Woodworker's Journal 2004 Spring, страница 42

Cutting Curved Tenons

Set the slats in place between the jig cleats and clamp them all in position. Use a flush-trimming, bottom-bearing router bit to shape the gentle curve onto the top end of the leg set slats. Set the bit depth so the bearing rides along the jig's top curve.

they can handle the 42" width before you haul the top to their shop, and scrape off any excess glue. You don't want to clog up their belts.)

After sanding, trim the ends with a clamped-on straightedge and a straight bit chucked in your router. Then gently break all the edges with sandpaper. Glue and fasten the beam to the leg sets with screws (pieces 15). Center the top on the supports and, after extending the pilot holes through the support pieces into the top, secure the top to the supports with the same screws (pieces 15). Don't glue the top to the supports. Restricting its movement widthwise could cause it to split.

Decorative Butterflies

Aside from the exposed joinery and plugs, the only truly decorative elements in this project are the five butterflies (pieces 16) inlaid into the solid oak top. Before the advent of modern glues, these butterflies would have been cut deeper than the 1/4" shown here, and they would also have served to hold the top together. Note the grain pattern of

■2 ^s—

(Top View)

the butterflies is at odds with that of the tabletop. These butterflies are easier to complete than you'd think. I like to create several at once on the table saw, cutting them to the shape shown in the Decorative Butterflies Drawing above. I clean up the edges with files, rasps and sandpaper.

Next, I make a melamine or hardboard template of the butterfly outlines to be used with a rub collar and a 1/4" straight bit in my portable router. It's important to rout a couple of practice butterfly

Top Rail (Face View)

c

Move to your router table and use a 3/8" piloted rabbeting bit to form the shoulders of the curved tenons. Cut the cheeks on a band saw.

Use a template to rout the mortises for the decorative butterflies. A rub collar mounted in your router, coupled with a 1/4" straight bit, will get you started right. Be sure to test your setup in scrap lumber before you move to the tabletop.

Decorative Butterflies

The best way to make your butterfly keys is to clamp a set of blanks together and, with your table l$aw blade set to 14". make four cuts, as shown at left.