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ART & DESIGN AWARDS
For my year 12 HSC major project, I wanted to design and construct an aesthetically pleasing and functional sideboard that could be used for storing glasses, alcoholic beverages and mixers.
I started by sketching some concepts and developed these in OnShape. These CAD drawings were crucial to my project as they helped visualise what the finished project would look like both to me and to other people.
During the testing, modelling and prototyping phase, I used Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create the Cherry Blossom and Bonsai designs for sliding doors. I also practised using a three-piece kitchen router and a sliding table router. I used scrap pieces of timber to gain experience on the self-centring dowel jig and drill. This helped develop my confidence before dowelling the shelves for the cabinet.
Joinery included stopped housing joints to connect the end frames with the bottom shelf, rebate housing joints to join the top shelf to the legs, and wedged mortise and tennon joints to connect the top of the legs to the tabletop.
I sanded the woodwork using an orbital sander and finished the project with coats of thinners, varnish and tung oil. I applied a wax finish for a final layer of protection.
As well as guidance from my teacher, I received help from Branches Timber Craft in the sanding of my components and advice from a local cabinet maker in sourcing products for the tracks and rollers in the sliding door system.
Over the past year, I have developed as a woodworker and really improved my skills. The construction process was long and challenging, however, it has all been worth it in the end.
I am very proud of the final result and know that this sideboard will be used in our home for many years to come.