Clare’s Nightstand

After I made Clare’s Bed, I realized that she really should have a matching nightstand. So, once again going to Thos Moser, I unabashedly stole the design of the New Century Nightstand.  In fact, since it was not clear how certain pieces fit together, I actually went to the Thos Moser show room in Freeport, Maine to examine the piece in person.

Some of the wood for this piece were actually left over from making Clare’s bed.  I like that…

Clares Nightstand

[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3591.jpg]760Finished Nightstand.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3586.jpg]520Complete with nice dovetailed drawers.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3596.jpg]340And over 50 mortises to make for this little table!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3467.jpg]310An odd collection of wood.
Some of these pieces were actually left over from making Clare's Bed! I thought that was appropriate.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3472.jpg]260I made all the rails and the drawer front from the same piece of wood.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3473.jpg]280A relatively easy slice on the bandsaw.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3474.jpg]240And nicely book matched so that the grain matches all the way around the table.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3476.jpg]220Time to make the top. I used this thick piece to make the top out of a single piece of wood.
It definitely needs flattening!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3477.jpg]230Whoops! Too big for the jointer.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3479.jpg]200Guess I need to do it the Old Fashioned way!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3480.jpg]200Note the shim under the near corner.
I flattened the one side so that I could run it through the thickness planer so that both sides were parallel to each other.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3481.jpg]200Bottom is nicely flat now.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3482.jpg]180In both directions.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3483.jpg]190I only did a skip pass on the thickness planer since I didn't want to lose too much thickness.
I needed to get TWO table top thicknesses out of this one piece!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3484.jpg]210Ready to slice up! This was a bit more nerve wracking than the rails.
Any error or blade drift gets magnified by the tall piece.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3486.jpg]200Setup was fairly easy, however.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3488.jpg]160Whew! Sliced it successfully and glued it into a nicely book matched top.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3529.jpg]150I had to use the Hand Jointer plane again to flatten it.
Note the pencil marks on the wood. These will tell me where the low spots are after I begin to plane.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3531.jpg]150Partially flattened. You can see the low spots...
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3535.jpg]150All flattened!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3537.jpg]160I used the hand plane to straighten the edge as it's easier to avoid tearout.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3538.jpg]140Sanded and first coat of finish on it!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3540.jpg]120Top is finishing up nicely.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3545.jpg]130My collection of pieces is growing with each passing day.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3494.jpg]120Next up, the lower shelf. This was made from two chunks of wood.
The thicker piece was sliced...
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3498.jpg]110With the sliced sides, the shelf grain can be aligned nicely.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3500.jpg]100After a couple of trial alignments, I decided on this one.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3539.jpg]100Being too large for the planer, it was back to the hand plane for flattening.
I got a good workout on this project!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3502.jpg]90Now to do the legs.
I wanted all the legs to have diagonal grain on all four faces. To achieve this, the legs need to be cut out of a larger piece with the grain at 45 degrees to the cut. Note how each piece is aligned to match the grain.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3504.jpg]110Here are all four legs, marked and ready to be cut.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3506.jpg]100Slicing is fairly easy on the bandsaw.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3508.jpg]110Each cut is re-aligned.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3509.jpg]100Each cut is re-aligned.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3511.jpg]110Each cut is re-aligned.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3512.jpg]100With two faces parallel, cuting the third and fourth face is easy with the bandsaw table reset to 90 degrees.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3513.jpg]120Progressing nicely.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3514.jpg]110Almost done.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3516.jpg]100Ah, four nice straight and square legs!
While it might appear that a lot of wood was wasted making these legs, it should be noted that most of the cut off material was saved for other projects or used in jigs (like supports for pieces being finished).
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3520.jpg]120Then it was time for the drawer sides.
Looks like the pieces were a bit twisted... Fortunately the finished sides were only 1/2" thick so I could afford to machine down the twist.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3523.jpg]110Here is a fine example of a 'whoops'.
The experienced wood worker will note that the slot for the drawer slide is INSIDE the drawer side, not outside like it is supposed to be.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3524.jpg]100See what I mean?
Fortunately, I made extra sides for prototyping and setting up the dovetail jig.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3527.jpg]100I love this plane! It is a router plane and does a fantastic job of cleaning up the bottoms of dado slots!
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3528.jpg]110And haunched mortises.
Note the use of the extra leg to provide support on the narrow side of the mortise.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3547.jpg]110Here is the first dry fit.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3552.jpg]100Finally it was time for the decorative struts. Lots of little pieces that needed to be fit together.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3554.jpg]70The tenons were cut on the bandsaw.
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3555.jpg]60The mortises were drilled with a forstner bit and hand chiseled.
I found that the mortising tool didn't have good enough accuracy for my liking. The struts were all the same thickness and ANY misalignment of the mortise was very obvious. To me anyway...
[img src=https://tomstudwell.com/wordpress/wp-content/flagallery/clares-nightstand/thumbs/thumbs_img_3557.jpg]110Finally ready for final assembly!

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