| Art Deco Umbrella Stand -- Purple Heart Frame |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-302 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
In this episode of DIY Wood Works, host David Marks shows how to build a distinctive, art-deco inspired umbrella stand. The stand is a classic frame-and-panel construction (figure A). It uses mortise-and-tenon joinery for assembling the frames, and biscuits to hold the frames together. Though the finished piece is deceptively simple in design, it actually involves three separate woodworking challenges: an angled base, angled frames and book-matched panels.
The frames made of purple-heart are tapered, angled and joined with loose tenons. Each panel is made of curly maple and has a three-way book-match. The angled base is constructed of four pieces of solid purple heart, cut with compound angles. Woodworking factoid: Purple heart, a dense Brazilian hardwood, is the only wood in the world that's naturally purple in color.
Materials:
Purple heart wood stock
MDF for template
Poplar for prototype
Table saw
Chop saw
Multi-router
Hand-scraper
Bevel gauge
Straightedge
Carpenter's masking tape
Carpenter's pencil and chalk
Safety glasses or goggles
Note: Cut sizes may vary. For exact measurements, please contact David Marks through his website -- information below under Resources. Safety alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when working with wood, saws, drills, routers, etc.
Purple-Heart Frame Stock
In this demonstration, one of the four frames is constructed. The process and steps are identical for all four.
Steps:
- The project begins with the construction of the frames. Purple heart stock is milled to size. Because this hardwood is so dense, it's advisable to use caution when working with it, making sure that saw blades are sharp. It's also advisable to use fingerboards when cutting.
- A template is drawn out on MDF to work out the angles of the piece. The frames not only taper but also angle outward. Matching angle cuts are made on each rail, on the top and bottom, so that the frames remain parallel to the floor. The bevel gauge is used to determine the angle at 7-1/2 degrees (figure B).
- To work out the joinery, prototype pieces were made from inexpensive poplar. These pieces are used as a guide for cutting out the sides, top and bottom of the frame (figure C).
- The blade on the table saw is set to 7-1/2 degrees, and one edge is ripped on the top and bottom rail stock (figure D).
- Using the prototype top rail as guide, the chop-saw blade is set to 7-1/2 degrees as well. The purple heart stock is placed against the fence of the saw to make the angled cut, making certain the previous 7-1/2-degree cut faces the fence. An angled trim cut is made first.
- Next, slide the stock over, flip it over and saw the stock to final length (figure E).
- Repeat the process for the bottom rail, first setting up a stop-block on the saw using the poplar prototype as a guide. This time place the angled side away from the fence to make the trim cut. Slide and flip the stock, then cut to final length.
- To cut the side stiles on the frame, the orientation of the stock should be kept consistent to create the side that will show. Use chalk to make reference marks on the stock, in the form of a triangle (figure F), to indicate the show side.
- At the chop-saw, place the side prototype piece face down and use it as a guide to set the stop-block. Make the cuts on the chop-saw (figure G), following the reference marks based on the prototype.
- Once all of the frame stock has been cut to length, align all of the pieces with the template to ensure the accuracy of the cuts (figure H). Use blue carpenter's tape to the face of the stock to serve as a reference indicating the side of the stock pieces that will show.
Mortise and Loose-Tenon Joinery and Dados
- With the frame elements all cut, you can now begin work on the mortise-and-tenon joinery that will hold the elements together.
- Using the poplar prototype, set the multi-router to cut the mortises. Identical mortises are made in both the rails and stiles of the frame. A 1/4" bit is used to cut mortises 1-1/4" long and 5/8" deep (figure I).
- Mill up purple heart tenons that are 1-1/4" square and 1/4" thick. Round over the edges so they'll fit inside the mortises (figure J).
- With the tenons cut, conduct a dry-fit to ensure proper fit.
- Tip: When constructing the joinery for the frames, position the tenons (figure K) so that the grain runs lengthwise.
- With the joinery cuts complete, you can cut the dados that will hold the figured maple panels. To ensure that the cuts are made on the correct sides, make chalk marks to indicate the inside edges of the frame (figure L).
- For the top and and bottom rails, simply place the stock on top of the 3/16" bit at the table router, so that the router bit sits in the mortise and cuts the dado. Be sure to use stop-blocks when cutting the dado in the rails to avoid cutting through the ends.
- Tip: Since purple heart is such a dense wood, make each dado cut in two incremental passes. Also, use fingerboards to help hold the stock firmly against the fence (figure M).
- When making the dados in the stiles (figure N), stop-blocks are not necessary since the dados are through-cuts.
- With the joinery and dados cut, finish off the frame elements with some hand-scraping.
Repeat the steps in this segment to create the other three frames for the sides of the umbrella stand.
In the segment that follows, the book-matched maple panels are made to fit inside the frames.
Sponsored Resource
> Click here to order your tools and materials for this project from Woodcraft!
RESOURCES :
Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456
Mastering Woodworking Machines (Fine Woodworking Book)
Author: Mark Duginske
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 0942391985
David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com
The Complete Book of Wood Joinery
Author: Robert J. Decristoforo
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co.
ISBN: 0806999500
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
