Bedside Table

My daughter was using my old plastic fly tying materials cabinet for a bedside table and I just couldn’t take looking at it any more. We promised her a new bedroom set after the house was built. Well…......3 years later, still no bedroom set. Time to take action. This looks like a job for “Sawdust Man”. (Where did I put my cape?)

I was pleased to get the cabinet finished with a red ribbon for Christmas morning. It is my first furniture piece with all mortise and tenon joinery and hand cut dovetails. The side panels are tongue and groove with stub tenons on top and bottom. The stiles are mortised into the corner posts. The shelf and top are solid glue ups.
The drawer has half blind dovetails on the face and through dovetails on the back. Everything in cherry except the drawer sides and back are ash for a contrasting color. Also used 1/4” cherry plywood for shelf bottom.

I applied 3 coats of wiping varnish to all exterior surfaces. The shelf and top got 2 additional coats of oil based poly for extra protection. A coat of finishing wax was applied with 0000 steel wool to rub out the nibs and give it a nice smooth finish.

It was great to get into traditional furniture building techniques. A real confidence booster. I really loved doing doing this project. I see why heirloom quality furniture cost so much. Lots of joinery, lots of steps, lots of satisfaction. My only worry is that I may now have to build a dresser and bed frame to match. (Not really a worry). That will keep me busy for a while. Thanks for looking.

Ray

-- Ray