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by
Michel Roy
photos: Roger Yip
illustration: Len Churchill |
CD SHELF (part 2) |
Custom
Fit
Cutting the stretchers themselves is easy, although there’s
a lesson in getting the end joints to mesh with the end pieces.
It’s always better to adjust tenon size to fit mating
mortises rather than cutting parts to the correct-on-paper size
in the plans. If your mortises are wider or narrower than the
specs (and they might be), then adjust your tenon dimensions
to suit. You just want a gap-free fit, and identical distance
between tenons on both stretchers.
With the stretchers fitting properly
into both end pieces, it’s time to think about the wedges
that hold it all together. Success here depends on wedge location.
Start by pulling the shelf ends and stretchers together with
clamps, then mark the best place for the wedge holes you need
to prepare on the tenoned ends of the stretchers. Be sure to
extend hole locations slightly past the place where the outer
faces of the ends will be. Take a look at the plan for details.
This feature is small, but it ensures that the wedges pull all
parts together tightly during final assembly.
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| CLICK
ABOVE TO ENLARGE ILLUSTRATION |
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Drill
the bulk of the waste wood out of the wedge hole areas you’ve
marked, then square up the holes with a chisel.
Make four wedges by cutting square
sections of wood to 3/8" x 3/8" x 1", then taper
them with a chisel, plane or sander to get the right shape.
Adjust their size if the fit is too tight or too loose. Slightly
round all of the edges of the project with a fine file or sandpaper,
and do any finish-sanding required. Go easy on any power sanding;
don’t change the tenon thickness.
I typically don’t bother
with glue on these shelves, as the wedges hold everything together
nicely. And there’s no risk of glue stains on the wood.
I suggest you apply a stain or
dye, let it dry, then finish with wipe-on polyurethane. It’s
durable, easy to apply and will make your project look great. |
| YOU
WILL NEED |
| PART |
SIZE
(T x W x L)* |
QTY. |
| Ends |
1/2"
x 6" x 8 1/2" |
2 |
| Stretchers |
1/2"
x 1 1/2" x 22" |
2 |
| Wedges |
3/8"
x 3/8" x 1" |
4 |
| *
Thickness x width x length |
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PART 1 | PART 2 |
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