Versailles Planters

Versailles Planters

African Mahogany Posts, Frames, Finials
MDO panels

African Mahogany Garden Gate

UVA Garden Gate
African Mahogany,
MDO Exterior Grade Panel
42" x 64" x 1 7/8"

Inspired by the campus grounds of UVA, a recent client asked me to recreate one of these historic gates.

Homes in the neighborhood will often have viewing openings in the fence,  in the same vein as the gate a insert panel was created to fit this opening.

Bloodwood Shifter Console

Does your Camaro have a Bloodwood Console?

Nitro Lacquer Satin

Vitrine Antique Repair

I had an interesting piece come into the shop this week.

From what I can gather it is a Gilt Tilt-Top Vitrine.

I believe meant to display items.  It had been knocked over and one of the legs was broken off.

Several Glue-ups and Parts Repair later here she is:

Mesquite Burl Slab Tables

Several months ago I picked up a pair of mesquite slab tables.  

I have started the epoxy fill process to stabilize bark inclusions and fill voids.

These will be coffee tables.  I have not decided what sort of base they will sit on.

Here they are in the rough,

Reclaimed Cypress Jewelry Box

Jewelry BoxReclaimed Cypress Baseboards from a 1910 Craftsman Home
Walunt Handle
Leather Stay
Dovetail Construction
Dewaxed Clear Shellac High Gloss Finish

Building the 2x Side Table: Joinery Part 4

If cutting big dovetails out of  a few cleaned up 2x12s was not enough joinery for you then maybe this dado, thru-tenon joint will satisfy your hunger.

Its easy to rush a thru tenon joint and end up with a sloppy fit.  I have often approached the method of work with too much confidence, after all its just a square block going in to a square hole right?

We left off having finished the layout and scoring of the mortises.  Personally I would rather fit the tenon to the mortise. I find it easier to sneak up on the fit by filing or paring the tenon.  I find it difficult to keep the walls of the mortise square with the face if I start having to adjust the mortise.  This is my preference, so I start by cutting the mortises.

I use a shopmade slot mortiser to cut them, but a plunge router and template is more than adequate. Dry fit your shelf into the dado and use a marking knife to mark the outline of the mortise.

 Now we transfer the knife lines to the face and layout our tenons.  I prefer to mark the waste portions with pencil to help myself remember what SIDE of the line to cut on.  

I use two techniques to get cut the tenons out.  A Ryoba saw for the outside cuts and for the two interior the familiar coping saw and chisel routine.