| Arts-and-Crafts Book Stand: Template and Side Stock |
From "Wood Works"
episode WWK-311 |
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In this episode of DIY Wood Works, host David Marks shows how to build an arts-and-crafts styled book-stand of solid walnut using only hand-tools. The distinctive curved sides of the stand are made by edge-gluing pieces of walnut stock. The top and shelf are joined to the sides with mortise and loose-tenon joinery, and the top is secured with screws. Beveled ebony caps conceal the screws, and a shaped ebony lip serves to support books displayed on the angled top. The stand in our project was made from two varieties of walnut. The book-matched top of claro walnut has a soft, warm character, while the sides of Peruvian walnut provide a dark, rich contrast. This piece can be completed almost entirely without large woodworking tools such as the table-saw, band saw and table-router. For this project, David Marks used only hand tools -- including hand routers, circular saw, hand-saws and files. Materials: Walnut stock
1/8-inch MDF and 1/2-inch MDF for templates
Jig saw
Hand-router
Hand-scraper; cabinet scraper
Sanding strip
Rasps
Yellow woodworker's glue
Glue roller
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. Template and Sides The stand is 46 inches high, and the top is 24 inches at its widest point. There are only four basic parts to construct: the top, shelf and two sides. - The project begins with a diagram that is used to make a full-scale drawing on 1/8-inch MDF. In a trial-and-error process, the lines and curves are worked out to create a design that is pleasing to the eye.
- Once the design is worked out to create a thin template, the lines are transferred to a 1/2-inch sheet of MDF (figure A).
- Using a jig saw, cut out the 1/2-inch template slightly oversized (figure b).
- With the template cut out, smooth the curved edges using a pattern-maker's rasp (figure C).
- Finish cleaning up the curves using a flexible sanding strip. You can create a flexible sanding strip by attaching some sandpaper to a thin, flexible piece of maple.
- The template for the top (figure D) is 24 inches by 21 inches, and is curved on three sides. The bottom edge, where the book will rest, is straight.
- Make a template by laying out a 24" by 21" rectangle on a sheet of 1/8-inch MDF. Mark the center line and, to create the curve, measure down and mark 1 inch from each end. Then, use a flexible strip to create the curve (figure E ) and trace a curved line.
- With the templates complete, work can begin creating the actual assembly pieces for the book stand. Begin with the sides. At the foot, the base is 21 inches wide (figure F). To make a board of that width, two pieces of Peruvian walnut will be edge-glued together.
- Before edge-gluing the pieces, prep the edges using a hand router. Normally this step might be done using a jointer but, as in all the steps in this project, we opted to use only hand tools. To trim the edge using a router, clamp a fresh board of MDF to the stock and use the factory-edge as a guide to trim the edges using the hand router (figure G).
- Use yellow woodworker's glue (figure H) to join the two pieces together by edge-gluing.
- Clamp the pieces together securely as the glue dries for a few hours (figure I).
- Once the glue-joint has dried clean up and level the flat surface using a hand scraper (figure J) and cabinet scraper.
- Inspect the grain on the glued piece, and determine which end will serve as the top. Indicate the top with a chalk mark.
- Once you've decided on which end will be the top, flush trim the bottom edge so that the finished piece will sit flat on the floor. As with edges that were glued, use the factory-edge of a piece of MDF as a guide as you flush-trim the bottom edges flat using the hand router (figure K).
- With the MDF template lined up to the newly trimmed bottom edge, trace the outline of the template onto the stock (figure L).
In the segment that follows, the side pieces are cut from the walnut stock and work begins on the mortise-and-tenon joinery.
Sponsored Resource
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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
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
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