Australian Wood Review - June 2018

66 Australian Wood Review

PROJECT

to replace it. Replacing a bottom that is sitting in a groove

is impossible, so rebates it is.

If you cut your joints accurately, two clamps should be

all you need to clamp the box. Don’t forget to do a trial

run for your glue-up prior to getting the glue flowing. You

would much rather discover an ill fitting joint before there

is glue everywhere (photo 6).

Getting things together

Once I proved out the joinery, I glued in the small supports

that the removable tray will rest on. It was much easier to

do this with the sides apart because it allowed me access

from all sides to get clamps on. I used a gauge to help

keeps thing on the level and I rechecked as the glue set

up (photo 7).

Little pieces like this have a nasty habit of skating around

once glue is introduced. Once the glue dried, I finished the

interior surfaces with wax. I do this for a couple of reasons:

doing it now is easier when the parts can be laid flat, and

the finish will act as a glue resist. Any glue squeeze-out on

the inside of the box will just pop off.

With the wax applied, I moved on to the glue-up. Nothing

special here, just some Titebond III applied to the rebates,

5. A rebate block plane is perfect
   for this size of work.


6. A dry-run prior to adding glue
   can save you a lot of headaches
   and profanity.


7. Check the tray supports often as
   the glue sets in case they slip.


8. Don’t be heavy handed with the
   glue so you won’t have to worry
   about cleaning up.


9. Take the time to accurately lay
   out the pins for a refined look.


10. Peen the pins for a clean gap-free fit.


11. Better to hit forceps than your fingers.


12. I used a sharp plane with a light cut
    to smooth the exterior surfaces.

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