Mission Furniture Volume I Part 8

After the parts are all put together, cleaned and sandpapered, the stand is ready for the finish.

A MISSION WASTE-PAPER BASKET

[Ill.u.s.tration: Waste-Paper Basket to Match Library Table]

The basket shown in the accompanying sketch is designed to be used with a library table having slats in the ends and wooden handles on the drawers. The finish is made to match that of the table by fuming, when completely a.s.sembled, in a large-size size, clean garbage can, with fumes of concentrated ammonia.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Detail of Waste-Paper Basket]

The following quarter-sawed white-oak stock should be procured in the exact dimensions given. This may be had, planed and cut to lengths, from a mill for a slight extra charge. It is advisable not to have them sandpapered, as the very coa.r.s.e sandpaper generally used, gives a bad surface for finishing.

4 posts, 1-1/4 by 1-1/4 by 16-1/2 in., S-4-S.

4 rails, 3/4 by 3 by 10-1/4 in., S-2-S.

4 rails, 3/4 by 2 by 10-1/4 in., S-2-S.

12 slats, 3/8 by 2-1/4 by 9-1/2 in., S-2-S.

4 handle pieces, 1 by 1 by 2-1/2 in., S-4-S.

2 handle pieces, 1/2 by 1/2 by 6 in., S-4-S.

1 bottom, 3/8 by 9-1/2 by 9-1/2 in., S-2-S.

See that the posts are absolutely square cross section. Mark with a pencil--not gauge--the chamfers on the ends of the posts and plane them off.

Carefully mark the tenons on the ends of all the rails with a knife and gauge lines. Be sure that the distance from the tenon shoulder at one end of rail to the shoulder at the other end is exactly the same on each rail. Cut the tenons, using a backsaw and chisel.

Arrange the pieces as they are to stand in the finished basket, and number each tenon and mortise. Mark all the mortises on the posts, being sure to keep the distances between the top and lower rail the same on each post. Cut each mortise to fit the correspondingly numbered tenon.

Next, mark the mortises for the slats in the rails, allowing the whole slat to go in 1/4 in.

The handles are next in order. The pieces going into the rail should be fastened with a round 1/2-in. tenon cut on one end and glued in place.

The crosspiece should be mortised all the way through these pieces and held in place by a brad from the under side.

Now put the whole basket together without gluing, in order that errors, if any, may be detected.

If everything fits perfectly, the basket is ready to be glued. For best results hot glue should be used. First glue up two opposite sides with the slats in place. Clamps must be used. When these have set for at least 24 hours, the other rails and slats may be glued in place and clamped. It is a good idea to pin the tenons in place with two 1-in.

brads driven from the inside.

The handles are then glued in place, using hand screws to hold them until the glue sets. The bottom should rest on thin cleats, without being nailed to them, so that it may be removed when the basket is to be emptied of small papers, etc.

Before applying the stain, see that all glue spots are removed and all surfaces sanded to perfect smoothness. If a fumed finish is not desired, any good stain may be used, after which a thin coat of sh.e.l.lac and two coats of wax should be applied. Allow plenty of time for drying between the coats.

A CELLARETTE PEDESTAL

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plain-Oak Cellarette Pedestal]

The ill.u.s.tration shows a unique article for the den. It serves as a pedestal and has one side which opens on hinges allowing the inside to be used as a smoker's cabinet or cellarette. All the lines are straight and the corners square, making it easy to construct. White oak will make up best, although ash, birch or southern pine may be used with good effect.

Stock of the following sizes should be bought, surfaced and cut to width and length:

2 top pieces, 7/8 by 12 by 12 in., S-2-S.

2 base pieces, 7/8 by 14 by 14 in., S-2-S.

2 sides, 7/8 by 8 by 35-5/8 in., S-2-S.

1 back, 7/8 by 6-1/4 by 35-5/8 in., S-2-S.

1 door, 7/8 by 6-1/4 by 34-3/4 in., S-2-S.

4 blocks, 7/8 by 4 by 4 in., S-2-S.

4 shelves, 7/8 by 6-1/4 by 6-1/4 in., S-2-S.

4 pieces, 7/8 by 1 by 10 in., S-4-S.

Make the top and base of two pieces, glued and screwed together with the grain crossed. This method prevents warping. To keep the end grain from showing, a strip of 3/8-in. lumber may be put on all around as shown in the drawing.

Have the sides, front and back squared up perfectly. The sides are to overlap the back and to be fastened to it with round-head bra.s.s or blue screws. To the center of the top and base attach one of the 6-1/4-in.

square pieces. Over these, fit the sides and back and fasten them with screws or nails. The four corner blocks are now put under the base.

Two or more shelves may be set in as shown. Bra.s.s or copper hinges will look well if a dark stain is to be used.

Around the sides and back a 1-in. strip should be fastened to the base to give added strength.

If a dull finish is desired, apply two coats of stain and two of prepared wax. If a polished surface is wanted, first fill the pores of the wood with any standard filler, which can be purchased at a paint store. After this has dried partly, rub off any surplus filler, rubbing across the grain of the wood. When perfectly dry apply one coat of sh.e.l.lac and as many coats of varnish as desired, rubbing down each coat, except the last, with No. 00 sandpaper and pumice stone.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Detail of Cellarette Pedestal]

A DRESSER

The dresser shown in the ill.u.s.tration was made of quarter-sawed white oak and finished golden and waxed. The mirror is of beveled gla.s.s and the following is the stock bill:

1 top, 3/4 by 19-1/2 by 33 in., S-2-S.

4 posts, 1-3/4 by 1-3/4 by 28 in., S-4-S.

4 end rails, 3/4 by 2-1/4 by 17 in., S-2-S.

4 stiles, 3/4 by 2-1/2 by 20 in., S-2-S.

2 panels, 3/16 by 12 by 18 in., S-2-S.

3 facings, 3/4 by 2-1/4 by 29 in., S-2-S.

2 top frame pieces, 3/4 by 2 by 32 in., S-2-S.

2 top frame pieces, 3/4 by 2 by 19 in., S-2-S.

2 mirror supports, 1 by 2 by 33 in., S-2-S.

1 mirror support, 3/4 by 2-1/2 by 33 in., S-2-S.

1 drawer front, 3/4 by 7-1/4 by 28 in., S-2-S.

1 drawer front, 3/4 by 6-1/4 by 28 in., S-2-S.

2 drawer fronts, 3/4 by 5-1/4 by 14 in., S-2-S.

1 part.i.tion, 3/4 by 1 by 6 in.

2 mirror-frame pieces, 3/4 by 2 by 40 in., S-2-S.