Construct a traditional Ming desk, half 1

Synopsis: Copied immediately from a 400-year-old Ming Dynasty desk, this piece seems clear and easy however is constructed with a sophisticated system of joinery, most of it hidden. The glueless joints mitered through-tenons, a tongue-and-groove high panel with cross braces linked by sliding dovetails, splayed legs, and a posh apron and spandrel system are difficult and require endurance and acute sharpening abilities. The reward is nice: an exquisite desk with a splendidly complicated, interlocking system of joinery completed with out glue.

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Fifteen years in the past, I had a 400-year-old Ming Dynasty desk sitting in entrance of me in items on my bench. I had been requested to wash it up and tighten a few of its joints, however after I realized that the entire thing was unglued and could possibly be taken aside, I rigorously disassembled it. Then a light-weight went on: I ought to seize the chance to make a copy immediately from the true factor. I’ve since constructed a handful of copies in varied hardwoods, together with this one in cherry.

The unique desk was acquired by an American molasses service provider working in Shanghai within the Nineteen Twenties who shipped it house. Like many Ming Dynasty items, it’s clear and easy trying however constructed with a sophisticated system of joinery, most of it hidden. Making these glueless joints is a tough enterprise, one which rewards endurance and stable sharpening abilities. When you have not long-established such joints earlier than, I recommend making mockups of them earlier than plunging into the true factor.

On this first of two articles I’ll describe making the desk’s high and legs and its uncommon apron-to-spandrel joinery. In FWW #308, Half 2 will cowl the remainder of the joinery and meeting.

A be aware on the joinery Furnishings made within the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) exemplifies a lot of what I aspire to in my very own work—clear traces, thought of proportions, acutely aware use of wooden graphics. The gorgeous bonus in a lot Ming furnishings is the joinery: splendidly complicated, interlocking techniques that hyperlink the assorted components securely whereas permitting for wooden motion and sometimes requiring no glue. Most surviving Ming furnishings was produced from oily, waxy tropical hardwoods, that are tough to connect even with trendy adhesives, not to mention with the animal glues used on the time. The Chinese language furnishings maker’s answer was sensible—devising interlocking masterpieces that survive for hundreds of years whereas avoiding cross-grain gluing and different issues which have helped destroy a lot historic Western work.

High body: miters with through-tenons

Start the desk by laying out the highest’s body joinery. Then minimize a through-mortise within the quick body members with the sharpest, most correct software you could have. For a lot of, it will likely be a hollow-chisel mortiser or a router; for me it’s a small Bridgeport milling machine. I minimize the miters on the quick body items on the desk noticed and aircraft them clear on a capturing board with a miter jig.

Now flip to the lengthy body members, the place the hand joinery begins. With the workpiece clamped at an angle in a vise, minimize the cheeks of the tenon; noticed near the traces, however go away just a little waste. Then flip the piece on its face and noticed alongside the miter line, leaving a little bit of waste that you just’ll pare to the road later. The within fringe of the tenon just isn’t shouldered, however the exterior edge must be minimize—first ripped, then sawn alongside the miter. Noticed like your grandfather taught you—slowly, letting the noticed do the work.

I’m going subsequent to the router desk and, with the workpiece face down, use a straight bit to make a skim minimize throughout the tenon’s high cheek. The bit peak must be precisely 5⁄16 in. above the desk—the space from the highest cheek of the tenon to the highest face of the body. This offers me a floor I can belief as I do the remainder of the trimming and becoming with chisels and a shoulder aircraft. As you trim the tenon search for a match that requires simply hand stress to assemble (not a mallet), however that’s safe, not sloppy.

Match every joint independently, after which assemble the entire body and tweak the place essential to realize tight miters and properly aligned corners. With the body nonetheless assembled, aircraft the highest floor so the joints are flat and flush. This has the additional advantage of offering a reference floor to run towards the fence once you minimize the grooves for the highest panel. Do this subsequent, on the desk noticed.

—John Cameron builds furnishings in Gloucester, Mass.

Photographs: Jonathan Binzen.

Drawings: John Hartman.

For extra images and illustrations, click on on the “View PDF” button under:

From Positive Woodworking #306

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