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Shaker Style Side Table Project Started
I got started on a Shaker-style side table this afternoon. This is essentially the same design as I used for the nightstands that I made for my nieces a couple years ago sans the drawer. Theirs were made from poplar as shown in the first picture; this one will be in black walnut from material harvested on the property back in August 2000. The design is from Thos Moser and is detailed starting on page 270 of his book, Measured Shop Drawings for American Furniture. I decided not to do the drawer for this particular unit both because I didn't need it and because I wanted this to be a very fast project start to finish.
The new table will serve as a lamp table in our soon to be ex-dining room re-crowned "home theater" which should be finally put together next weekend with the exception of repainting the room. The new couch arrives on Saturday...
Today's activities revolved around the legs. The material was already pre-milled to the correct size other than length due to an aborted buffet project from a number of months ago. (Poor planning on my part there...) After shortening them slightly to the required 26 1/4" length, I cut the mortises for the apron using my dedicated mortiser and then cut the tapers on the table saw using a fixed tapering jig that I made up specifically for this design for repeated use over time. The mortises were then cleaned up with a chisel...see the thread titled, "Sharp is as sharp does..." in the OT Forum for more commentary on that...:o
Tomorrow, I'll mill up the apron stock, dry fit and glue the basic structure together. The top will also be cut out of the panel I previously made for the top of that aborted buffet, chamfered on the bottom edge and then everything will get sanded and ready for finishing.
This is a really nice design with a dainty feel and a fast build. In fact, I'll likely make a companion piece later that is slightly taller, a bit wider and less deep to serve as a free-standing side table in the same room between a door and a window. The walnut matches the LCD TV table previously made as well as the natural edge coffee table that will also be in the room. The species will serve to unify things in the room from a design perspective.:)
Nightstands previously built:
http://sawsndust.com/images/kids-fur...ghtstand-2.jpg
Today's work pictures:
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"Finished"...except for wax
The two pictures below are last for this thread. I applied the shellac tonight and will rub in some wax tomorrow with a white pad to "finish" the finish by knocking off any slight nibs and making it "glow". I will post other pictures of the room once the new sofa is in and other furniture and electronics are installed.
Please take a note of the top of this table. One of the things I try to do is to be very careful with grain matching when making panels and this was no exception. There are two joints in that top and only the one toward the back (wall) is barely perceptible without careful inspection. This is a process that starts when you select your material...it's got to be compatible when there are joints involved. The leg stock was cut in such a way that at least the two front legs had grain line diagonally across the section to minimize any face grain on the surfaces and the rears are similar, although not quite as "perfect" in that respect. All of these things enhance the look of the project. In an ideal world, the aprons come from a single board, too. These are no exception, although there was a slight break in the continuity due to a big, fat knot in the middle of the board that had to go away. No problem...they are short aprons and will be hidden partially by other furniture.
