The accompanying cut shows a magazine rack that will find favor with
many amateur wood-workers on account of its simplicity in design and its
rich, massive appearance when properly finished. It is so constructed
that each piece may be polished, stained and finished before it is
finally put together. Quarter-sawed oak is the best wood to use.
Plain-sawed oak looks well, but it is more liable to warp than
quarter-sawed and this is quite an element in pieces as wide as the ones
here used. Following is a list of the material needed:
4 posts, 2 by 2 by 40 in., S-4-S.
5 shelves, 1 by 14 by 24 in., S-2-S.
20 F.H. screws, 2 in. long.
Considerable labor can be saved if the material be ordered from the mill
ready cut to length, squared and sanded. The corner posts should be made
first. The most convenient and accurate method of laying out the
mortises is to square one end of each post and lay them on the bench
flat, with the squared ends even with each other; then clamp them
securely and lay out the mortises on one side across all four pieces at
once; then loosen the clamp and project the marks to the other side with
a try-square. Now saw along these marks, making each cut just deep
enough to bring the mortises diagonally across the piece from one corner
to the opposite corner as shown in the detail sketch. Be careful not to
get the mortises wider than the shelves are thick. Bevel the tops of the
posts as shown.
[Illustration: Detail of the Magazine Rack]
[Illustration: Magazine Rack Complete]
See that the ends of the shelves are square and smooth, then set a
scratch gauge so that the scriber is just 2 in. from the face of the
block and mark this distance off each way from the corner of the
shelves. Saw these corners diagonally across as shown, being careful not
to saw off too much.
The parts can now be assembled. Place all the parts in position, then
pass a rope around each end and twist it up tightly with a small stick.
If this is properly done, you can now pick up the rack and handle it in
any way you wish. The screws can now be put in the corners. You can use
flat-head screws and plug the holes, or you can use round-head blue
screws and let the heads project. After the screws are all in, dress off
all unevenness where the shelves are mortised into the posts, then mark
each shelf and post so that you can put it together again after the
parts are finished. Take the rack apart and transfer the marks to some
part of the mortises and shelves that will not be covered with the
finish you intend to put on. Apply the finish you wish to use and when
the parts are thoroughly dry they can be reassembled and your rack will
be complete.