| Arts and Crafts Nightstand -- Legs and Mortises |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-104 |
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This project features steps in the construction of a traditional mission-style nightstand. The look of this piece is based on the arts and crafts design style created during the 1920s. The arts and crafts style has remained popular decades after its origin because of its simple yet visually elegant design and understated detail. This table features strong horizontal lines, mortise-and-tenon joinery and a natural wood finish. An attractive grain pattern emerges from the quarter-sawn cut of the white oak, and details such as the beveled through-tenons (figure A) add to the refined aesthetic of the piece. In quarter-sawn wood stock -- like that used in this piece -- the boards are cut from the tree so that the end-grain runs perpendicular to the face of the board. This yields a more subtle grain pattern than that found in typical flat-sawn stock, in which the cut results in an end grain that runs parallel to the face of the board (figure B). In flat-sawn stock, the face of the board exhibits the familiar oval grain pattern. By contrast, in quarter-sawn stock the special cut results in a medullary ray fleck pattern -- one of the trademarks of the arts and crafts style. Materials: Quarter-sawn white oak stock
Table saw with fence
Band saw
Table router
Multi-router
Flush-bearing bit
Bar clamps
Masking tape
Yellow wood-glue
Safety glasses
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. Table Legs On the square stock used for the legs of the nightstand, the quarter-sawn pattern is revealed on only two sides of the legs. For that reason, quarter-sawn oak veneer is cut and glued onto two opposing sides of the legs, resulting in a medullary ray fleck pattern visible all the way around the leg. - For cutting the oak veneer, set the band saw to 1/16".
Tip: When making cuts this thin, it's important to make certain that the blade on the band saw is very sharp to ensure an accurate cut. - Cut two pieces of veneer stock for each of the four legs (figure C).
- Once the veneer pieces are cut, glue them to the leg stock (figure D). Try to get a good grain match between each piece of veneer and the wood grain on each leg.
- Masking tape helps keep the veneer in place as the glue dries (figure E).
- Clamp the veneer in place, and allow about two hours for the glue to dry.
- Once the glue dries and the veneer is firmly attached to the leg stock, the veneer edges can be trimmed to the exact leg dimensions using a flush-bearing bit on the table router. The rub-collar on the bit rubs up against the leg stock as the bit's cutters trim away the excess veneer (figure F).
- With the veneer all trimmed, and in preparation to begin work on the joinery, cross-cut each leg to exact length on the table saw (figure G).
Mortise-and-Tenon Construction The joinery for the table uses mortises and tenons. Because concealed tenons are used for the rails and apron at the top end of the table, the mortises are cut so they don't go all the way through the legs (figure H). For the stretcher at the lower end of the legs, a through-tenon will be used, so the mortises at the bottom of the legs are cut clear through (figure I). In that way, the ends of the tenon show through at the front and back of the nightstand, making for a nice design accent (figure J). The joinery for this piece is cut using a tool known as a multi-router. On the multi-router, the router bit is mounted horizontally, and attachments make it possible to secure and hold the stock while precisely controlling the length, depth and width of each mortise as it's cut. - Use the multi-router (figure K) to cut the through-mortises at the bottom of each leg.
- Once the mortises for the through-tenons are cut, readjust the settings on the router to cut mortises for the aprons and front rails for the drawer.
- The router leaves rounded cuts. Use a sharp chisel to square the ends on the mortises (figure L) so that they'll match the square tenons.
The next phase of the project details creation of the wood tenons and assembly of the table's main framework. 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
Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456
Beds and Bedroom Furniture: The Best of Fine Woodworking
Model: 1561581917
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking
(1997)
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Complete Woodworker's Companion
Author: Roger Holmes
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
ISBN: 0823008665
The Complete Book of Wood Joinery
Author: Robert J. Decristoforo
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co.
ISBN: 0806999500
Woodworker's Guide to Wood: Softwoods, Hardwoods, Plywoods, Composite, Veneers
Model: 080836878
Author: Rick Peters
(2000)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
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