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by
Gary Walchuk
photos: Roger Yip
illustration: Len Churchill |
FRENCH-CANADIAN CABINET |
| Diamond
points are a distinctive, sought-after design element |
This cabinet
is a reproduction of a Louis XIII piece built in 18th-century
Quebec. After this time, woodworkers began to incorporate British
and American elements in their furniture. Ideal materials were
plentiful: an entire diamond-point panel could be made from
a single board. Most early Quebec pieces were painted to brighten
up the home. The original cabinet that inspired this project
is in the Canadian Museum of Civilization collection.
Rather
than combing sawmills or reclaimed-wood dealers in search of
stock of immense proportions, I revisited the design of the
piece, keeping in mind today’s lumberyard realities and
woodworking technology. Where a 18th-century woodworker may
have used one large board to make these diamond-point panels,
I had to use several small pieces for each. But with today’s
tools I could make short work of profiles and beading with my
router, reproducing results that old-time woodworkers created
with hand tools.
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| The
depth of the diamond profiles is emphasized by the
shadows they create as well as beading around the
base of each diamond. Since 18th-century houses
were usually sparsely furnished, each piece would
really stand out. |
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| Routed
beading runs around the perimeter of the overlapping
top piece. You’ll use your router to roundover
the bottom edge. |
|
Face Frame Foundation
Start this cabinet by making four simple face frames that form
the foundation of the project. Cut the front and back stiles,
the side stiles, and the top and bottom rails to size, then
mark each piece to indicate its location and outside surfaces.
While you work, keep everything organized by frame, and don’t
forget to cut curves into the bottom inside corner of the back
and front leg parts.
Arrange the frame parts as they’ll
appear on the completed project, then mark the board edges where
you’ll create biscuit or dowel joints. I used two #10
biscuits on every joint between rail ends and stile edges. You
could also use 3/8"-dia. x two-inch fluted dowels, too.
The plans show that the bottom rails should be 2 1/2" up
from the stile bottom ends. Make sure all surfaces are flush
after gluing and clamping.
After the four individual frames
are complete, sand the inside and outside surfaces flat and
smooth, then get out your router. You’ll need to rout
a 1/2" x 1/2" rabbet along the inside perimeter of
the back and side frames to accept the panels. Square the rounded
corners with a chisel.
Next you’ll make the top
and bottom inner frames. Cut the parts to size, then join two
long and short frame members, using two #8 x 2" screws
into each overlapped corner. The frame should measure 16 1/2"
wide x 22 1/2" long x 2 1/4" high. Before assembling
the top frame in the same way, cut a 3/8"-deep saw kerf
into each part, along the inside surfaces, 3/8" in from
the top edge. You’ll use this kerf to secure the cabinet
top with metal clips.
Cut the cabinet bottom to size
from 1/2" plywood, then glue and nail it to the top edges
of the bottom frame. Now it’s on to the major assembly. |
| YOU
WILL NEED |
PART
(all parts are pine unless noted otherwise) |
SIZE
(T x D x L) |
QTY. |
| Front-back
stiles |
3/4"
x 5" x 31 1/4" |
4 |
| Front-back
top rails |
3/4"
x 5 3/4" x 14" |
2 |
| Front-back
bottom rails |
3/4"
x 5" x 14" |
2 |
| Side
stiles |
3/4"
x 1 3/4" x 31 1/4" |
4 |
| Side
top rails |
3/4"
x 5 3/4" x 13" |
2 |
| Side
bottom rails |
3/4"
x 5" x 13" |
2 |
| Inner
frame front/back |
3/4"
x 2 1/4" x 22 1/2" |
4 |
| Inner
frame sides |
3/4"
x 2 1/4" x 15" |
4 |
| Bottom
* |
1/2"
x 16 1/2" x 22 1/2" |
1 |
| Back
panel * |
1/2"
x 15" x 19" |
1 |
| Top |
3/4"
x 19 1/2" x 27" |
1 |
| Shelf
supports |
1"
x 1" x 16 1/2" |
2 |
| Shelf
* |
3/4"
x 16" x 21" |
1 |
| Shelf
front edge |
1/2"
x 3/4" x 21" |
1 |
| DOOR
AND PANELS |
| Door
stiles |
3/4"
x 2 1/2" x 19" |
2 |
| Door
rails |
3/4"
x 2 1/2" x 10" |
2 |
| Door
panel |
3/4"
x 11" x 15" |
1 |
| Side
panels |
3/4"
x 14" x 19" |
2 |
| Applique
** |
1
1/8" x 11" x 48" |
1 |
*
birch ply, **
total
length required.
Also required: 1 pair hinges, 1 knob, 16 tabletop fasteners,
30 panel clips |
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PART 1 | PART 2 | PART
3 |
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