Building a Sideboard Part 5: Dimensioning the Components | Hand Tool Woodworking
4,340 views · Published 31 August 2018 · 22:30 · Indexed 23 September 2026
Channel: The HandToolery · 2018 · Howto & Style
After rough cutting all the pieces, it's time to dimension them. This is a simple, yet time-consuming process. Generally, I need 3 marking gauges, and I try my best to set them once and NEVER move them, if possible. For this project, many of my pieces are going to be 2" wide, so I set a gauge for 2" and left it the whole time. I set another gauge for the thickness, about 7/8". Why 7/8"? Just because. Also, there's no need to remove another 1/8" just to get it down to 3/4" that is typical, since I bought this as ever so slightly thicker than 4/4" material. I begin by getting the broad face (or the edge, depending) flat. I do this by planing with my #6. Then, I use winding sticks to help locate twist so I can plane it away. I use a straight edge to make sure it's flat. After that, I establish a 90-degree edge, planing it flat. Once the face and the edge are flat and at a dead-on 90 degrees to each other, I use my special mark to clearly indicate that they are the reference faces. From the reference edge, I then, use a marking gauge to establish the width, and I plane away the excess until I hit my lines. After that, I use yet another gauge to mark the thickness, and again, I work down to the lines. The length begins by getting one end nice and true with a saw and a shooting board. Then, measure from that true end the distance needed. Cut, and shoot the end to your line. For pieces that need to be the same exact dimensions as this first piece, follow the same procedure, but also use the original piece as a reference for width and length to help you dial it in perfectly. It's not so important that everything be a specific number, but rather that everything be uniform where it needs to be. And when it comes to case/carcass components, length and width are oftentimes critical for making sure the piece of furniture is square. This particular step had 8 door rails, 8 door stiles, 4 door dividers, 4 drawer dividers, 3 side frame pieces, and 3 long rails for the front. A total of 30 pieces. Needless to say, I got VERY efficient at this, and I'm happy with the result. If you'd like to stay up to date on the real-time progress for the sideboard, check my instagram account, below. There, you'll see that I'm actually moving along at quite the pace, considering I'm not using any electricity except for lighting and heat (ha!) and since I've got a family and a full-time job! I hope you've enjoyed the progress so far! --- I really do hope you have enjoyed this video. Please feel free to check out my other social profiles. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehandtoolery/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHandToolery My Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHandToolery Thanks! Andrew
