Great american FURNITUREFROM THE EDITORS OF MAGAZINE JULY 2003 SHAKER Classic Candlestand ▼ 6 The Shakers referred to the leg design as “spider feet.” Surprisingly, this traditional form is not that complicated. Press Cupboard ▼ 12 This fine case piece showcases both your collection and craftsmanship. Oohs and ahhs guaranteed. Hand-tool Stepstool ▼ 19 Become a Neanderthal, if only for one project. This attractive yet highly useful stool offers step-by-step hand-tool instruction. 18TH CENTURY 62 Simple Candle Boxes ▼ 24 6 Beginning woodworkers will love this fast, classic project. Butler Tray Table ▼ 28 A Chippendale table, complete with a removable tray top, is just what you need for serving tea and coffee to guests. 12 ▼ Pennsylvania Spice Box 36 An instant heirloom: This beautiful 18th century spice box doubles as the perfect jewelry box for you or your loved one. ARTS & CRAFTS Greene & Greene Side Table ▼ 43 Grace the end of your sofa or chairs with class and style. 28 ▼ Slant-arm Morris Chair 48 Build an Arts & Crafts icon that instantly will become the most sought-after chair in your home. CONTEMPORARY 48 Nicolai Fechin-style Bench ▼ 58 Always wanted to try carving? Here’s your chance. The detail is meant to look rustic and simple so mistakes won’t matter. Plywood Nesting Tables ▼ 66 Sleek and versatile (one table or three), this project is a great lesson in making perfect miter joints. 66 Rice-paper Maple Lamp ▼ 70 Build a simple lamp based on designs typical in a Japanese household that will look great in any modern home. OUT OF THE WOODWORK: 43 Under the Rope and Into the Doghouse ▼ 72 www.popwood.com 1 ▼ ▼ FROM THE EDITOR American Classics, Colonial to Modern n so many elements of the United States’ Maloof, George Nakashima and the entire history, the concept of freedom is central. studio furniture movement. The love of liberty not only forged the I With this issue, we once again celebrate Declaration of Independence and spawned great American furniture, now our second the Revolutionary War, it permeated Colonial published edition, further broadening the col- life, giving rise to new ways of doing just about lections of woodworking projects in each of anything. It could be said the these cherished American styles. seeds of American inventiveness The previous edition can be flourished on the fertile soil of ordered at popwood.com. freedom. And no matter where your Woodworking and furniture woodworking skill level stands, design are but one of those inven- you’ll find detailed projects right tive seeds. Colonial furniture for you. For those just starting, makers didn’t just copy fashion- the simple 18th century candle able English and European fur- box or contemporary lamp will niture styles of the time, they be of interest. Intermediate re-interpreted them and made skilled woodworkers will find them uniquely their own. As a the Greene & Greene table and result, Chippendale, Pennsylvania spice box well Hepplewhite and Queen Anne within grasp. More advanced styles as developed across the Atlantic have woodworkers will find the Shaker press cup- their U.S. counterparts as built in the Colonial board and Chippendale-style butler tray table culture centers of Boston, Newport, New York a good exercise of their experience. and Philadelphia. Woodworkers whose interests run toward Other American styles following the 18th the use of hand tools will enjoy the Shaker century are rooted in freedom as well. For three-step stool or Nicolai Fechin-style bench. example, the Shakers, whose social and cul- Those who like to work at the lathe couldn’t tural foundations were born in their religious find a more quintessential Shaker form than beliefs, left England to find religious freedom the beautiful maple candlestand. on the United States’ shores. So no matter what your skill level or style Arts & Crafts furniture is but one mani- preference, you’ll find something in this issue festation of a broader philosophy, which re- for you. Isn’t it wonderful – great American jected the dehumanization of the machine furniture with all the freedom to choose! age and embraced the freedom expressed in good design with objects made by hand. Modern or contemporary furniture styles are one byproduct of the so-called American Steve Shanesy Century when economic, social and political freedom in the United States gave birth to such uniquely American art forms such as jazz, P.S. For more great American furniture the Broadway musical, movies, even rock ’n’ projects (or just great woodworking projects roll. In furniture we have the classic work of and technique articles) visit our web site at Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, Sam popularwoodworking.com. 2 POPULAR WOODWORKING July 2003 2 POPULAR WOODWORKING March 2003 ® ® July 2003 popularwoodworking.com Editorial Offices 513-531-2690 Editor & Publisher Steve Shanesy ext. 1238 • [email