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by Jim Altemus
Date: December 11, 2004
Time: 9:30 AM to about 4~5 PM
Location: Woodcraft.
Cost: $25 members; $35 non-members, PLUS materials.
Jim Altemus writes:
The focus of the Hepplewhite table building workshop will be a hands on approach to various methods of shaping and joining parts for a simple one drawer table, and alternatives to preparing a finished table for staining/dyeing, and finishing. We will be working on a simple one drawer, tapered leg 18” square style side table, typical of the early 19th century cabinetmaking era in the eastern U.S. It will be a copy of one made in the Genesee Country Village cabinet shop, where only hand tools were used. The table also fits well with contemporary styles.
The workshop will cover alternative uses of hand and power tools for table construction, with the hope that you will come away with an appreciation for some hand tool techniques that sometimes can be quicker than setting up machines for the same job.
1. Alternatives for tapering legs – table saw jig vs. band saw & hand plane tapering.
2. Mortising options – mortise chisel, drilling & chiseling, and mortising machine.
3. Tenon cutting options – simple tenon jig for table saw, and hand cutting.
4. Basic drawer construction – cutting dovetails, making decorative cockbeading.
5. Finishing with hand planes, scrapers, or sandpaper
6. Table top construction & fastening.
A one day workshop is not enough time to complete a table, so we will spend a little time on each of the components (i.e., doing one mortise & tenon joint) and the remainder of the work could be taken home and completed at your leisure.
There are two options of wood if you want to work on your own table at the workshop. One is walnut with poplar for the drawer or an option of all poplar if you wanted a painted or grain painted table. The walnut table would be $57 in materials, and the poplar option $32. If I get some savings in yield of lumber I’ll pass this on, so I won’t collect until the day of the workshop. To save time, I’ll have the pieces cut & planed fairly close to final size, so we’ll concentrate on the joinery. You could also bring in your own wood to work with, and I would give you a cut list for the parts to bring to the workshop. Or, you can bring in “scrap” to just practice the joints and not make a table.
I would appreciate knowing how much wood I will need to purchase by November 1, so please let Ed De May know your intentions, and your e-mail address. I’ll also send out a list of tools it would be good to bring if you have them.
Looking forward to a fun day. If you have questions in the meantime, my phone is (585) 6547 5328, e-mail cjaltemus@frontiernet.net.
Jim Altemus