My first furniture project was intended to teach the fundamental building block skills with hand tools, and not necessarily to result in a useful piece of furniture, although mine did. It was a simple pump lamp:
1. Step one was to plane the base ( about 6 x 6 x 3/4 ) to the proper width from oversize stock whilst keepng both edges square to the surface, and then to pare the end grain to the correct length with chisels again maintaining it square and working to a "length " dimension. The base then was given a bevel on the top corner with a plane; both along and across grain and maintaining the correct width of bevel and angle.
2. The next step was the post of the pump ( about 1 1/2 square) planned on all four sides from oversize rough cut stock to achieve the proper width/thickness in both directions and the edges square and ends pared square. The post then got a slot cut in one side to accept the handle which was pinned with a brad. The handle had to be squared up four sides, ends pared, and a shape cut on end.
3. The next piece was the cap about 2 x 2 x 1/2, planed and pared with a chisel to a square, and then given a top edge bevel.
4. The final step was to bore a hole the length of the post and through the base and cap without breaking out any grain around the hole.
Karl
1. Step one was to plane the base ( about 6 x 6 x 3/4 ) to the proper width from oversize stock whilst keepng both edges square to the surface, and then to pare the end grain to the correct length with chisels again maintaining it square and working to a "length " dimension. The base then was given a bevel on the top corner with a plane; both along and across grain and maintaining the correct width of bevel and angle.
2. The next step was the post of the pump ( about 1 1/2 square) planned on all four sides from oversize rough cut stock to achieve the proper width/thickness in both directions and the edges square and ends pared square. The post then got a slot cut in one side to accept the handle which was pinned with a brad. The handle had to be squared up four sides, ends pared, and a shape cut on end.
3. The next piece was the cap about 2 x 2 x 1/2, planed and pared with a chisel to a square, and then given a top edge bevel.
4. The final step was to bore a hole the length of the post and through the base and cap without breaking out any grain around the hole.
Karl