We are nearing completion on the breakfast table. This week I was able to finish the preparation for the glue up of the top frame. This work started off with hand planing the all 4 sides of each frame piece, to eliminate any machine marks from previous milling operations. My trusty Lie Nielsen No. 62 was the hero for this operation with a little backup from my Stanley No. 4 where the grain was not cooperating.
I also had to clean up the rabbit that will accept the glass. This was a simple operation with a chisel, shoulder plane and a router plane. These tools work very well together to get into tight spaces. I had only “squared off” 1 of the 4 inside corners, so the remaining 3 were my first task. This was done by using a chisel to square the corner and the router plane to flush the bottom. Next, I took the shoulder plane and removed any machine marks along the length of the rabbits.
You should also note the rounded edges that wrap the half lap dovetails. This was an idea I had a few weeks ago, that really help to showcase the joint and pulls your eye in for a closer look.
With the final touch-ups done I began the glue up. This was a pretty straight forward glue up only consisting of the faces of the half lap dovetails. But remember at this time, I installed the four nuts that I previously discussed. These will allow the top to be secured to the base with 5/16″ bolts. Once clamped together, I set the top frame on the base as it will be when assembled to assure that everything will dry in proper position.
The final group of pictures just shows an assembly after the top had been removed from the clamps. Aside from a little more cleaning up on the base, rounding corners on the top and the scheduled finish, these pictures depict the final product pretty well!
Once the piece was in this state, I spent a fair amount of time just looking at it… A few times on Sunday night I walked down to the shop, for no other reason than to stare at the piece. I kept the drooling to a minimum, but for me it is quite simply an enjoyable piece to look at!
Thanks for reading! -NWB
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- Lie Nielsen No. 62 for cleaning up the top frame before glue up.
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- Chopping the remaining corners square
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- Lie Nielsen sholder plane (back R) Lie Nielsen router plane (back L) Starrett adj. square (front)
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- Square & cleaned up
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- Final glue up
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- Glue up in clamps
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- Glue up setting on the base
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- Table assembled
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- Bolt in the hole attaching top & base
