dowels as stretchers. For additional stiffening a long dowel can centered to tie in the two side stretchers, if desired. When the legs are removed, their tenoned ends are halved with saw kerfs the same direction, (across the grain of the table top), and small wedges a prepared for spreading these slits about two thirds of the way down. Glue applied to each tenon, which is then malleted tightly into place and the wedj driven home (A, Figure 2.30). Stretchers must be glued into place before tl second leg of each pair is driven into the top. When the glue has dried, the protruding leg ends are cut and sanded flush with the upper surface of the table top. If it is found on final assembly that the legs are uneven, causing the table to "teeter," it can be placed on a flat surface, tilted until level, and while held firmly in that position marked by using a straightedge of minimum thickness successively around each leg, as in B, Figure 2.30. When all lines are carefully connected and sawed, the table will rest firmly and level on all four legs. Cobbler's Bench. Of recent years there has appeared a vogue for artisans' workbenches as "conversational pieces" in the living room. Milk benches are converted into bars and sideboards, cobblers' benches become coffee tables, and blacksmiths' tool boxes are dramatized into magazine racks. Of these perhaps the most eyearresting is the lowly cobbler's bench (Figure 2.31). Simulating, as Jt does, rough carpentry and long usage, it is extremely easy to make. Because of its availability and hardness the cobbler or the village carpenter Would no doubt have chosen maple for the construction of this heavyduty workbench. Furthermore, as insurance against splitting, the wise craftsman would have constructed the top in two pieces, cleated together where the legs joined it. Therefore, having glued up the top, the next step in the production of a modern replica ls to prepare the legs for insertion into the cleats. Since the rear cleat also acts as a drawer guide it must be rabbeted for the 84 . Fig. 2.31. Cobbler's bench. I пса Souares y2'm. square drawer slide, along with its mate on the opposite side, as shown in A of Figure 2.31. Lumber List Thickness, Width, Length, Pieces in inches in inches in inches Description 2 И 9 36 Top (18 in. wide) 2 % 22 is Drawer guides 1 и 2У 11 Cleat, seat 4 iH 17 Legs 2 У зУ 10 Drawer fronts 2 y& зУ 16 Drawer sides 1 Ул 9У 16 Drawer bottom (plywood) 2 У У 17 Drawer slides 4 У % 18 Bench molding 1 У % 17 Compartment molding 2 У и 4 Compartment molding The legs of this bench are reverse tapered, but much more crudely than those of the Colonial coffee table. A'i can be seen in the drawing, the legs taper roughly toward the top, where they are pegged into the cleats as previously explained. INDOOR FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION 8 After the top has dried it is shaped as shown in pattern B, and its upper edj filed down and well sanded.