Mission Piano Bench. Fig. 173.

Material: Oak. 1. Sequence of work: Prepare the rectangular pieces with which the standards, d, and the stretcher, c, are to be cut. Locate the tenons upon the ends of the stretcher, and the mortises in the standards, before the pieces are cut to their desired shape, as it is much more convenient to work from the face edge of a rectangular piece than from the center line, a a, which would be necessary if the standards were made as designed.

Fig. 173. - Piano Bench.

2. Cut and fit the shoulders and tenons of the stretcher, and the mortises of the standards, to each other, using care that the shoulders, e, of the stretcher, and the tops and bottoms of the mortises are made at the correct angle. To guard against the tendency to cut the mortises so large that the tenons will not fill them, the student should make a very close fit, in anticipation of trimming, if necessary, when the pieces are fitted together. The mortises should be bored out as much as possible to avoid the liability of splitting the standard while using the chisel and mallet. The mortises should be cut under on all sides, as indicated at g, Fig. 174, in order to insure a perfect fit upon the surface.

3. Design the contour of the standards, stretcher, and side rails, and work out their forms carefully, using a wood rasp or file, taking care not to chip off pieces from the back side. If this should happen, save the pieces and glue them back in their places.

4. The top and the bottom of the wedge must be parallel, and when it is in place, the outside should be plumb, and the inside planed to fit the angle of the standard, and wedged, or tapered, about 1/16" for each inch in its length. The wedges should be made considerably longer than necessary, so that they may be driven as they are fitted, and not cut to length until the foot rest is ready to be set up permanently.

5. Smooth, scrape, and sandpaper the standards and stretcher.

6. Fit the side rails in their places, halving them into the tops of the standards by the same method used in fitting the top rails of the foot rest of Topic 83. Their top edges should not be less than 1/4" from the tops of the standards, so that the latter may enter the groove cut for them in the under side of the top.

7. At b, Fig. 174, is shown the method of fitting the top to the standards; at a is shown the method by which the stretcher is fitted. The space at / is for the purpose of allowing the stretcher to be pulled to a joint by the wedge.

Fig. 174. - Piano Bench - Section showing Construction at a b, Fig. 173.

8. Prepare the top, cutting the grooves in it for the ends of the standards. Smooth, scrape, and sandpaper it and fasten it on with glue, and with nails driven as shown at h.

9. Stain and finish to suit taste.