I have had this project delayed for a long time. I keep putting other projects in front of it. However I have committed to have it done by Thanksgiving.
The cabinet is 38" x 38" x5" deep. It will hold my late Marine father inlay’s military memorabilia. the cabinet is completed with a slab of black walnut I got from Stephen F. Austin University and was joined with box joints.
The back is 1/2" baltic birch painted black on the back. I have predrilled and countersunk #8 screws and laid out the two swords on to place the sword holders I machined on my SO3. I want to mark the locations for the sword mounts and predrilll from the back to prevent blow out on the front side. The front side will have red velvet glued on it and display the memorial flag case, the swords and his metals and other memorabilia
One sword is a Marine Corp ceremonial sword and the other is a WWII Japanese NCO sword my father inlay removed from a North Korean he dispatched. The flag case has his name engraved and epoxy filled with his name and rank. Jess was a Korean War Veteran and survived the Chosin Resivior which was one of the first major battles in the Korean war.
Here are the sides of the cabinet cut on my SO3 and the Marine Corp enblems I bought to go above the MARiNES carving. I was trying to cut the emblem but something happened and lost steps so the metal emblems will be glued on.
So next up is drilling the holes for the sword holders and putting brass inserts into the back of the sword holders. Then I will cover the front with the red volvet and ake some holders out of the black walnut to hold his metals and other patches. Finish the cabinet with wipeon poly and assemble the cabinet.
I will be making a door for the front. I was considering a standard rail and stile door but have decided to make a half lap on the corners becuse of the door size. Went over to Lowes in Shreveport LA earlier to price plexiglas for the door. Seems like a 36: x 72" piece is $114.00. I will shop around but will likely purchase locally because UPS throws things arouond so much I am afraid about ordering online and it get damaged in transit.
Here is the layout his daughters made of the inside of the cabinet.
The two pictures will have frames cut on the SO3 out of black walnut and hold his boot camp photo and a later photo of him. Still a lot of work to do but the end is in sight.