CHRISTMAS CARPENTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3014, 20 December 1911, Page 85

CHRISTMAS CARPENTRY.

[All Rights Reserved.]

Small Pieces of Furniture which make Acoeptable Gifts, Designed by John D. Adams.

A small tabic rack that will accommodate some eight o/ ten books, is always a welcome gift to the book-lover with an orderly turn of mind. First prepare the bottom board, carefully finishing the end wood and accurately rounding the corners. Next get out the two vertical pieces, taking the same care with them, and also seeing that they are exactly the same width as the bottom board. In each of these work out a circular opening, through which the coloured cover of the end book will show in pleasing contrast to the dark wc-~d.

After preparing the four bi'ackets, put the whole- together, using glue, and nails driven in from underneath. In the case of the brackets a small wire nail may be driven in at the upper, end of each one. A piece of felt, about a quarter of an inch smaller than the bottom board, should be glued on the under side to prevent scratching the table.

The construction should commence with the legs, which are slightly tapered. After shaping them up smooth, finish the tops neatly, and round off the upper corners. Next mark off the mortises for the crosspieces, and cut them to a depth of about three-fourths of an inch. The four crosspieces should now be tenoned to tightly fit the mortises already made in the legs. Put all these pieces

together, and then fit in the false bottom. After fastening a small square strip to the inside of each crosspiece, for the bottom to rest on, put the whole _ together with glue, supplementing it w'ith wire nails driven in from the inside. Place a uniform layer of upholstering material in place, and tightly stretch a piece of cotton oyer it, bringing it clear round the crosspieces, and nailing it underneath. The firia-1 covering of real or imitation leather need not be put on until after the staining.

The construction should commence with the four side boards, which are identical in every respect. Trim these to the proper shape, form the feet, and then mark out the design for the large opening with a sharp pencil. In laying this out, first locate the two centre points shown on the working drawing and draw two arcs of the proper radius, after which no difficulty will be

found in completing the figure Set the bevel gauge to 45 degrees and keep it at hand whife planing off the edges of the aides for the mitre joints at the corners.

Next get our a square board to fit closely between the four sides at the top (this piece is shown by the dotted line just under the top), and then carefully determine the exact size of the tray which is set in below the openings in the sides. The six pieces thus far made ready should now be put together. Fasten any-two opposite sides to the two square pieces, and then fit on the remaining two sides. Use glue and a few small finishing nails. The top should be prepared and attached to the smaller square board with glue and screws set in from below. It now remains to prepare and fit the four curved brackets, which are attached with glue and small wire nails.

In furnishing a room with a style of fatrnfture as decided it is very desirable that the idea be carried out as completely as possible, The usual form of the wicker basket is so suggestive of the office that it is entirely out of place in the library or livingroom. The design illustrated _is particularly easy to construct, and is one that will go well with the pieces hithertofore described in this series.

1 r , r ■ —— ! i H The four corner pieces should first be cut to length, and smoothly finished on top, with the corners slightly founded. Two narrow grooves should be placed in each of these to receive the edges of the four thin side boards.. These side boards should, if possiblefi be of hard wood, and in working out to the proper form with the small scroll-saw, proceed carefully, as the thin edge will splinter. very easily; The lines are very simple,' and to be fully brought out all edges should be sharp and square. Fit the whole together, and then, for the bottom, prepare a square board With the corners notched out so as to fit around the inner corners of, the four verticals. Set up with glue, supplementing it with a few small wire nails so disposed as to be invisible. A rather pleasing effect may be had by lining the inside, from a point about three or four inches below the top, with some coloured material. '

For use among the sterner sex the oldfashioned footstool is now almost obsolete. It is useless to combat the man's innate proclivity to elevate his feet or to question the necessity of such a posture for comfort. Such is masculine human nature; and in this regard it is usually indulged in at the expense of such articles as chairs and tables. This is sufficient reason for •offering the present design, which not only answers all the demands of comfort, but makes good use of the space ,'ifc occupies. Many uaes will august 'themselves. to which the small drawer may be appropriately put, and the shelf will be found convenient for temporarily holding a book or magazine or a bit of sewing. Commence the construction with the two end boards, taking due' care to thoroughly finish the end wood on top, after which the feet should be worked out. The three cross boards are of the same width and length, and should now be trimmed up true and square. Four one-

inch strips are now to be gotten out and fastened to the inner surfaces of the end boards. To these strips the top and bottom boards are then fastened* by means of glue and screws. The middle or shelf boaid is next fitted In place and secured

by glue and nails set in at an angle from underneath. The back of the drawer space may now be closed by closely fitting in a board. To form a sort of a pocket for the upholstering material, fasten two strips to the top board as shown in the sectional view, and then nail a half-inch strip to the inside of each end board so that the covering can be nailed in place at the ends. After placing a uniform layer of upholstering material in place, cover it tightly with a piece of cotton, which should be brought clear around the edges and nailed underneath. The final covering of real or imitation leather need not be attached until after staining. The making of the drawer is a very simple matter but should there be any doubt on this point an inspection of a set of drawers will make the matter clear. A small wooden or brass knob may be used on the drawer, but choose a style that does not project too far.