedback so far!

I did consider a mirror or even glass for the back, but structurally a solid back is necessary because there is so little solid on this cabinet.  I suppose a mirror could be attached to a solid back...
hmmm

As for the secret room, I think any cabinet could be used to hide a doorway!

[Canuck]

Hey Phil, just thought about this, I once used tinted glass for shelves in a cabinet and it really makes whatever you place on the shelves 'pop'...

[Robert Yarger]

The back panel is only small potatoes.  I want details.  Did you add any more secret chambers to the cabinet.  If so, how many moves to open secret compartments and how many moves to get in them.  Did you get lighting inside.  Did you impliment the sliding glass panels or is it just moving wood frame pieces.  I have not talked with you regarding the cabinet for months now.

Even if you have not made any modifications to the original prototype, it is an excellent design.  I was just wondering if you bumped it up a notch in any way, so give us details as long as it does not give up important clues to its solution.


Also, you should hook up with Ron Locke, as he is a retired cabinet maker, so you have a bit in common.

[Phil Tomlinson]

Hey Robert,

I did convert the bottom stretcher into a secret drawer, as you suggested.  It weakens the cabinet structurally but it seems an essential addition in too many other ways.

No other major changes at this point.  I do want people to be able to open the cabinet and get to their puzzles in a reasonable amount of time.  And the more variables you add to something this size the more likely there will be problems down the road--the wood shrinkage/expansion for a small piece of wood, as in a puzzle or burr, is pretty minimal (not that there are never problems), but when you get to cabinet-sized pieces, you really have to consider what the pieces are going to do.

Meanwhile, I am looking into some other (expensive) lighting options that might make tinted shelving a possibility.  Sigh.

[Canuck]

Meanwhile, I am looking into some other (expensive) lighting options that might make tinted shelving a possibility.  Sigh.

Aren't you glad you asked for our opinions!

[Robert Yarger]

Yeah, don't ask Robert's advise unless you really want to bump things up a notch beyond the impossible.  Phil took the challenge and made the impossible happen.  Good Job Phil.  Really, if you have puzzleboxes on display, you need a secret drawer to put all of the instruction books and certificates of authenticity.  Phil accomplished great things here, and is just being modest.

[Phil Tomlinson]

Meanwhile, I am looking into some other (expensive) lighting options that might make tinted shelving a possibility.  Sigh.

Aren't you glad you asked for our opinions!

Actually I am glad I asked for everyone's opinions! 

Sometimes, designing and working alone, it is easy to get lost in a do-loop (don't-loop?) of bad decision making! That's why it is great to have this community of you all!