Search results

  1. R

    Drawer Bottom Question

    Hi All, I have been involved in a discussion on another forum regarding drawer bottoms.  One of the more experienced woodworkers on that site answered a question about how a dovetailed drawer should be built, and showed a picture of a drawer he had made recently.  The drawer bottom was chamfered...
  2. R

    Upholstery Sources and Info

    I am nearing completion on a pair of southeastern Connecticut chippendale side chairs.  The original, which is at the Conn Historical Society, has a leather seat that is upholstered over the front and side rails.  I haven't done any upholstery and am wondering if anyone has a source for supplies...
  3. R

    Orientation of Drawer Bottoms

    I am building some Newport drawers, most of which have bottoms nailed on to the drawer sides and back (the front is let into a dado), then runners get applied to the drawer bottoms.  Which way is the grain oriented on originals (this seems to have been a somewhat common practice, at least around...
  4. R

    Scratch Stock Molding

    I am in the process of building a highboy and the time has come for me to make the upper case moldings.  This is a Newport highboy with a bonnet top.  The molding will look like the attached profile.  I made a practice piece and cut away much of the waste with saw kerfs on the table saw.  Now I...
  5. R

    Brass Engraving

    At some point I'd like to make a copy of a clock made by John Avery, a local to me (Preston, CT) clock maker and silver smith.  The majority of his clocks have an engraved brass face.  Has anyone had any experience with hand engraving brass?  I found some information in a quick google search...
  6. R

    Highboy question

    Since we are looking for some discussion, thought I'd throw this question out there.  I am building a Newport bonnet top highboy, based on plans I got from Al Breed.  Since Al has built the piece already I've been sending most of my questions to him.  I'll send this one out the to group in...
  7. R

    Building 18th century American Furniture

    Has anyone read Glen Huey's new book?  Some of the pieces he covers in it are of interest to me and I was wondering if the plans were at all useful.  In particular I am interested in building a Newport highboy and saw that he has one in this book.  My preferences are more toward accuracy than...
  8. R

    Building 18th century American Furniture

    Has anyone read Glen Huey's new book?  Some of the pieces he covers in it are of interest to me and I was wondering if the plans were at all useful.  In particular I am interested in building a Newport highboy and saw that he has one in this book.  My preferences are more toward accuracy than...
  9. R

    Scaling photos with Sketchup?

    Probably like most of us, I've spent a lot of time scaling photos by hand and have been somewhat frustrated with the amount of time/effort that I put into this.  Usually the pictures I find of pieces I'd like to build are relatively small and low resolution.  I end up enlarging the photo to a...
  10. R

    Jeffrey Greene in Newport

    Hi, Anyone else catch Jeffrey Greene's lecture in Newport tonight?  I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but things worked out and I got to go.  For those that didn't he gave a talk about the Townsends and Goddards, the different family members and various existing attributable pieces, then...
  11. R

    Lock Escutcheon Size

    Hi all, I am nearing the completion of my Newport style dressing table and have been waiting on hardware from Ball and Ball for two weeks.  The package just came (to my excitement) and when I opened it I found that I had received a lock escutcheon that is about an inch smaller than the pulls I...
  12. R

    American Case Furniture in the Mabel Brady Garvan Collection

    Anyone have a copy of this book, by Ward?  It looks like a useful resource.  Just wondering if it is worthwhile before I pull the trigger on a book for $150.00.  In particular I am interested in photos of Chippendale pieces.  Any Newport pieces?  I stopped by the gallery yesterday but didn't...
  13. R

    Opinions on finishing cherry

    I'm working on a Chippendale style dressing table out and I'm making it of cherry.  I am planning on dyeing the piece, a coat of BLO, then a few coats of shellac.  I have used Lockwood's dyes in the past and have been happy with them.  1.  Does anyone have a particular favorite dye for cherry...
  14. R

    Chippendale Dressing Table Construction

    I would like to build a Newport style dressing table similar to the one in the attached picture.  I am curious as to how the front is constructed.  In other words, the apron with the shell carving is one piece and is tenoned into the legs.  How are the drawer blades above the two small drawers...
  15. R

    Chapin dressing table

    I would very much like to make a Chapin style dressing table, and I am wondering if there are good sources for photos and dimensions.  I don't necessarily need a set of plans, but if anyone knows of such a set I would probably be interested.  I am aware of the book Connecticut Valley Furniture...
  16. R

    Oil Based v. Water Based Dye

    Hi all, I'm just about done with a Queen Anne lowboy of tiger maple.  I'm considering dying the piece, then applying two or three coats of shellac.  I'm wondering what the relative pros and cons are for oil based v. water based dyes.  I'd rather not have to raise the grain, as I've spent a fair...
  17. R

    Lowboy Top Overhang

    Hi all, first an introduction.  I am a hobbyist woodworker who is trying to fill up my 18th century house in Conn. with period reproductions.  I've made a few period style pieces, including a scaled down Queen Anne dresser that we use as a changing table/dresser for our young son, a Jacobean...
Back
Top