Jeff Greef Woodworking

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Delta Miter Jig
Rigid, precise tool.

Jeff Greef Woodworking

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Page 3, Small End Table
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Start the shelves, back and magazine holder by cutting the parts to length. This can be done on a radial arm saw, or a table saw and a mitre gauge, but I like my table saw cut-off box as shown in photo 7.

Photo 7-A cut-off box on the table saw is a handy way to cut to length parts such as the shelves. Runners in the bottom of the box fit in the mitre gauge grooves in the saw table.

You'll need 3/4" wide dadoes cut on the ends of the top shelf and sides of the magazine holder. Set up for this with a dado cutter at the table saw as shown in photo 8. Screw a wood cover to the face of your fence as shown, install the dado cutter, then lower the cutter below the table. Place the fence in position, turn on the saw, and slowly raise the cutter into the wood cover. Then set the cutter height at 1/4" and cut the dadoes as shown. Then move the fence away from the blade to cut the dado in the middle of the back for the lower shelf.

6" Carbide Dado Set
Economical Freud dado set.

Sure Lock Miter Gauge
With fence and flip stop.

Photo 8-Make dado cuts on the edges of the top shelf and magazine pocket sides with this dado setup on the table saw. If you don't have a dado cutter, use a similar setup with your regular blade, making several passes to complete the cut.

If you need dado cutter set click here.

Cut a 1/4" wide dado in the bottoms of the magazine holder parts as shown in photo 9 to hold a small piece of 1/4" plywood for the bottom.

Photo 9-Cut a dado in the bottoms of the magazine pocket parts for the plywood bottom to fit in. Again, this can be done without a dado cutter using your regular blade and taking several passes to acheive the width required.

If you need a mitre gauge click here.

Notch the front corners of both shelves to fit into the leg mortises. Use a band saw for this, or hand saw.

Delta 9" Band Saw
Economical bench-top solution for the small shop.

Photo 10- Cut away the inside area between the back legs on the back piece on the band saw.

If you need a band saw click here.

The last step before assembly is to cut out the area between the two back legs. Do so on the band saw as in photo 10, or with a hand saw. If you use a hand saw, you'll need to cut large holes at the top edge of the cut to get a saw in perpendicular to the grain. Or, make the straight cuts with a rip saw and then cut in with a coping saw. Another alternative is to rip the back into three pieces, cut off the middle, then glue it back together.

Tapered Drill Bits With Countersinks

Bessey Power Grip Clamps

Photo 11-Pre-drill for screws that hold together the table. Bits with countersinks pre-drill holes for plugs that cover the screws.

If you need drill bits click here.
If you need a hand drill click here.

Finally clamp the piece together and bore holes for screws as in photo 11. Use tapered bits with countersinks and then plug up the holes as in photo 12. Put one screw in each joint where the shelves meet the legs, and screw together the magazine holder as well.

General Plug Cutter Set

Fuller Tapered Plug Cutters

Photo 12-Cut plugs to cover the screws with a plug cutter and glue them in after the screws are in place.

If you need a plug cutter click here.

Round over the edges with sandpaper and you're ready for the finish of your choice. I used Watco oil because it's easy and looks nice.

Resources For Making A Small End Table

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