Fine Woodworking 2007 Building Furniture

3

5

A A

1

Drawings: Bob La Pointe

appearing too massive, an effect you get

with many large case pieces. With lengths

of 4 ft. and 5 ft. being common, the facade

can be divided using drawers and doors

(see drawings, p. 77).

In designing the mocked-up poplar side-

board seen on these pages, I wanted a

simple piece with a country feel. In form, it

refers to the Federal period but avoids the

use of veneers, inlay, and hardware seen

in period, high-style examples. To simplify

construction, I decided on a small, four-

legged version without the curved facade

often seen in Federal pieces. Country fur-

niture makers made similar design choices

in earlier times, using the grain and figure

of local woods or even painted finishes

for visual interest. These designs rely on

proportion and line to create a sense of

balance and harmony.

The construction system

One key feature of this construction sys-

tem is the use of built-up ends, which are

thicknessed to the same dimension as the

legs. The thicknesses of the ends provide

large glue surfaces for the legs. In addition,

the top and bottom join the legs and ends

without having to be notched around the

legs. This structural solution creates a lined

interior for the cupboard areas.

The partitions that divide the facade are

not only design variables, but they are al-

so structural elements. The multiple stub

tenons tying the long top and bottom

together are strong insurance against

A

Legs and end-

stock for both

assemblies are

laid out on a

single board.

X X

X X^2

6

X^4

1. B u i l t- u p e n d s

1.Proper left

front leg

2.Proper right

front leg

3. Proper left
   rear leg


4. Proper right
   rear leg


5. Left end blank


6. Right end blank
   X. Marks top ends
   of pieces

X

2-in.-thick stock

View of end grain

at section AA

1

3

5

Leftover stock

is sized and

laminated so

that the ends

can be built up

to the same

thickness as

the legs.

b

5a

5b

Parts 5a and 5b are

resawn, milled, and

book-matched at this

edge to form the outer

sides of the ends.

Colored rules

indicate outside

faces.

Straight grain

on legs meets

straight grain

on each end,

disguising the

glueline and

leaving an

assembly that

appears to be

a single, solid

piece of wood.

d

By carefully planning the cuts, a single 2-in.-thick board can be laid out to form leg-and-end assemblies that appear

to be a single solid board. The legs are cut from the straight-grained edge of the board, and the ends are book-

matched and laminated from resawn stock. When the legs join the ends, you’re left with virtually invisible gluelines.

C U T S E C T I O N S F R O M O N E T H I C K bO A Rd T O C R E AT E I N V I S IbL E J O I N T S

Once the ends have been laminated, legs and ends are

planed at the same time to ensure uniform thickness.

C

5a 5b

Leftover stock

Rear leg (3)

72 F I N E wO O DwOr kI Ng

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