Wood Selection

[Radar67]

Okay Guys and Girls, I need help!

I need some kind of wood for a project, but don't know exactly what would work best. I want to build a display cabinet for a doll my wife has. The rough dimensions will be 11 inches wide, 11 inches deep, and 28 inches tall. It will be very similar to a curio cabinet with glass on three sides and the top. Here is where I need the help, what wood would go well with the Victorian style dress (light blue) the doll is wearing and be feminine as well? This will be her 21st Anniversary present. Exotic or figured included. Please, I'm stuck.

Stew

[Sprucegum]

How about that "denim pine" ? or would the two different blues clash?

Curly maple with a light blue aniline dye might do the trick.

In the Victorian age a lot of furniture was Honduran Mahogany or something that looked like it, and might make a nice contrast to the light blue dress.

Have I answered your question yet?   ;D

[Tom]

It's difficult to beat Black Walnut.  A cheaper replacement might be Poplar.   

I've always felt that the darker woods had more "elegance".

Wood from any Hurricane downed tree would carry some History.

[Jeff]

Cherry.

When visiting Brian Bailey some years ago I saw the cabinets he built for his wife's dolls. Awesome. Of course all of Brian's stuff fits that description. 

I wonder if he has pics on here? I'll look...

[Radar67]

This helps. I want to use hardwood for durability, so the pine is out. I'm also not to partial to stained wood, but the Mahogany is a good possibility. Tom, I like the idea of hurricane wood, but I don't have enough dry wood for this project. The darker wood though, as long as it is not too dark, does make better looking projects.

Anyone else got any suggestions?

Stew

[Tom]

Yeah!  Ever hear of "oven dry?" :D

Den or Don might be able to lead you on a path that would allow a small amount of wood to be dried in the kitchen oven.  Just don't tell the wife.  :D

[Radar67]

Jeff, I checked Brian's website and found the cases you mentioned, they are nice.

Tom, if I got caught trying to dry the wood in her oven, I wouldn't need to worry about having an anniversary gift...cause my life insurance would take care of it.  :D :D I'm afraid I would the one to be dried.  ;D

Stew

[metalspinner]

I second the cherry idea.  It's very elegant and would looks beautiful with blue.  Bright brass hinges and knobs are classic choices with cherry.

[WDH]

Stew,

I have some walnut or cherry or pecan or hackberry or red oak or red cedar or Q-sawn sycamore, or chinaberry, or, or..........well you get the picture..........that I would be honored to donate to such a worthy cause ;D.  Once you solve this vexing question, and I can be of assistance, just holler.

[Radar67]

Thanks guys, I'm leaning toward the cherry, with a possibility of using something to add highlight to it, like sycy or mahogany.

Stew

[Part_Timer]

I have some Q sawn white oak that will be dry in a couple of days if your interested.

[metalspinner]

Your wife only has one doll?  Make her several cases with a different wood on each. ;D
That would be fun.

[Radar67]

Yes, she only has the one porcelain doll that she displays.

Stew

[Don_Papenburg]

Quarter sawn white oak , cherry , or walnut . Make it raised panel with wide moldings.

[Hokiemill]

Stew - my two cents.  It sounds like the cabinet is going to be mostly glass.  I would stick with a darker wood.  A lighter wood may tend to get lost among all the glass.  The darker wood will also serve as a better visual frame for the doll.  I always lean toward cherry or walnut (mostly cherry) just because I like how it looks.  Also, I would keep it simple with straight grain boards with not so much figure especially if you want the doll to be the focal point, not the cabinet.  Pick the straight grain portions of your boards since the cabinet pieces will probably be narrow and the "cathedrals" of a flat sawn board will look strange running off the edge of a narrow piece.  Probably more than you wanted but woodworkers always like giving their "opinions". ;D