| Cherry Sofa-Table -- Top and Assembly |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-404 |
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Base Assembly and Tabletop With all the pieces for the base of the sofa table complete, assembly and glue-up can begin. The last element made is the tabletop. It is made by edge-gluing two carefully matched pieces of cherry. Materials: Cherry stock
Table saw
Jointer
Hand scraper
Hand plane
Sanding block; 220-grit sandpaper
Slow-setting resin glue
Yellow woodworker's glue
Figure-8 metal fasteners
Cordless drill; Forstner bit; screwdriver attachment
Carpenter's tape
Carpenter's pencil
Clamps
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, power-tools, saws, drills, routers, etc. Steps:
- Before glue-up begins, blue carpenter's tape is applied around the edges of the pieces where the joints meet. This will simplify cleanup greatly.
- Since this glue-up is done all at once, use slow-setting plastic-resin glue to give ample working time.
- Brush glue onto the mortises (figure A) and the tenons.
- Place tenons in the mortises, and loosely assemble the aprons and legs (figure B). The table base is assembled upside-down so that gravity assists in the process.
- Connect joinery of the aprons and legs (figure C).
- Carefully set the stretcher in position and use a dead-blow hammer to gently tap the assembly together (figure D).
- Use long bar-clamps and cork blocks to pull all of the frame pieces together (figure E).
- Use wood saddle-blocks lined with sandpaper, and wooden blocks lined with cork, to assist in pulling the corners together with clamps (figures F and G).
- While the assembled base dries, work can begin making the tabletop. The top is made by edge-gluing two cherry boards (figure H). The challenge is to select two boards with complementary grain patterns so that it will appear as if the top was cut from a single large piece.
- Joint the edges of the cherry boards to ensure they are perfectly flat (figure I).
- Using yellow glue, join the flattened edges together. Secure the glued assembly with clamps (figure J), and let it dry for several hours.
- Once the top has dried, use a hand-scraper to remove any excess glue from the surfaces.
- Next, use a European-style hand plane to shape the edges (figure K). This step could also be done using a router and 1/8-inch chamfering bit. Using the hand technique, however, provides a nice craftsman's touch.
- The final step in the assembly is attaching the tabletop to the base. This is done using figure-8 metal fasteners. This hardware allows for the slight wood movement that naturally occurs over time due to changes in atmospheric humidity. This may prevent the tabletop from warping or cracking.
- Lay out the position of the fasteners in the frame with an awl, and use a hand-drill and Forstner bit to counter-sink the holes for the hardware.
- Pre-drill the screw-holes, and attach the figure-8 fasteners using a hand-drill and screwdriver attachment (figure L).
- Turn the base over onto the tabletop, and attach the figure-8's to the top with screws.
- Once the top has been fastened, turn the assembled table upright (figure M ).
In the segment that follows, a rich tung-oil finish is applied. 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
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