Woodworker's Journal 2008-32-1, страница 28

Simple joints fastened with screws and lag screws make a solid structure.

When making the legs, clamp the two glued pieces together to form an "L" shape. My preference is clamping to the bench. If necessary, leave a small overhang in the glue-up to avoid mill-made shortcomings.

Before you shape the rail sockets, all that is left is to square one end of each leg and then cut it to length.

On the top of the legs, you'll need to form a socket (see the photos below) to accept the top rail. I used a Forstner bit in my drill press to remove most of the waste, and completed the shape with a variety of chisels.

Making the Leg and Rail Joints

'Hie ends of the top rails are machined to fit the sockets you chopped into the legs. The distance between shoulders of the simple joint are cut to the length of the

After the glue has cured, plane the two outer faces square one to the other. This operation not only cleans up any mill marks and possible excess glue, but it ensures that the assembly will be square.

bottom rail. Each top rail is held in place with 2" #8 screws. Before you move on, set up fences on a drill press to position the 5/16"-diameter clearance holes in the legs for the lag screws that will hold the bottom rails.

Continue Shaping the Parts

The legs are shaped with a chamfer all around except for the top edge, which links visually with the collar.

The bottom rails have the same raised detail, formed on the table saw, on both sides. The "panels" will be emphasized with color by painting them.

Drill out the majority of the socket waste using a 3/4" Forstner bit (left) in a drill press.

Finish forming the sockets by cleaning up the shoulder with various widths of chisel. Check your accuracy (inset).

Assembling the Work Station

Assemble a pair of legs with the top rail screwed in

place. Next, lag-screw the bottom rail in place. Once you

have two subassemblies of this

kind, join them with the top rails

screwed in place, then add the

bottom rails.

When attaching the top rails,

there is no dovetail effect on the

top joint that would pull the

shoulders tight, so take the

trouble to clamp across the rail.

Place a bottom rail between the

legs to help align the top joint.

You'll have to devise a way of

holding the bottom rails so they

can be correctly positioned and

clamped while the pilot holes for

the lag screws are drilled and the

screws inserted. The solution is

. .. ... . .. a pair of "saddles" (photos, page

The shoulders of the top rails * ,„ . . ; , . ,

(above) must match the length ⁴⁹>^: y°^{u 11 need a left and a n}S^ht

of the bottom rails. Test the fit. version. When making these jigs,

M

Q

Woodworker's Journal February 2008

47