Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Nicholson bench... more progress


Today, I had to redo the top braces that go horizontally between the tops of each end/leg assembly because I mistakenly made them the wrong dimensions (1/4" short) based on the original design before we made a few minor modifications (changing it to be a split-top bench).

After doing that, I milled the "under-aprons" which beef up the thickness of both aprons. Each got planed on the face that was crowning, then straight-lined and ripped. I clamped one apron in place onto the legs and marked the under-apron to fit between the legs.

Next, we glued up each of the two under-aprons to its corresponding apron using PVA glue (Titebond original). We had to work fast. I spread the glue onto the planed side of the under-apron, flipped it into place, put two clamps on, adjusted it to be flush on what will be the top edge, & drove two screws in to hold the alignment. Then I repeated the process on the other pair.

After gluing and screwing both sets, we stacked them up and began putting clamps on. While that was setting up, I glued and screwed the new top braces into the leg assemblies with Little Brown glue.

Next will be getting the top pieces planed, ripped, and cut to length, then glued up to their "under-top" pieces like I did with the under-aprons.

Clamping apron to legs to check fit and to use for marking under-aprons

Clamping apron to legs to check fit and to use for marking under-aprons
Clamping glued aprons and under-aprons
Leg assemblies with top brace installed