BOOK STORAGEBOOK STORAGE^7733
the work at a comfortable height and I run the router around
the inside perimeter of each opening.
Chisel Time
After the noise and fl ying chips of routing, cleaning up the
corners with a chisel and fl oat is a nice change of pace. I hone
a fresh edge on a wide chisel, and place the fl at back face on
the long routed edge. Then I rotate the chisel down and into
the corner to begin the squaring process. This keeps the chisel
from drifting past the layout lines as I make the cuts.
I alternate cuts with a chisel that matches the width of the
mortise and the wide chisel until the corners are complete. All
of this takes place with the outside face of the side facing up.
Any tear-out or chips will be hidden by the shoulder of the
tenoned shelf. A fl at fl oat is used to put the fi nishing touches
on the mortises.
All in a Row
After cutting the three shelves to fi nished size, I place them
beside each other on the bench and mark all of the shoulders
at once using a large square. This ensures that the distance
between the shoulders is consistent. Then I take a smaller
square with a metal rule and knife in the shoulder lines all
around each piece.
In theory, the mortises are all exactly^1 ⁄ 2 " wide, but in reality
there will be some variation. I place the end of one of the nar-
row shelves next to a mortise to gauge the width directly from
one part to the other. I set the shelf end on one long edge and
mark where the other edge of the mortise hits.
I set my marking gauge by eye to the middle of the distance
from the pencil mark to the edge of the shelf. I then mark
with the gauge from opposite faces of the shelf, and make
any needed adjustments until the tenon layout matches the
mortise. When I have the setting right, I mark around the ends
of the tenons with the gauge.
This seems like extra work, but the cut layout lines won’t
rub off, and they help to prevent tear-out as the tenons are
cut and fitted. The layout marks will be the visible edges when
the joint is finished. Tenons look simple, but there are several
cuts to be made.
I cut the shoulders with a backsaw. The shoulders are only
Score fi rst. Prevent tear-out by scoring around the openings before cutting
with the router.Saw fi rst, then trim. Cut close to the lines with a jigsaw and use the router
to trim the opening at the top.Swing it. Press the back of the chisel against the mortise wall, then rotate
t h e e d g e d ow n t o t h e c or n e r t o maint ain a s t r aig ht e d g e.O n t o p. P o si t ionin g y o u r s h o uld e r ov e r t h e c his e l allow s y o u t o u s e y o u r
body weight to pare the end of the mortise.7 70-77_StickleyBookRack.indd 73 0 - 77 _StickleyBookRack.indd 73 3/25/13 9:57 AM 3 / 25 / 13 9 : 57 AM