The Art of Making Big Boxes

We are often asked “What is the most important aspect of fine woodworking and cabinetmaking?”

Unfortunately, like most things, the answer is not simple and can’t be boiled down to one or two proper responses and BINGO, there it is. The list of answers can be numerous: knowledge, aptitude, quality of materials, tools and machines, proper designs and plans, organization, repetition, work space, and so on. And when dealing with large, heavy and cumbersome projects, each one of those takes on a much greater significance.

However, at D.P. Juza Woods & Fixtures, building large and, very often, heavy pieces is rather common. Because a majority of our workload is high-end, exquisitely made retail pieces and golf pro shops fixtures, we have become experts at efficiently producing them with our normal high standard of craftsmanship. Often these pieces are 8 to 9 feet tall, sometimes 6 or 7 feet wide and can weigh as much as 3 or 4 hundred pounds.

It all begins with a sound plan and design that allows our artisans talent to flourish and not be bogged down in “figuring it out” as they go. Knowing what types of materials are best suited (eg., plywood vs mdf core) for a given project can ease the weight and add milling accuracy.

Since we utilize state-of-the-art machines and tooling, accuracy in the milling process is not an issue, which is essential on very large projects. Parts must be properly and accurately milled, using only the finest quality materials. Knowing the best order to assemble those parts that allows for the least amount of moving and repositioning avoids damaging the piece while it is in production. And finally, always keeping the delivery and installation in mind will make the final steps go smoothly.

The old adage that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts does not apply here. Only the best ingredients make the best creations. In order for D.P. Juza Woods & Fixtures to continue delivering our highest standards, especially of very large projects and cabinets, following these simple, yet essential, steps and processes has become second nature to us.

Contact us today to get started on your own custom woodworking project with D.P. Juza Woods & Fixtures.