General Woodworking

[-Paladin-]

This project goes out the door today, so thought I better get some pic's and post them, as I had a couple of requests to follow up on an earlier posting. My daughter and Son-in-law gave me a sheet of glass from a broken coffee table. It sat around the garage for awhile until I came up with this idea. Which has now spawned acouple of add on projects like side tables and a lamp/curio display.

The wood is Spalted Birch for the main frame and Quilted Epi for the magazine rack.

The magazine rack was an after thought, as after building and finishing the main frame, we thought it needed a little something extra. So I chopped the thru mortices, slid in the notched rails and fitted the stringers

The joinery is all "double cut miters"

the clamps were added after the assembly

and really did not contribute much to the

assembly, tape, tape and more tape is

the answer to connecting everything.

There are 48 surfaces to glue and tape up,

you go like a one armed paper hanger.

Each joint also has 3, 1/4X3/4x3/4 splines

that help stabilize the joint.

On the right is a trail joint, I decided

it was way to much work for the

project, maybe on the next one.

The wood is D Fir and mahogany.

There are two tricks to making this joint, #1 is absolute accuracy in cutting the miters, close is nowhere near good enough. Then it is a combination of patience and speed in doing the glue up. This requires a good plan, that of course falls apart with the first application of glue. In my case I had forgotten that Spalted Birch soaks up glue like a thirsty sponge. Fortunately for me I had a bottle of Titebound "Trim&Molding" glue, very thick glue, this saved the day.

[rxeagle]

Nice job. I really like that test joint. You gotta be sure to show when you use that joint.By the way a question on the test. I remember your posts on this joint before  and on getting the extra color . Did you cut ,glue on color and recut; or all as one glue up?

[-Paladin-]

Gerald,

The test joint was interesting to do, but time consuming;

• cut the double miter on the three pieces,
• glue on a piece of Mahogany, on one taper of each piece,
• after the glue dries, trim the mahogany,
• glue on the second piece of Mahogany on the second taper,
• recut all the double taper joints, leaving about 1/16th of Mahogany on each surface,
• spread glue on the mahogany faces & assemble the joint.

Getting a good glue joint is challenging, in effect you are glueing end grain to end grain. With the Spalted Birch it soaks up glue very quickly. Messing around with this joint for another project I have developed the following process, using white glue first;

• spread glue liberally on all contact surfaces,
• after 5 min. check and reglue any dry surfaces,
• now start assembly using Titebond "Trim&Molding" glue.

I have made a broken 10 or 12 test joints, this latest process produces a very strong joint.

[Ted in Michigan]

Paladin -

NICE PIECE! The "simplicity" of the design hides the complex fabrication requirements. I like! 

[ynoT]

Nice wood contrast, Paladin. And nice to see that you took extra time making those legs and frame.

A way from normal.

Hope that glass wont slide of.

Tony