| Arts and Crafts Nightstand -- Drawer and Tabletop |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-104 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
With the framework of the nightstand assembled and glued, work can begin on the drawer and tabletop. The drawer is constructed using 1/2" solid maple for the four sides, 1/8" maple plywood for the bottom and a separate piece of quarter-sawn white oak for the drawer front-piece (figure A). The visible white oak front piece is carefully selected to match the stock used for the rest of the table. For joinery, the drawer is held together using a locking rabbet joint (figure B). This type of joint is fairly easy to cut but is strong enough for this application. The joint is cut on the table saw. A dado cut in the drawer's side pieces accepts the plywood bottom (figure C ). Materials: Quarter-sawn white oak stock
1/2" maple stock and 1/8" maple plywood
Table saw with fence
Band saw
Table router with radius bit
Drill
Bar clamps
Masking tape
Yellow wood glue (quick-setting)
Figure-8 tabletop fasteners
220-grit sandpaper
Wood screws
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. Steps: - Using the table saw, cut rabbets in the sides and back of the drawer. On the side pieces, a dado is then cut along the resulting notch (figure D). The corresponding rabbet cuts fit together in a tongue-and-groove pattern, creating the locking rabbet joint.
- Once the rabbet joint has been made and the bottom panel has been cut to size, gluing and assembly of the drawer can begin. Quick-setting yellow glue is used to hold the pieces together. With all of the pieces in place, the drawer assembly is checked to make sure that all corners are square, then clamped to hold it secure while the glue dries (figure E). Since the bottom is made of plywood, expansion and contraction of the wood is not an issue. For that reason, the drawer bottom can be glued into the dado groove for extra strength.
- The top piece is made by gluing up three cut pieces of quarter-sawn white oak to allow for sufficient width (figure F).
- The glued pieces are sanded smooth, then cut to exact length and width on the table saw.
- Once the piece is cut to exact dimensions, the sharp edges of the top are smoothed off on the router table using a radius bit (figure G).
- To support the drawer, drawer runners are constructed and made in such a way that the drawer slides in and out smoothly.
- To support the drawer at the top, a piece of oak -- cut to length and notched around the corners -- is installed along the insides of the table side pieces (figure H).
- To support the drawer at the bottom, two L-brackets are fashioned by gluing together two pieces of oak that have been cut to fit (figure I) for each bracket.
- Holes in the bottom brackets are predrilled to accept screws that will hold them in place. With the pieces cut to proper dimensions, the brackets can be installed along the sides and fine-adjusted to an exact fit (figure J), so that the drawer operates smoothly and precisely.
- With the table framework and drawer finished, the next step in assembly is to cut the oak front piece for the drawer for a precise fit. According to arts-and-crafts principles, the gap between the edges of the drawer front and the insides of the opening should be 1/32" all the way around. A 1/8" gap would be considered too sloppy, and a 1/64" gap would be too tight. A fit that is too tight would make it difficult to open the drawer when humidity causes the wood to expand. Exact measurements are taken (figure K), and precise cuts are made on the table saw. The cut edges on the piece can be softened using 220-grit sandpaper.
- The tabletop is checked for fit on the assembled framework. The top will be attached to the framework using figure-8 tabletop fasteners (figure L). These fasteners are capable of swiveling back and forth slightly to allow for expansion and contraction of the tabletop due to variations in humidity.
The tabletop and drawer front will not be attached until after the wood finish has been applied to the nightstand. The steps in that process are detailed in the segment that follows. 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
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
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
Advanced Woodworking
Model: 0783539126
Author: Editors of Time Life Books
1998
Time-Life Books Inc.
Website: www.timelife.com
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
