24 Hour Classes
INSTRUCTOR:
Bob Hurd, Artisan
COURSE:
Furniture Construction
PROJECT:
Barrister’s Bookcase
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The barrister’s bookcase is a traditional storage unit that originated in Great Britain. The bookcase is of the style usually used by barristers or lawyers, but can enhance any type of office or study layout. Characteristics of the barrister’s bookcase are the clear glass front and the use of stackable units that can create the appearance of a unified cabinet. The choices of wood, molding, glass, and hardware can result in simple or ornate cabinets depending on the preferences of the owner. The modular design allows for flexibility in construction and usage. A typical bookcase starts out with three sections but it can be expanded as needed by adding other sections. Another element affecting the bookcase’s appearance is the design of the sides which can be plain or raised panels.
The bookcase designed for this class is made of cherry with raised panel sides, glass in the doors, and brass knobs. The top and bottom sections have concave molding. The bookcase consists of five sections—top, bottom, and three identical storage units with glass doors. The glass will be precut, but uncut glass will be available for students who want to cut their own door glass. The glass is held in the doors with interior molding strips. The concave molding will be cut on the table saw. Quarter round trim at the base of each section holds the units in place and conceals the cleats that align the sections atop each other. The doors are assembled using mortise and tenon construction. Brass pins provide a pivot point and alignment guide for the doors which pull open at the bottom then slide back horizontally into the cabinet to allow access into the individual sections. Each door has a pair of brass knobs that will be provided. The finish, which consists of stain and lacquer, is applied prior to installing the glass and knobs in the doors. Materials will be provided to duplicate the finish on the prototype, which will be demonstrated, but students are invited to bring other materials if they desire an alternate finish.
TIME:
24 hours. Completion of the bookcase is likely, but installation of the knobs and glass in the doors, which
are the final steps, will be contingent upon the finish being applied.
POWER TOOLS:
table saw, drill press
SKILL LEVEL:
Intermediate
MATERIALS FEE:
$35 to be collected at school