|
 On this Tea Chest our buyer wanted satin nickel library pulls. Library pulls allow you to label the contents of each drawer, a useful feature when you have this many drawers to peek into as you search for a particular flavor of tea. I discover right off that this batch of pulls is a little different size than those I've gotten in the past, so I need to modify the jig I use for installing them. The design is a little different too so my supplier may have changed manufacturers. These library pulls are made of cast brass, not hot stamped or blow molded, then given the finish of choice. Because they are actually cast, some small irregularities in shape can occur from run to run, so I have to check the jig for fit and adjust to each batch I order.
 Once that is done I use the jig, which sits snugly on the drawer front and holds the pull in position, to lay out the screw holes and mark them with a punch to create a dimple where the tip of the drill can sit so it doesn't skitter around and mar the drawer front.
To aid in control of drilling these holes I prefer an old egg-beater drill to a powered drill, I get much more precise results this way and it doesn't really take any more time to do.
Then I wax up the screws and install them. These pulls come with old fashioned straight slot screws, the slots of which strip out easily if great care isn't used to keep the screwdriver blade properly aligned with the screw. Straight slot screws also require that the right size screwdriver be used. Too small and the blade doesn't fit snugly in the slot and it will tend to tear the square edge of the slot out making it near impossible to finish driving the screw -- and they don't send any extras. Too large and the tip either won't fit the slot or it will stick out on the sides of the screw and gouge up the the finish on the pull as you try to seat the screw in its hole.
 When it's all done it looks like this: not bad huh? I also go ahead and cut the cards to go in the pulls, along with some extras that will be sent along with the chest.
And that completes this project. All that remains is to wrap and package the chest securely and send it to its new home. I sure hope they enjoy it! I also hope you found this adventure in woodworking enlightening and entertaining. Please drop us an e-mail with any comments you have about this article, our work in general, or just to chat... I don't get out much and could use the company!
|
