| Arts and Crafts Library Desk -- Upper Frame and Joinery |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-204 |
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In this episode of DIY Wood Works, host David Marks builds a library desk inspired by the arts-and-crafts style. With its straight lines, and the dramatic color and texture of the wood, this functional design is characterized by simplicity and subtle strength. The medullary ray-fleck pattern highlights the natural beauty of the wood grain -- a feature that and is characteristic of this distinctively American design style. True to the traditions of the arts and crafts style, the desk is constructed from quarter-sawn white oak. To create the top, one-inch thick boards of solid oak were grain-matched and edge-glued. The trestle base was joined with mortise and tenon joinery. The drawers were assembled using lap joinery. The feet and legs provide substantial support to the drawers and solid oak top. To begin the project, a mockup (figure A) was fashioned out of MDF (medium-density fiberboard) to work out the dimensions and devise a building strategy. This precautionary step helps prevent additional costs associated with potential mistakes that might be made in working with expensive materials such as the quarter-sawn oak. The project consists of three main assemblies: - The side-trestle support, including the feet, legs and apron
- The drawers and drawer-frame
- The top
Materials:Quarter-sawn white oak stock
Maple stock
MDF for mockup
Table saw
Multi-router; tenoning jig
Band saw
Table router; flush-bearing bit
Yellow wood-glue
Glue roller
Clamps
Straight-edge; compass
Carpenter's pencil
Safety glasses or goggles
Note: Cut sizes may vary. For exact measurements, please contact David Marks through his Web site -- information below under Resources. Safety Alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when working with wood, saws, drills, routers, etc. Drawer-Frame Assembly The drawers are supported by building two frames (figure B). Each frame has two dividers that form separators between the three drawers. For this design, it was determined that two smaller matching drawers would go on the outside, with one wider drawer in the center, forming a symmetrical layout. (You may opt for a different drawer layout to suit your needs or preference. The dimensions of the drawers you design will dictate where the dividers attach to the frames.) Each frame is made up of six pieces (figure C). For strength, 5/8-inch-thick maple was selected for this assembly. For joinery, mortises and integral tenons are used to form an open-mortise and tenon joints -- also known as bridle joints. The side pieces have a integral tenons that fit snugly inside the mortises (figure D). Steps:
- To start, make the mortises at the table saw using a tenoning jig (figure E). The blade is raised to two inches. The one-quarter inch wide mortise is cut with two passes on the table saw.
- Using the same stock, cut the two mortises for the drawer dividers. Using the multi-router (figure F), make the cuts 1-5/8-inch long by 1/4-inch wide (figure G).
- With the mortises cut, begin cutting the integral tenons for the side pieces. At the table-saw, score the shoulders on the top and bottom only.
- Next, cut the tenons for the dividers. On these pieces, score the shoulders all the way around (figure H), then cut away the cheeks of the tenons using the tenoning jig. These cuts will create the tenon for the bridle joint (figure I) used at the corner of the frame.
- With the tenoning jig still set up at the table saw, cut away all of the cheeks for the tenons on the divider stock, then cut all of the tenons to length.
- To finish the cuts for the joinery, use the band saw to cut away the shoulders on the tenons of the dividers (figure J).
- You may need to a little paring with a sharp chisel, or scraping with a wood scraper, to ensure that all of the parts in the joinery fit tightly together. Once they do, the glue-up and assembly can begin. Apply yellow woodworker's glue to both the mortise and tenon. A generous amount of glue prevents the possibility of a "glue-starved" joint.
- With the frame assembled, apply even clamping pressure in both directions (figure K).
- Use spring clamps to pinch the bridle joints on the corners tightly together (figure L).
- Repeat these steps for the upper and lower frames.
Drawer Faces, Apron and Divider Assembly In the finished desk, the front of the frames and faces of the drawers are capped with wood cut from one solid piece of quarter-sawn white oak. This will ensure a good color and figure match, and a sense of visual harmony. Steps: - Care is taken in cutting the piece of oak to form the facing elements, and a layout is drawn on the piece (figure M) to ensure accurate cutting for the curved apron, drawer front and facing for the top.
- For the curved apron, a template is fashioned out of MDF, and the curved shape is traced onto the oak stock.
- The curve for the apron is cut on the band saw. The piece is cut slightly oversized, then the edges are trimmed down and smoothed on the table router -- with a flush-bearing bit -- using the MDF template as a guide.
- Next, saw off the top and curved bottom-apron stock at the table saw (figure N). Set aside the leftover board that will be used for the drawer faces.
- Edge-glue the narrow apron to the front of the top frame, and the curved apron to the front of the bottom frame (figure O).
- Cut and glue some smaller pieces of oak to the front edges of the dividers (figure P).
- Attach the dividers to the bottom frame using screws and glue (figure Q).
- Finalize the drawer assembly by securing the top frame to the dividers. Secure the top frame by drilling pilot holes, applying some glue, then attaching with screws.
Tip: Create spacers, cut from MDF, that are the same width as the drawers. Clamp them on the edge of the frame to ensure that the dividers are attached to the frame so that the elements are square and even (figure R). In the segment that follows, the sides, legs and feet for the desk are cut an assembled.
Sponsored Resource
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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 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
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
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