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| by:
Jerry Weber
photos: Christopher Campbell
illustrations: Len Churchill |
DARK, RICH, FULL-BODIED (part 2) |
| Extension Slides |
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| The
apron attaches to the leaf with screws in deep counterbores.
Undermounted alignment pins are easily installed
and adjusted |
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Extension
slides are readily available from many sources in kit form—a
shortcut even professional furniture makers take, since these
slides are difficult to build accurately (and you would still
need to find the hardware). For smooth tabletop expansion the
extension slides must be installed exactly parallel. Attach
the extension slides with only two screws for now, so you can
adjust them later if needed.
Continue by clamping mating edges
of the tabletop together (set the leaf aside for now), then
place the assembly on the extension slides and centre them before
fastening with screws.
The table leaf can now be added,
along with the alignment pins, before the table is flipped upside
down. Use a blanket or piece of foam as padding to prevent scratches
to the tabletop.
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| Corners And Aprons |
| |
| Extension
slides are wisely purchased as a complete unit.
Finding the necessary hardware on its own and building
to the tolerances required is far more trouble than
it’s worth |
| |
| At
a joint that needs strength, counterbored screws,
glue and #20 biscuits (or dowels) secure the legs
to the pedestals |
|
The round
corner blocks and beaded aprons come next. The plans show how
the corner blocks are cut from a longer, laminated block on
an angle. This makes the visible grain around the curved front
of the blocks more consistent. Dry-fit these parts, secure the
corner blocks to the underside of the tabletop with #8 x 2 1/2"
screws.
Rout the beaded profile on the
aprons, then trim to final length so they fit between the corner
blocks, as shown in the plan. Trim the end aprons, which aren’t
attached to the tabletop because they form drawer fronts, with
1/16" clearance between the corner blocks. With the extension
leaf installed, cut and fit their small aprons then fasten them
with counterbored screws driven from below.
Even though the drawer box specs
are given in the materials list, it’s best to build yours to
fit between the drawer mount member on your table, less the
allowance required for the mechanical drawer slides you’re using.
If you make a mistake and your drawers are too big or small,
just move the drawer mount members until the clearance is right.
Once the drawers are built and installed, fasten the end aprons
that act as drawer faces. Double-sided tape makes it easy to
position the aprons just right, before fastening with screws
driven from inside.
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| Finishing Tips |
| Click
below for a detailed plan |
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|
I build
furniture for a living so my finishing methods are more involved
than a home workshopper might choose. I sprayed non-grain-raising
professional stain, toner and 35° sheen lacquer to get the dark
colour and look I wanted. Toner is colouring liquid added to
lacquer for custom tinting. Any oil-based stain and urethane
would be a good home workshop option. It’s important to use
a dark stain, to reinforce that feeling of mass and weight and
formality. A light-coloured stain would look odd, even silly,
like seeing the Queen in a t-shirt and sweatpants. It just wouldn’t
be right. |
| You
Will Need |
| Part |
Size |
Qty. |
| Tabletops |
1
1/4" x 27" wide x 30" long (1) |
2 |
| Table
leaf |
1
1/4" x 12" wide x 30" long (1) |
1 |
| Pedestal
layers |
1"
x 6 1/2" x 24" |
7 |
| Feet |
2
1/2" x 8 1/2" x 20" (2) |
4 |
| Stretcher |
1
1/4" x 5" x 16" |
1 |
| Table
slide mounting boards |
1"
x 6" x 24" |
2 |
| Apron
blanks |
3/4"
x 3 1/2" x 24" (3) |
7 |
| Apron
cornder blocks |
3"
x 3" x 3 1/2" |
4 |
| Drawer
box front/back |
3/4"
x 3" x 14" |
2 |
| Drawer
box sides |
3/4"
x 3" x 20" |
2 |
| Drawer
box bottom |
1/4"
x 16" x 22" |
1 |
| Drawer
mount members |
3/4"
x 2 1/2" x 20" |
2 |
| Hardware |
| Tabletop
alignment pins - Lee Valley Tools #00S10.24 |
4
sets |
| Extension
slides - Lee Valley Tools #17K15.02 |
1
pair |
| Drawer
slides - Blum Tandem Slides Model 550-16", 3/4 extension |
4 |
1
- see plans for grain orientation
2 - laminate for required
thickness
3 - cut apron parts to fit |
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| PART 1
| PART 2 |
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