Jul
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Antique Wood Furniture: Tables, Cabinets, Sofas.
July 17, 2009 |
It may be desirable, particularly when boring into thin material, to cut a flat-bottomed hole makers of 1940’s american art deco furniture . This calls for a Forstner bit, which has its cutting edges oil the circumference of its end “the four continents” antique figures . Having no center point, it must be started by its circumference, unless an ordinary auger bit of the same diameter call be used first as a guide mother of pearl coffe table fake antique egypt .
Tapered holes can be made by boring with a bit whose diameter is equal to that of the small end of the hole, then enlarging the hole with a tapered bit gustavian chairs . This is not the same as counterboring, which means that for long screws the first hole, equal in diameter to the root (groove) of the screw, is bored the full length, and then a larger hole is bored for the smooth, larger shank of the screw napoleonic campaign chairs . Countersinking for concealing or leveling off a screwhead is accomplished by the use of a rose bit or reamer inlaid biedermeier square coffee table .
Dowels german antiques chiffonier . Usually machined from birch, beech, or maple, doweling rods or pins come in lengths up to 6 ft regency furniture maker marks ., with diameters varying from 1/8 in antique tea caddies, penwork . to i in antique german furniture . by increases of 1/16 in handmade laminated wood chairs and tables . A dowel joint is in reality the reinforcement of other joints, including the simple butt joint—the “granny knot” of wood joinery rene jacques decorative wall pendulum clock . Strong doweled joints depend upon carefully fitted holes, accurately aligned and square with adjoining surfaces barker brothers furniture .
A saw cut along the length of the dowel will provide Ail
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escape for excess glue comtoise clock . Dowels with a spiral channel are available coniniercia ly for the same purpose (see 13) antique rectangular tables . A doweling jig is shown Figure 1 antique lamp figurine dancing .23 C antique table with cast iron legs .
The woodworker who anticipates considerable dowel jointing will save himself much time and trouble by providing himself with a set of dowel plugs antique center drum tables . These are short lengths of each of the various sized dowels, equipped with marking nails that have been sharpened as markers after their heads have been filed off antique bugatti table . The nails can be centered by drilling a piece of thick waste the size of a short dow~I, which is then tapped into the hole antique enamel drop leaf table . The bit is reinserted in the hole until its point pricks the dowel end, thus marking the center rectangular gateleg table . A hole is drilled sligh ly undersize to receive the nail at this point ironstone antique price .
To cover hidden screws, the heads can be deeply countersunk and covered with a wooden plug, glued in place 19th century garden furniture . In driving the screw home, care must be taken to avoid bruising the edges of the counterbore art deco palissy dinnerware . A bit known as a “plug cutter” is available for cutting plugs across the grain from identical stock that is sligh ly thicker than the depth of the hole satinwood commode john cobb . Glue is applied to the bottom of the plug its grain aligned with that of the work, before it is driven vertically into the hole antique empire floral porcelain clock . After the glue dries hard, the plug can be trimmed off, then planed aid sanded flush drum table with lion feet . In French Provincial, English, and Early American reproductions, plug=, with their outer edges chamfered, are often left protruding slightly, to simulate full-length pegs william iv rosewood side chair . Much of this early type of furniture also shows pegs flush with the front surface of the piece credence antique .
When the work is to be finished with paint wood dining table turn plate . enamel, or lacquer, the heads of countersunk screws and finishing nails can be covered with putty or plastic wood 18th black secretaire lacquer . The filler should be rounded off above the surface of the work to allow for shrinkage thonet rocking chair . It can be sanded smooth when thoroughly dry blue glass liners. antique . A waterproof, stainprcof filler that shows minimum shrinking can be mixed from a measure of powdered resin glue, a measure of wood flour (fine sawdust), ail three quarters of a meast re of water antique french draw leaf dining table .
Screws rococo oak cabinet . Although old-time woodworkers scorned the use of any metal fastenings to secure or strengthen the parts of their assemblies, modern furniture makers use screws when the screwheads can be concealed, or leave them exposed where the effect is unimportant menu first entree dish . The choice of the proper sized screws for a particu ar job depends on the thickness of the thinnest piece to be joined and the kind of wood candle scissor stype snuffer marked italy . Too large a screw will split the stock, even if the correctly sized pilot hole was first bored dutch marquetry sutherland table .
