This week’s post is a commission of an arts and craft style island. The most prominent features of this island are the 4″ thick (¹⁶⁄₄) hardrock maple posts. After the joints are cut (to receive the panels), the outsides are roughed on the bandsaw and routed to a jig for precisely matched shapes. That’s a long router bit. A larger outfit would just run these through a shaper in one pass. With a limited need, I can’t justify that sort of equipment and setup. Taking multiple passes is slower but effective, none-the-less.

The panels connecting the posts and the door/drawer faces have been widebelt sanded for uniform thickness. Putting the island together reveals a knotty, little wrinkle to contend with in the design process. The bottom of the panel rails are scalloped. This design has inset seating areas which create an odd transition between panels. The card board shows the scalloped edges that overlap. Sometimes unforeseen elements encourage alternative thinking to remedy the rough spots.

A very straightforward piece, but a 5′ x 9′ island will be a great gathering place in its new home.