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Hi Fi Cabinets.

Description.

My client is  a serious audiophile. The brief was to design and make  a series of cabinets  - plus separates  racking - that together were a little unusual. They were also to  allow him to manage his entire system - including surround sound - without any wires  being visible.

Photos above 1, and below 2 & 3: 

The finished units, with  the towers awaiting a few more separates.

Photo 4 below:

The principle cabinets were made with  two "cable trays" running along their backs.  In the picture below the trays have not yet been fitted but the cut out at the back of the cabinet indicates where they will run. One tray takes mains wiring, the other takes data wiring. With  the "towers" standing on the base units  cables are fed to their respective trays, which means that a/c mains hum does not (in principle) intrude into the sound .

Above left  photo 5 and right 6,

Work in progress..... One of the three double cupboards. Veneered cabinet in American cherry with solid cherry lipping, doors and  skirting . Raised and fielded doors for the two storage cabinets, toughened glass on the centre unit  to allow remote controllers to work.  The  corner cupboard  provides a small "return" and clean end to the run of units at the right hand end.

Photo 7  below:

These "towers"  accommodate the " Hi Fi separates" . 6mm Polished glass shelves slide in on  the holders  and cabling for each "separate" runs through the hole at the back  and drops down to the wiring trays on the backs of the base units below.

The towers have been made with a  "double skin"  -open at the top  for cooling - so that the wiring for the lights can run up through the cavity. At the back and bottom of each tower and on the side where the lights are positioned, there is a vertical row of small switches by which individual  lights can be turned on or off (not shown).

Photos 8 & 9  below:

Close up of the centre unit.

 Photos; 10,11,12 & 13 below  :

Two close ups of the left hand tower, and below the l/h base unit and  r/h corner unit with the door open. 

Finish is "brushing French Polish". The first coat is  thinned 50/50 with thinners and  brushed on very quickly with a fine brush. When dry  some 60 minutes later it is lightly sanded off.  A second coat is applied and cut back with 000 wire wool. A third coat is applied and left for 24 hours. Several coats of wax polish can then be applied using 0000 wire wool,  this has the effect of burnishing the finish. The final result result is a very very good approximation to French Polish proper but thinners based rather than meths based. Brushing french polish  is a relatively new product, much quicker to apply than Danish Oil , and provides  a lovely tough  finish;  tough enough to take a hot cup of tea or coffee without marking.

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