Because there are two diameters to each screw, exclusive of the head, two holes should be bored reproduction potboard dressers . The first hole, or counterbore, to take the smooth shank of he screw, is bored to the depth of the shank plus the depth of the countersunk screw-head auction + vargueno cabinet . The second, or pilot, hole, of a diameter equal to the root or groove, is not quite as deep as the threaded portion is long enamel top drop leaf table .
Screws can be purchased in lengths varying from %, in china cabinet & desk on side . to 6 in 1710 antique french pewter marks . Lengths front Y4 in rectangular drop leaf dining table with 4 leaves . to I in berkey and gay . increase by /-in george hunzinger sofa . units; those from I in antique indian tea pot . to 3 in antique wood drop leaf table ., by %j-in antique plate warmer . units; and from3 in 16th century english chamber pot . to 5 in antique pot metal trinket boxes ., by Y2-in spanish armchairs . units marquetry drop leaf side table . They come with flat, round, or oval heads, the flathead (FH) type being used for countersinking antique bedside toilet .
Since the heads of brass screws are likely to break off under strong torque, it is common practice to drive ail iron screw in first, replacing it with a brass one
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after the threads are cut in the wood german enamelled glass 1650 . For careful craftsmanship, the screwdriver’s edge should be kept squared, so that it will sink into full contact with the groove of the screwhead antique dresser with turned leg . The edge should also be thick enough to fill the groove, in order to prevent it from slipping out under pressure and gouging the work antique victorian wedgewood pottery smaa jug . The width of the screwdriver’s edge should not exceed that of the screwhead, or the wood will be bruised when the head is driven home value of an antique pembroke table . It is a sign of good workmanship when exposed screwheads are driven home so that all slots face in the same direction antique dressing table w/mirrors . The various sizes of nails are discussed in Chapter 9 dishes and flatware of the 18th and 19th century .
WOOD JOINERY
After this brief survey of elementary woodworking operations, the ambitious craftsman may be assumed to have graduated from the Junior College of Carpentry be considered ready for matriculation in the University of Wood Joinery arc design in drawing room . It is well for him to reverence those ancient halls where once such masters as Thomas Chippendale, the Adam brothers, George Hepplewhite, Thomas Sheraton mahogany circle table with drawer . Duncan Phyfe, and others instructed eager contemporaries in an products were no stronger than their weakest joints art nouveau porcelain marks . Lest the hesitant neophyte be overcome by the implications of these famous traditions, however, let him be reassured by the fact that, although good joints are indeed the product of care”ul, unhurried workmanship, they are not necessarily the product of skill antique italian extendable table . The carfill planning of a logical procedure—a visualization of the various steps in their proper sequence—and the execution of the plan will insure success for the amat ur as well as the expert craftsman antique tripod tilt table leather inlaid .
Lap joints collecting antique brass candlesticks . After the plain butt joint (Figure 1 oval gate leg drop leaf antique tables .24), which has two squared surfaces butted together and fastened with glue, dowels, screws, or nails, and the sloping scarf joint (Figure 1 italian brass inlay sideboard .24), which is at best but a compromise, comes, in order of simplicity, the lap or halved joint (Figure 1 styles dressing tables .25) antique table telescoping . This joint is easy to saw, for as its name implies, it is made by cutting out equal halves from bath members so that when united, the joint is flush italian inlaid table blue . When the halved joint is cut from the ends of two members meeting a right angles, it is known as all “en(+p joint 15th century chamber pots .” If the members cross each other at right angles near their centers,he joint is termed a “cross-lap joint”; if the end of one member joins the other rear the middle, it is called a, “middle-lap joint elkington & co candelabra .”
In marking lap joints, the best method is to lay one member on top of the other and scribe the exact position where the joint is to be cut; the depth is ten marked on the sides with the marlinggage antique bread making furniture . End-lap joints call he cut out enti ely
with the back or tenon saw, the vertical cuts being made first; with the cross lap or middle lap, the waste must be removed with the chisel desing italian furniture .
