I am building a secretary similar to the one featured a few years ago in FWW by lonnie Bird. I am embellishing it by crossbanding the drawer fronts with satinwood veneer around the edges, as well as a cock bead. My question is: Since the drawers graduate in size (being larger on the bottom and gradually diminishing in width toward the top, should the crossbanding get progressively narrower? (eg, from 7/8 max to 3/4 to 5/8 to 1/2) Also, what would you consider to be a standard width for the cock bead? (3/16 vs 1/8) Thanks for the design advice.
Jay
Replies
Just my opinion. If you reduce the crossbanding, the edges won't be in alignment and may look odd, drawing the eye to the difference. At least in the case of of the main drawers. Smaller drawers in a nook should be banded in proportion to their size, but I would keep things the same on the prominent face. I think 3/16" cocklebead is just right for full size pieces.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Jayst,
I just finished up a chest on chest with cherry crossbanding, and cockbead. The crossband is 3/4" wide on all the drawers. I don't recall ever seeing graduated crossbanding on a period piece. I used 1/8" cockbead, 3/16" is good also. I've seen as thick as 1/4", but that was on a country chest, made of yellow pine; have repaired cockbead as fine as 1/16" on an English bowfront chest, but it was a little too fussy for my taste.
Regards,
Ray
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