Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2

Excerpt

AN OAK BUFFET

The accompanying sketch and detail drawing show a design of a buffet wherein refinement of outline and harmony of details are conspicuously regarded. Quarter-sawed oak is the most suitable wood for this handsome piece of mission furniture. The material should be ordered from the mill ready cut to length, squared and sanded. Following is a list of the stock needed:

• 2 back posts, 2 by 2 by 47-3/4 in.
• 2 front posts, 2 by 2 by 45-1/2 in.
• 4 rails, 1-1/2 by 1-1/2 by 50-1/2 in.
• 2 end rails, 1-1/2 by 1-1/2 by 18-1/2 in.
• 4 end rails, 3/4 by 4 by 18-1/2 in.
• 4 pieces for end panel, 3/4 by 3-1/2 by 21 in.
• 2 panels, 3/8 by 12 by 21 in.
• 1 top board, 3/4 by 17-1/2 by 47-1/4 in.
• 1 back board, 3/4 by 11-1/2 by 47-1/4 in.
• 1 shelf board, 3/4 by 2 by 46 in.
• 2 brackets, 1 by 2 by 7-3/4 in.
• 4 pieces for doors, 3/4 by 4 by 11 in.
• 2 panels, 3/8 by 11 by 17-1/2 in.
• 1 piece for drawer, 3/4 by 8 by 22-1/2 in.
• 1 piece for drawer, 3/4 by 7-1/2 by 22-1/2 in.
• 1 piece for drawer, 3/4 by 7 by 22-1/2 in.
• 2 pieces, 1/2 by 8 by 19-1/4 in.; soft wood.
• 2 pieces, 1/2 by 7-1/2 by 19-1/4 in.; soft wood.
• 2 pieces, 1/2 by 7 by 19-1/4 in.; soft wood.
• 1 piece, 1/2 by 8 by 19-1/4 in.; soft wood.
• 1 piece, 1/2 by 7-1/2 by 19-1/4 in.; soft wood.
• 1 piece, 1/2 by 7 by 19-1/4 in.; soft wood.
• 1 bottom board, 3/4 by 17-1/2 by 47-1/4 in.; soft wood.
• 2 partitions (several pieces), 3/4 by 20 by 24-3/4 in.
• 2 front pieces, 3/4 by 2 by 23 in.
• 2 back pieces. 3/4 by 2 by 23 in.; soft wood.
• 2 side pieces, 3/4 by 2 by 21-1/2 in.; soft wood.
• 1 back (several pieces), 3/8 by 25 by 46 in.
• 1 mirror frame (to suit mirror).

Start to work on the four posts by squaring them up to the proper length in pairs and beveling the tops as shown. Clamp all four pieces on a flat surface with the bottom ends even, then lay out the mortises for the rails and panels on all four pieces at once with a try-square. This insures getting the mortises all the same height. The back posts also have a mortise cut in them at the top for the back board as shown. Lay out the tenons on the ends of the front and back rails in the same manner. Cut them to fit the mortises in the posts, also rabbet the back rails for the backing. Cut tenons on the end rails and rabbet them and the side pieces for the panels.

Lay out the top and bottom boards to the proper size and notch the corners to fit about the posts. These boards are fastened to the 1-1/2-in. square rails with dowels and glue. They can now be glued together and set away to dry. The top board is of oak, and be sure to get the best side up, while the bottom one can be made of soft wood if desired.

The partitions are made of several boards glued together. Be careful to get an oak board on the outer edge. The drawer slides are set into the partitions as shown and are fastened in place with screws from the inside.

The top back board has a tenon on each end that fits into the mortises in the back posts and is rounded at the top as shown....