Popular Woodworking 2004-08 № 142, страница 20

Tricks of the Trade

Compiled by Paul Anthony Illustrations by Matt Bantly

Bookmatching Legs With A Simple Swap and Twist

THE WINNER:

Whenever I make a piece of furniture with four identically shaped legs, I arrange them to display bookmatched grain when viewed from any side of the piece.

To accomplish this, I begin with a piece of stock that is the length of the legs and square in section. In thickness and width, the stock should equal twice that of a single leg, plus V4" for milling. For best symmetry and harmony, use a piece where the growth rings run diagonally across the end of the piece, which results in consistent bastard grain on every face of each leg. Scrawl a triangle in chalk on one end of the stock, then rip the piece into quarters to make four individual leg blanks.

Using the triangle as a reference, reconstitute the original piece of stock and label the matched faces on the ends of the leg blanks as shown in the drawing. Next, rearrange the individual leg blanks to display the book-matched faces on the outsides. This is done by switching the position of two diagonally placed legs and rotating the other legs 180°, as shown. If you maintain this relationship of

First, switch the position of the two diagonally placed legs

Then rotate the position of the other legs 180°

Draw a chalk triangle to help reposition legs after cutting

the legs in the piece of furniture, the grain on each pair of legs will be a mirror image when viewed from any side of the piece.

Geoffrey Noden Trenton, New Jersey

CASH AND PRIZES FOR YOUR TRICKS AND TIPS!

Each issue we publish useful woodworking tips from our readers. Next issue's winner receives an overarm guard from Penn State. An ideal solution for table-saw safety and dust control, this guard is easy to install and swings out of the way for fast and easy positioning.

Runners-up each receive a check for $75. When submitting a trick (either by mail or e-mail) you must include your complete mailing address and a daytime phone number. If your trick is selected for publication, an editor will need to contact you. All entries become the property of Popular Woodworking. You can send your trick by e-mail to popwoodtricks@fwpubs.com, or mail it to:

Tricks of the Trade Popular- Woodworking 4700 E. Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45236

Penn State

Inaustries

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Popular Woodworking August 2004