46 - Utility Workbench, страница 19

46 - Utility Workbench, страница 19

front stretchers, see Fig. 3. The upper (G) and lower front stretchers (H) are both cut to fit between the two end assemblies, so they're identical in length. And this time, they're the same width. Only here, the lower stretcher is rabbeted on the top inside edge to accept the shelf, see Fig. 3b.

As before, there's a groove in each of these stretchers to hold the rails, see Figs. 3a and 3b. But what's different is the ends of the stretchers are rabbeted to fit around the legs. This way, the shoulders of the rabbets will help prevent the front of the bench from racking. Since the stretchers are quite long, I routed these rabbets using a simple jig, see page 28.

RAILS. After screwing the front stretchers in place, the next step is to add the rails (I), see drawing. There are seven rails altogether. The three rails that bridge the upper stretchers help support the top. And the four rails that span the lower stretchers prevent the shelf from sagging when it's loaded with tools and supplies.

The rails are designed to fit into the stretchers with a simple tongue and groove joint. The grooves are already cut in the stretchers. So all that's needed is to rabbet the end of each rail to form the tongue, see

a. TONGUE DETAIL

•14-

CENTER TONGUE ON WIDTH OF RAIL y

(2V4" x MAKE

POSITION THIS RAIL AGAINST SIDE

NOTE:

RAILS ON LEFTSIDE WILL BE SECURED LATER

HM

detail 'a' in the drawing above.

Now it's just a matter of installing the rails. What works well here is to start by first setting the rails in rough position. (You'll need to angle the rails slightly to slip the tongues into the grooves.)

Eventually, all the rails will be glued in place. But don't glue in the top and bottom rails on the left side of the bench yet. It's best to wait until after a slide panel is added later.

It doesn't take much glue to secure the other rails. Just mark the

SIDE

i

NOTE:

RAILS ARE 11/2"-THICK STOCK; SHELF IS MDF

final position of the rails and apply a small amount of glue in the groove. Then simply slide the rails into place.

SHELF. All that's left to complete the base is to add the shelf (J). It's just a piece of 3AU MDF that rests on the lower stretchers and rails, see drawing above.

Since the MDF is quite heavy, you don't need to secure the shelf. Just slide it into position so the shelf fills the exposed part of the dado in the back leg and butts against the side, see detail 'b' above.

b. BACK

SHELF

V_

CUT3/4"-WIDE GROOVE 9Ae" DEEP

LOWER SACK STRETCHER

NOTE

STRETCHERS ARE MADE FROM 11/2"-THICK STOCK

(2!4" x 63")

UPPER BACK STRETCHER

LOWER BACK STRETCHER

#S x V/2" Fh WOODSCREW

CUT 3A"-WIDE GROOVE 9/16" DEEP

UPPER BACK STRETCHER

(3" x 60")

3

UPPER FRONT STRETCHER

(3" x

COUNTER-BORED SHANK HOLES FOR Rh WOOD-

NOTE:

STRETCHERS ARE MADE FROM 11/2"-THICK STOCK

, UPPER FRONT STRETCHER

3/4"-WIDE GROOVE, 9/I6" DEEP

11/2"-WIDE RABBET, 3/4" DEEP

11/2"-WIDE RABBET, %" DEEP

No. 46

ShopNotes

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