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Cabinet construction begins with complete measurements of receiver, tuner, amp or pre-amp. Enough space is allowed to clear any case screws or other projections. The cabinet is made to fit your item, and is kept close to original if desired. Most cases are done in book matched veneer, and the side to top to side is precisely matched for flow of grain. Construction ¤ Cabinets are precision cut from 3/4 inch European Birch 13 ply Cabinet Grade plywood, and are routered for bottom case screw attachment and top screen if any. European Birch is beautiful and is from their virgin forests, it is in short supply as it is cut only part of year and has a high European demand, for its easy machineing, stays dimensionally flat and veneer bonds permanetly. ¤ All cabinets are glued with a high quality waterproof glue and then doweled for additional strength on case sides, top & bottom, the number of dowels is normally three per glue joint or 12 dowels per cabinet. Heavy amps can receive up to 5 per glue joint, or 20 dowels per cabinet. Cabinet is kept under pressure while glue joints cure. The cabinet is then sanded to get ready for veneering. ¤ Veneering is next, sheets are normally purchased as 4 x 8 ft, the veneer is cut so that the grain flows from side to top to side. If not using a solid walnut wood in front, extra is allowed so that veneer front top and sides also flows into grain for a perfect match. Veneer is applied with a high quality veneer adhesive designed for no bleed through on wood. Each side and top piece is individually done with matching backing block and put under pressure for 6 hours (takes 2 days to veneer a cabinet). Veneer is hand trimmed and final sanded to cabinet with an aluminum sanding block for razor sharp edges. ¤ The grill is made from steel and is heavy guage, and matches closely to original grills with slightly larger holes for more heat dissipation with tube amps. Replacement grills are available. ¤ Finishing is normally done with China Tung oil purchased as 100% and thinned as necessary. Tung oil is a deep rich honey color and this helps impart a beautiful wet wood look and really brings out the grain. Normally 2 Tung oil coats are applied, taking 2-3 days to dry. Then finished with your choice of finish: Liberon Finishing Oil - a blend of tung and other oils/varnishes and gives a semi-satin finish; or General Finishes Wipe-On Urethane. Liberon will give a higher sheen almost semi-gloss, while GF's Urethane is more of a true satin. Most woods work well with one or the other. Very tight grains like Liberon, while walnut (except burl) work best with Liberon Finishing Oil. All stains, tung ol and finishes are applied by hand, no brushes/sprays are used. From start to finish, everything is oil based, I use no water based products. The cabinet finish will last well past your lifetime.