Thread: Sewing Table - multiple posts

(pic 1) Plane tenon flat & true with my trusty 78.

(pic 2) Clean up shoulder to scribe line with shoulder plane.

(pic 3) Now tenons are divided:

(pic 4) And the fit tested (another whisker is needed off the one in the pic to get the shoulder to snug up all the way along).

Now a long, blank skirt is a bit dull, so I dressed it up a bit with a bead along the bottom edge. I do have a couple of beading bits, but I don’t like using screaming ‘lectron burners unless there’s a lot of grunt work, so out with a scratch-stock, a few minutes of scraping, and there you have three nice beads... (pic 5)

(more yet...)

I'm one of those voyeuristic lot when I'm not doing other stuff.

OK, time to glue up front & back, and prepare the drawer runners. These are morticed into the front dividers, and the back apron – just a shallow mortice will do as they are going to carry very little weight. A strip of wood is glued on to the leg side of each runner to keep the drawer straight. I always take great care fitting runners & guides, nothing more irritating than getting the darn things off, and having to trim them after glue-up – a very difficult job in such a confined space!

So turn on the glue-pot while getting clamps ready & a last-minutr dry-fit or two...

And here it is off the clamps, and checking drawer-fronts for squareness & fit (pic 1).

Now for the drawers & bag slide. The bag slide is the simplest, so it was done first. There is room only for a single dovetail on each corner, and no drawer-bottom to help brace the frame square, so, the front and back are quite thick (25mm) to give long tails which add a bit of strength & bracing against twist. Before assembly, I cut a slot and easement along each side to accomodate the aluminium angle. The aluminium was then screwed to the legs front & back. The aluminium is completely out of sight, even with the drawer fully open – not a purist’s solution, but it works well. (pic 2)

And finally, to the drawers themselves. Cherry happens to be a stable & durable wood that makes excellent drawer sides, and against the Maple, makes the dovetails obvious (if you are going to all that trouble, you may as well show ‘em off, I suppose). The sides are quite thin (<10mm) so I chose to use slips to hold the bottoms. Here is the pile of drawer parts cut out & ready to mark up. (pic 3)

The front d-tails have fine pins, but the rear are more even pins & tails – less fussy to make & stronger, & they are seldom seen, even by other critical woodies. The bottoms are some slices off a chunk of Atlantic Cedar someone gave me – a beautifully aromatic wood. The Maple was ‘orrible stuff to chisel for the half-lap dovetails, it is such swirly grain. I ended up with a couple of minor gaps where the wood crumbled . Only another woodie would notice, but it annoys me!

After much umming & arring, I had the recipient choose the drawer pulls. I wanted them to be her choice, so no pressure was applied to chose any particular style. She opted for these faceted glass knobs (which just happened to be the most expesive bits of cupboard jewellry I’ve seen!). However, I think they look fine on the piece. The finish is much-watered-down polyurethane, several coats ragged on & wiped off to get a sheen without much build-up. Then a rub-down with 0000 steel wool & U-beaut wax, and it’s ready for a few coffee spills... (last pic)

Whew!

PS - still have to fit the castors, but had to order the ones I need, & the boss has to make the scrotum. We are marooned on the other side of a very large amount of water, so neither will get fitted for a little while, I'd say....

Originally Posted by Waldo

I'm one of those voyeuristic lot when I'm not doing other stuff.

Geez Waldo - I hadn't even finished getting it posted!

OK - all done - view away....

There' no moss on me.

I've not used any of those timbers from across the other place. I think the choice of the two timbers has come up very well and finishes it all off very nicely.

Very nice!
I attempted a similar thing which can be seen in woodwork pics 'A ladies work table' but mine has trays and not draws.
Regards

Too nice. I'm not entirely sold on the glass knobs though.

Very nice . That is a great piece of birdseye maple and really sets off the cabinet.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

Too nice. I'm not entirely sold on the glass knobs though.

WW - I'll let YOU debate them with the proud owner......


I know some bails would have been more "authentic" or even plain brass knobs. They're sort of ok when you see them up close.
Cheers,

beautiful work

Originally Posted by IanW

WW - I'll let YOU debate them with the proud owner......


I know some bails would have been more "authentic" or even plain brass knobs. They're sort of ok when you see them up close.
Cheers,

I wouldn't dare question the choice of knobs with the owner!

However, since I'm conversing with the table's maker, wooden knobs would be most appropriate.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

.............However, since I'm conversing with the table's maker, wooden knobs would be most appropriate.

Hmm - just what I wanted to use, in fact.

However, since neither of us is prepared to argue......

Nice work
love the birdseye

Originally Posted by IanW

Hmm - just what I wanted to use, in fact.

However, since neither of us is prepared to argue......

Couldn't you swop them for a set turned from the Cherry on public holidays or special occasions?

My better 15/16ths also just noticed your photographs....looks as if another project may be added to the list