For additional strength there is the wedge-shaped, beveled lap that can be entirely a sawing project; the tabled joint and the dovetail half lap are also illustrated vintage chinese porcelain with two swords marked . To prevent splitting under the dovetail, the more complicated lip joint is chiseled out as shown in the steps at the bottom of the diagram antique mother of pearl escutcheons .
Dado ironstone antique price . A familiar joint for supporting shelving or drawer bottoms, the dado (Figure 1 swedish armchairs .26 a), or housing, is but a deeper, narrower version of one member of Toe Notch
Fm antique desks made by tobey furniture co . 1 a 19th century mahogany square front chest .26b longton bone china doric . Notching antique chamber pots .
ported by the other member are knolAn as single or double notching, as the caw may be jaeger lecoultre clocks a-10 . A modification of this joint, where the lower member is of much thicker material, is the cogged or shoulder notch queen anne antique bureau photo . A more complicated version is sometimes used to join two hea~y members in a wedge halving antique british sideboards . A diak- onal bracing, termed “toe notching,” is sawed out to accommodate the joining of two members at an acute angle rococo eagle dresser .
The simple series of joints called notching is shown in Figure 1 antique dining fold over tables with leaves .26 b duke extendable dining table .
Miter joint antique + urn + spoons . As described in te section on planing, plain miter join s can be quickly and accurately sawed in a miter box antique sofa made in italy . Variations shown in the diagram (Figure 1 table consoul antiques caried or gold “rococo” .27) include miter~d half lap (on lap miter), the secret tenon miter, and, for maximum strength, t e dovetail tenon miter photo antiquities furniture in france . A favorite method of strengthening the plain miter after it has been glued and while it is still clamped is to saw a groove across the outer angle of the joint into which a “slip feather” or thin piece of veneer can be glued or “splined” in place antique candelabra 18th century . Another method of securing the miter is by means of a dovetail key from the underside elkington epergne centerpiece .
Mortise and Tenon staffordshire engine turned redware teapots 18th century . Although it is one of the oldest joints, the mortise and tenon (Figure 1 table octagon marquetry drawer .28) is also one of the strongest and, therefore, ubiquitous in furniture construction antique; english; knife urn . Both house and cabinet doors use this joint, and table legs are almost invariably joined to their aprons with a mortise and tenon value of hand painted wales china tea set .
The simplest form of this joint and the easiest to cut is the open tenon 17th century trestle table with claw feet . Like all other tenons this may be pegged, screwed, or nailed for added security antiques, sofa table, small proportions . The bridle joint is another version in which one member is joined near the middle with a form of open tenon myott son & co hanley .
From a construction standpoint, the simplest form is the through mortise and tenon, where the holes for the mortise can be bored entirely through the member antique oak tables with leaves . If preferred, a coping saw can be used to advantage in trimming 3ut the series of overlapping holes antique english creamware . For knockdown furniture the tenon is cut loner than the depth of the through mortise, the protruding extension being drilled
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to receive a wedge or dowel, set close enough to the outer face of the inite:ed member to key the tenon firmly in place italian maiolica .
In most cases the tenon has one or more shoulders oil the side or sides against which the greatest stress is anticipate(> bulle clocks . For additional strength, when the stock is wide enough, double mortises and tenons are preferred, affording the advanta-es of two smaller mortises with stiff sides instead of one wide mortise with springy sides chest of drawers with seat . When grooved framing is used, a haunched tenon is cut to fill the gap made by the full-length groove antique rosewood wellington chest .
To cut a double haunched mortise and tenon, first square the stock, then with a try square lay out the tenon shoulders oil all four sides regency telescopic candlesticks . For the haunch, mark a second line a distance above the shoulder line approximately equal to he depth of the groove, if it is not too deep 19th century furniture feet . Gage the thickness of the tenons on he edges and end, and apply the same gage setting to the mortises in the other member to insure a clean fit old 17th century walnut tables . Last of all, gage the width of the tenons oil both fa6s and bore a hole at the base of the center division antique blue corner cabinet . The slot between the t -in tenons is not cut down entirely to the shoulder in the case of grooved mater al, for the same reason that a haunch is cut—to give added strength by filling he groove period dressing tables .