protected] Art Director Linda Watts ext. 1396 • [email protected] Senior Editor David Thiel Exceptional, full-featured ext. 1255 • [email protected] woodcutting bandsaws made in Italy to exacting Senior Editor Christopher Schwarz ext. 1407 • [email protected] BRIDGEWOOD® specifications Assistant Editor Kara Gebhart ext. 1348 • [email protected] Precision balanced cast Project Illustrator John Hutchinson iron wheels with ground- rubber tires Photographer Al Parrish Contributing Editors Rack and pinion blade Nick Engler guide height adjustment Bob Flexner Glen Huey Heavy duty, European tri- Troy Sexton bearing blade guides President-Magazines Roger Case Exclusive, double box- Executive Vice President Jim Gleim beam frame design for extra rigidity CIRCUlatION Lynn Kruetzkamp, Group Circulation Manager Jennifer Shaffer, Circulation Manager Cast iron rip fence PRODUCTION Barbara Schmitz, Vice President Blade tension indicator Vicki Whitford, Production Supervisor Magnetic switch with AdvertISING thermal overload Advertising Director protection Don Schroder 331 N. Arch St., Allentown, PA 18104 Dust collection hookup Tel. 610-821-4425; Fax 610-821-7884 Foot brake with [email protected] micro switch popularwoodworking.com Classified Advertising Sales Joan Wright, Tel. 800-388-1820 Optional [email protected] HTC® Mobile Base Advertising Production Coordinator FOB, York, PA available Debbie Thomas, Tel. 513-531-2690 ext. 1219 Price subject to change without [email protected] PBS-440 PBS-540 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES Subscription inquiries, 18” Bandsaw 22” Bandsaw orders and address changes can be made at popwood.com (click on Subscriber Services). 12” Resaw capacity 14” Resaw capacity Or by mail: Popular Woodworking, P.O. Box 5369, Table: 16-1/2” x 22-3/4” Table: 19-1/2” x 28” Harlan, IA 51593 or call 800-888-6880. Include your address with all inquiries. Motor: 3hp 1ph or 3ph Motor: 5hp 1ph or 3ph Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. $1795.00 $2195.00 Newsstand DISTRIBUTION Curtis Circulation Co., 730 River Rd., New Milford, NJ 07646 ATTENTION RetaILERS: Attention Retailers: To carry Popular Woodworking in your store, call Steve Hudziak at 800-894-4656 or write Magazine Retail Sales, Steve Hudziak, P.O. Box 5014, Iola, WI 54945-5014. Back issues are available for $7 ($9 Canada; $11 other for- eign). Send check or money order to: Popular Woodworking/ F&W Publications Products, P.O. Box 2031, Harlan IA, 51593; or call 888-419-0421. Please specify publication, month and year. VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT VISIT OUR WEB SITE 4 POPULAR WOODWORKING March 2003 Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer, a professional woodworker or somewhere in between, you have a world full of projects in the home or in the shop that will be easier and more enjoyable to complete when you use quality clamps, bench vises and miter boxes/saws from the Adjustable Clamp Company. Look for them under the Jorgensen, Adjustable and Pony brand names wherever fine tools are sold. Visit our website and register for our 100TH Anniversary 100-piece clamp, miter saw and vise set giveaway. Made in the USA by the Adjustable Clamp Co., 425 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, www.adjustableclamp.com www.popwood.com 5 ▼ SHAKER Classic Candlestand uilt by members of the Mount candlestand shown in the book is part of the Lebanon community in New York While this is one of J.J.G. McCue collection, and resides in the during the first half of the 19th Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. A very century, this recognizable Shaker the most traditional similar cherry table resides in the form is actually their stylish in- Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York terpretation of earlier forms. The legs are a furniture forms, B City. derivation of a Sheraton design. The Shakers referred to the leg design as “umbrella” or building one of these Forgiving Form “spider feet.” I first found this table in John While I’ve included detailed patterns for Kassay’s “The Book of Shaker Furniture” small tables is not all both the pedestal and the legs on this table, (University of Massachusetts Press). The the form is actually forgiving. If your turning that complicated. ends up a little thinner in one area, or the legs end up a hair thinner at the bottom, it’s OK. It’s a nice-looking project that will allow you to practice your skills and end up with a great-looking table. Everything about the table connects to by Malcolm Huey the pedestal, so let’s begin there. I’ve in- cluded a pattern that gives the diameter of the pedestal along its length. While the turn- ing skills required for the piece aren’t taxing, some basic knowledge is required. Start with a 12/4 maple turning blank that is about 20" long. Turn the entire piece to round, finish- 7 ing out at about 2 ⁄8".