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Tips & Techniques4

Bedside Chest6

There are plenty of elegant details in this handsome project -- a handy pull-out tray, three "raised" drawers, and shop-made bracket feet. But even with all these details, the construction is still straightforward. We'll walk you through every step.

To find the hardware for the bedside chest on page 6, you may want to start with the sources shown below. If you have a woodworking specialty store nearby, you might find most of the items you'll need there.

READY-MADE FEET. If you’d rather not make the bracket feet, you can order ready-made feet like those shown in the photo on page 35. Plus, if you'd like to make the chest from something other than cherry, the feet also come in oak and maple. I ordered mine from Rockler, but they can also be found at Van Dyke's Restorers (see information below).

You'll need to order two pedestal feet — one for each front corner (shown on the left in the photo). The back corners each need a pedestal end (shown on the right in the photo). The pedestal ends are specifically made for the right or left side of a cabinet, so you'll need one of each.

PULLS AND BUMPERS. The brass bail pulls, stem bumpers, and tray knobs are also available from some of the sources listed below.

ROUTER BITS. I used two special bits to form the profiles on the drawers and the base of the chest. One is a Roman ogee bit with a 1/4" radius. The other is an ogee fillet bit with a 1/4" radius. You may be able to find these locally, or they can be ordered from several of the sources below.

PLASTIC LAMINATE. The laminate for the pull-out tray is available at home centers and some hardware stores.

Dovetailing Quick Tips15

When building drawers, you can't beat a half-blind dovetail jig for speed and accuracy. And here are five tips to make your next set of dovetails faster, more accurate, and nearly "goof-proof."

Making Bracket Feet18

With all those curves, you might think that making bracket feet is a real challenge. But you'll be surprised at how easy it is with our step-by-step instructions. If you've got a table saw, a band saw, and some 3/4"-thick stock, you're ready to get started.

Online Extras

  • Bracket Foot Pattern
    You don't have to mess with a photocopier to enlarge the patterns for the bracket feet for the bedside chest in this issue.

Letter & Key Rack22

Build a handy little rack this weekend, and you'll wonder how you ever got along without it. The rack provides the perfect spot to empty your hands and pockets. And you'll always know where your keys are (or at least where they should be).

  • Page 23: Figure 1
    A measurement is missing from the left side of the drawing. Marks and a line along the lower portion of the long side are present but the measurement 14 3/8" is missing.

Online Extras

  • Letter & Key Rack
    Not only does this small wall rack have a spot for letters and keys, it also has plenty of space for other "pocket" items like sunglasses and cell phones.

The only hardware you’ll need for the letter and key rack on page 22 is the three hooks along the bottom. The ones I used are small mug hooks (1 7/8" long) that I found in the Lee Valley catalog. The part number is 00W85.01. See the information below for ordering information.

Shop Notes26

Keepsake Box28

We all accumulate precious keepsakes over the years. They deserve to be stored in a special place. This elegant box with its mitered corners offers three lined compartments for the safe storage and display of those treasures.

I found much of what was needed for the keepsake box (page 28) with a visit to a local hardware store and a hobby shop (for the posterboard).

MAIL ORDER. I did order a few items by mail. One was the drawer knobs. These came from Lee Valley. The other was the router bit used for the lid profile. It’s a classical ogee bit from Amana (#54134). You can buy Amana bits only through one of their dealers, so visit their website or call them to find a dealer.

VENEER. The veneer I used for the lid panel is a two-ply mahogany crotch veneer that I ordered from Bob Morgan Woodworking Supplies. A two-ply veneer makes a highly figured wood like this easier to work with. The second ply helps keep the wood from wrinkling and buckling. Contact information for each of these companies is shown below.

Final Details36