A
CHINA CLOSET
This beautiful
piece of
mission furniture can be made by anyone who has a few good tools and
knows how to use them. The cost is very moderate and if you are
convenient to a mill a great amount of labor can be saved by ordering
the pieces ready cut to length, squared, and sanded. Quarter-sawed
oak should be used and the material needed will be as follows:
4 posts, 2 by 2 by 54
in., S-4-S.
2 top and bottom
boards,
3/4 by 15 3/4
by 39 1/2 in., S-1-S.
2 shelves, 3/4 by
15 1/2
by 38 in., S-2-S.
2 lower end braces,
3/4
by 5 by 15 in., S-2-S.
2 upper end braces,
3/4
by 4 1/4 by 15 in., S-2-S.
1 lower front
board, 3/4
by 3 by 40 in., S-1-S.
1 upper front
board, 3/4
by 2 1/4 by 40 in., S-1-S.
4 door frames, 3/4
by 1
3/4, by 43 1/2 in., S-2-S.
4 door frames, 3/4
by 2
by 19 in., S-2-S.
4 upright end
pieces, 3/4
by 1 1/2 by 39 1/2 in., S-2-S.
5 back pieces, 1/2
by 8
by 46 1/2 in., S-1-S.
2 cleats, 1 by 1 by
37
3/4 in., soft wood.
4 cleats, 1 by 1 by
12
3/4 in., soft wood.
4 blocks, 1/2 by 1
by 1
1/2 in.
First be sure
the posts
are perfectly square and of equal length. Either chamfer or round the
upper ends as desired. The mortises can be laid out and cut, or they
can be left until the tenons are all made and then marked and cut
directly from each tenon.
The top and
bottom boards
should have the corners cut to clear the posts as shown in the
drawing. The top hoard should be finished on both sides and the
bottom one on the upper side only and be sure to get the best side
up.
Cut the tenons
on the
front boards back 1/4 in. from the face as shown in the end view. The
boards should be finished on the outside sides and edges. The end
pieces are fitted and finished in a similar manner except that the
inside edge is rabbeted for the glass as shown. The side pieces are
also rabbeted for the glass and the posts have grooves 1/2 in. deep
cut in them to hold these side pieces. They are glued in place and
this can be done after the frame is put together.
The two shelves
are
finished on both sides and the front edges. The doors are fitted in
the usual manner by a tenon and mortise joint at the ends. They are
rabbeted on the inside for the glass and are finished on all sides.
Before gluing
any of the
parts together, see that they all fit and go together perfectly
square. The posts, side, and front pieces should be glued and
assembled, then the top and bottom boards put in place to hold the
frame square when the clamps are put on. Leave dry for about 24
hours, then scrape all the 'surplus glue from about the joints as the
finish will not take when there is any glue. Fasten the top and
bottom boards to the frame by means of screws through cleats as shown
in the drawing. The backing is put on and finished on the front side.
A mirror can be put in the back without much trouble, if it is
desired. The shelves should be put in place and held at the back by
screws through the backing and at the front by two small blocks on
the posts as shown.
After the closet
is all
assembled it should be thoroughly gone over with fine sandpaper
before any finish is applied. It can be finished in any one of the
many mission stains which are supplied by the trade for this
purpose.
Detail
of China Closet
(click to see larger image)
China
Closet Complete |