Finished build of two doors to Budlong’s “Display Cabinet on Stand.” 1/2″ deep x 3/16″ wide rabbets to hold the glass. Per Budlong’s instructions, I routed the rabbets to each of the 4 door pieces before assembly. All lines up properly, but now I must square the corners. Kind of like chopping a mortise with mortising chisels, but that’s probably too aggressive. Never done this before, so other than “slow and easy,” what’s the proper, efficient technique?
/VR/
-tonto
Replies
I built the same cabinet. Use a sharp 1" bevel edged chisel by laying the back of the chisel along the routed edge and using a guillotine action, continue that line and slice the corner piece off to make the corner square. Good luck!
May I add to that by suggesting that, in some cases, it can help avoid an overcut into the corner - sometimes caused when a big chip presses on the chisel bevel to push the edge back past the intended cut line - by first taking a few thin slices off the bulk of the corner chip to be removed.
I learnt the hard way that a larger corner chip in the physically tougher timbers needs to be pared to a smaller chip first before taking the last bits out of the corner as you describe. They fight back!
Gentlemen:
Appreciate the comments, and I've had success on the first of the two doors. Technique suggest by Scott worked nicely, and I finished to the corners with a mortising plane. Kind of like mortising a hinge in a way, but much deeper. First one was slow, but got faster with more confidence. I finished the last corner by combining the guillotine technique with creeping up on the knife line. For Scott: it took me some time to figure out a jig to curve the legs, modifying something I saw in another article. Case will be figured Ash that will wrap around the sides and top. Legs and aprons in striped Honduran Mahogany. Doors very clean rift Ash. Will be a submission to two County Fairs, then donated for a silent auction supporting a volunteer fire department. Tell me about your build! and the 'gators that may be lurking. Maybe we can chat sometime.
/VR/
-tonto
Hartford, WI
Glad you are enjoying the project. It is a great piece. Here is a picture of mine. Its been a few years. Base is peruvian walnut, case and doors are bubinga and the case back is shiplapped alder.