Woodworker's Journal 1993-17-2, страница 48

EASY-TO-MAKE GIFTS, TOYS & "1 ACCESSORIES

Years ago. salesmen for the big furniture companies didn't have the luxury of a big fancy color catalog to help sell their products. Instead, they brought along actual samples of the furniture to show prospective buyers. Those scaled down pieces were often quite detailed, and no doubt made the salesman's job a lot easier. We can only imagine (hat hauling a trunk full of samples from town to town, probably by railroad, must have tested the mettle of even the most enthusiastic peddler.

You can put this charming project to use in any number of ways. We like it as a storage chest for organizing odds and ends, but it w ill also make a nice jewelry chest, particularly if you line the drawers w ith felt. And. small pieces like these are perfect as doll furniture.

Prepare Your Slock Except for the back, drawer bottoms and drawer knobs, the entire project is made from ^s/2 in. thick pine stock. Generally, a project like this will look best if clear stock is used. However, if knots are unavoidable, look for ones that are small and tight.

We used a thickness planer to plane

"V"

Sample Chest

Handy catchall for sewing notions, jewelry . . .

down ^lA in. stock to '/2 in. thick. If your shop doesn't include a thickness planer, check to see if 'A in. stock is available locally. If not. a nearby lumberyard or millwork shop may be willing to plane down your stock for a small charge. Another option, of course, is to sharpen up your hand plane and go to work at the workbench. It won't take a lot of time to hand-plane stock for this small project.

Make the Sides

Begin by cutting the two sides (A) to the length and width dimensions shown in the Bill of Materials. Once cut, use the table saw and dado head cutter to plow the 'A in. by 'A in. rabbet along the inside back edge of each side.

The '/a in. deep b> '/: in. wide dados are next. Note that there are three in each side. Lay out the dado locations, then cut them, again using the table saw and dado head cutter. Guide the stock through the

cutler with the miter gauge.

Next, transfer the full-size cutout pattern from the drawing to the sides. Use a band saw, jig saw or scroll saw to cut each shape, then file and sand the sawn edges until they are smooth.

Make the Kails and Runners The three rails <B) and six runners <C) can be made next. Cut each one to length and width, then dry assemble them to the sides to check for a good fit. The front edges of the rails should be flush with the front edges of the sides, while the runners should butt up against the back edges of the rails.

As show n in the side view, the runners do not extend all the way back to the 'A in. by 'A in. rabbet in the sides. Instead, they are cut '/a in. short, to allow room for any shrinkage of the sides that might occur due to changes in humidity. If you make this a snug fit. and the sides should

®