Fig. 196. A mission library table
Where these lines cross, bore 3⁄8-inch holes with a dowel bit to the depth of at least 1 inch. Lay out the other dowelled joint in the same manner. Saw six pieces of 3⁄8-inch dowel 2 inches long, and glue ends of each dowel in the holes prepared in the middle board, as shown at c.
Put a thin layer of glue on the joints with a brush and clamp the three pieces together. While the glue is hardening, proceed with the frame. This consists of four legs, four top rails, the lower cross rails, a shelf, and four wedges.
The sizes are as follows:
| Top rails | 2 | 42 × 3 × 7⁄8 |
| Top rails | 2 | 24 × 3 × 7⁄8 |
| Cross rails | 2 | 261⁄2 × 3 × 7⁄8 |
| Shelf | 1 | 443⁄4 × 12 × 3⁄4 or 7⁄8 |
| Wedges | 4 | 21⁄2 × 7⁄8 × 3⁄4 |
The construction of the top rails is shown at d in the detail drawing. The only point calling for special attention is to see that the tenons are flush with outside of rail, being cut on only three sides, and the mitre at the end of each. The necessity for this mitre is shown in the drawing of the top of leg at e, where the two tenons are shown meeting in the blind mortises. The short rails are identical with those shown at d, except in length.
The detailed drawing of the legs is shown at f, and to make sure that the four are uniform, they should be laid out in pairs, the two at one end together, then the second pair; and finally the two pairs must be compared to discover any possible inaccuracies. The cutting of the mortises may be hastened by boring several holes inside the lines from each side.
