This simple
console table is a great beginner's project. Its
straightforward lines are reminiscent of Shaker pieces
built over 100 years ago. But simple doesn't have to
mean unsophisticated. This solid cherry piece is
well-tailored, crisply built and can fit just about
anywhere: your front hall, behind a living room sofa, in
an upstairs bedroom, or even in your bathroom if it's
blessed with enough extra space.
But good design isn't the whole story. This piece is
also easy for a beginner to build. It has only nine
parts: four legs, four rails and a top. And we show you
how to build it with nothing more than hand tools and a
few portable power tools. Everything you need is
described in "Beginner's Toolbox".
Perhaps the best part of this design, however, is
that it puts to good use everything that comes before it
in this Woodworking Guide. If you start this table now,
your gratification won't be delayed much longer. You
should be able to finish it up in just a few weeks of
spare time–even if you just learned how to sharpen a
chisel or cut a mortise-and-tenon joint.
Cherry Stock
The material we used for this piece is solid cherry
stock that we bought flattened on both sides and jointed
on one edge. You'll have to pay more for this service,
but it's worth the cost. The standard thickness for this
type of hardwood is 13/16 in.
The first step in preparing the lumber is to crosscut
all parts to rough length, a couple of inches longer
than their finished lengths. Then check the jointed edge
of each piece for flatness and square. If some
refinements are required, clamp the board to the side of
your worktable and use a bench plane to true the edge
(Photo 1). Next, cut the boards to finished width using
a circular saw with a rip guide (Photo 2). Clean up any
saw marks with a bench plane. |