From here on, the tenons can be cut out entirely with a hack or tenon s chippendale collectors . w wash stands for center bowl . The procedure outlined in Figure 1 chines antique bureau .29 will insure the best results john widdicomb china cabinets . Sharp cor -rs can be later pared out with a tang-firmer chisel if necessary r h macy & co antique chest . The ends of he tenons are chamfered for the same reason that the ends of blind dowels ire rounded goldscheider staffordshire myott .
The mortises can be first bored out with the auger bits gaged to stop a a depth about ‘/,; in antique half circle dropleaf table . deeper than the length of the tenons, to accommodate Burl us glue and imprisoned air antique metal double candelabra . The bit should be I/Ij, in antique consoles . narrower than the tenon to Steps in cutting double haunched tenon
from tongue and groove stock 6′ chestnut refectory table .
insure a snug fit after chiseling, in order to provide thorough bracing support and to relieve the glue from excessive strain chiffoniers court cupboard . The fit of the tenons in the mortises should not be so tight as to bulge them, however turn top walnut tea/card table .
A through tenon can be wedged for added strength, as shown in the diagram (Figure 1 shu-fu pottery fakes .28) n hall norfolk . In this case, as well as in that of the blind-wedged tenon, the mortise must be cut slightly fan-shaped at its extreme end to accommodate the butt ends of the wedges gilbert rhode tubular stool .
Perhaps the most useful of the mortise and tenon joints for furniture construction is the mitered tenon, used to secure the maximum length of the two tenons meeting at corner mortises spanish table antique turned legs . These are common joints for securing the aprons of tables to the legs, and are nothing more than two haunched single or double tenons with their ends mitered as illustrated in Figure I-3o a roman gothic furniture .
A beveled shoulder joint is use in place of the beveled lap joint where it is desire to conceal the angled tenon of the diagonal member demi lune silver table .
Fic open dressers . 1 auction + vargueno cabinet .30a rectangular vintage coffee table, glass ends, wooden middle top . Mitered mortise and tenon wooton chest .Dimensions art deco cabinet harlequin pattern on doors . A good rule for calculating the proper dimensions of a to on is to proportion it so that it is one third the thickness of the rail of which it i french draw leaf dining table . a part, and of a width not more than six times its thickness art nouveau vitrine . Wider tenons wea : en the mortise and should be divided into double mortise and tenons antique ceramic dish in silver stand .
In designing furniture, or following drawings or instructions that omit he dimensions of tenons, the following proportions are recommended:
Rail thickness, in inches Tenon thickness, in inches Tenon length, in inches Drawboring english arts and crafts antique chest of drawers . A tight mortise and tenon joint can be assured without the se of glue and clamps by recourse to a jointing operation known as “drawbori empire hall bench .- This is accomplished by boring the holes for the pins, pegs or dowels throtgh the empty mortise, after which the tenon is inserted and marked through be center points of the holes vilas table .
When the tenon is withdrawn from the mortise, however, the holes are dri ed slightly nearer the tenon’s shoulders than indicated by the marks antique chinese brass salvers . The s mplest joint for uniting two members on eige at right angles is the rabbet joint, ost often encountered where a plywood pan;, is joined to the back of a cabinet by n-ils, screws, or a small molding antique german furniture for sale . It is also fo nd in the back joining of inexpensive dra- er construction dressing a tea table .
The box corner is a better joint fo a
rear corner of a drawer, for it consists of a dado in the side member and a ra, set in the rear member cabriole legs . For a front corner of the drawer, a simple form is the ini ed corner, which permits the front to cover the ends of the side members c j mason american ironstone pottery .
The lock miter joint, a standard drawer joint, is schematically diagramed on the basis of a front piece Yt in modern telescoping dining table . thick and a side member of / in furniture makers of the 16th century . thickness chinese japanese porcelain tea sets antique . The steps in its construction are clarified whets sequence of steps illustra ed in the succeeding joint is studied japanned bracket clocks .
By far the most efficient of the corner joints is the lock joint, which resists separation from both directions chippendale reading table fire screen . It is a popular joint in cedar chests, but at f first antique table de chevet .rst glance may seem too complicated for (lie amateur wood jointer “furniture ornaments” .