A library table of neat appearance and correct proportions is shown in
the accompanying sketch and detail drawing. This table looks best when
finished in quarter-sawed oak, although any of the other furniture woods
can be used if desired. If the material is ordered from the mill cut to
length, squared and sanded, much of the hard labor can be avoided. Order
the following pieces:
4 legs, 2 by 2 by 30-1/4 in., S-4-S.
1 top, 1-1/8 by 30 by 42 in., S-4-S.
2 end pieces, 3/4 by 17-1/8 by 29 in., S-2-S.
2 top rails, 7/8 by 2 by 37 in., S-4-S.
2 top rails, 7/8 by 2 by 25-1/2 in., S-4-S.
1 lower brace, 3/4 by 2 by 32 in., S-4-S.
4 shelves, 3/4 by 7 by 29 in., S-4-S.
8 slats, 1/4 by 1-1/8 by 17-1/8 in., S-4-S.
2 drawer fronts, 3/4 by 5-3/4 by 25 in., S-4-S.
4 drawer sides, 3/8 by 3-3/4 by 14 in., soft wood.
2 drawer ends, 3/8 by 3-3/8 by 24-1/4 in., soft wood.
2 drawer bottoms, 3/8 by 13-1/4 by 24-1/4 in., soft wood.
2 drawer supports, 3/4 by 2 by 23-1/2 in., soft wood.
2 drawer supports, 3/4 by 2 by 25 in., soft wood.
[Illustration: Detail of the Library Table]
Start work on the legs by beveling the tops and squaring them up and
laying out the mortises for the shelves as shown in section BB. Care
should be taken to get the legs mortised in pairs and all cut the same
height. This is best done by placing the four legs side by side with the
ends square, and then laying out the mortises across all four at once
with a try-square.
[Illustration: The Finished Library Table]
The table top is made of several boards which are doweled and glued
together. Be careful to get the best side of each board up and have the
joints a tight fit. The corners should be cut out for the posts as
shown. The posts are to be fastened to the board by means of screws. The
holes can be counterbored for the heads and then plugged. The top rails
are also fastened to the top board by means of screws.
The end pieces can now be made. Two or more boards will have to be
glued together for these. The top corners will have to be cut to fit
about the top rails. Cleats can be used in fastening them to the top
board. The shelves also have the corners cut to fit into the mortises in
the posts. They are held to the end boards by means of screws.
If the parts all fit perfectly square and tight, they can be glued and
screwed together, which will complete the table except for the slats and
drawers. The slats can be fastened on with nails, then the heads covered
with fancy nails which can be secured for this purpose. The drawer
supports can now be put in. They are screwed to the end boards as shown.
A bottom brace should be fastened under the lower shelves to help steady
the table. The two drawers are made as shown in the detail sketch. No
handles are needed as the lower edge of the front board can be used for
pulling them out.
When the table is complete it should be carefully gone over with fine
sandpaper and all rough spots removed. Scrape the glue from about the
joints as finish will not take where there is any glue. Apply the stain
preferred or the one that matches the other furniture. This can be any
of the many stains supplied by the trade for this purpose.