HOW TO MAKE A PIANO BENCH

HOW TO MAKE A PIANO BENCH

All the material used in the making of this piano bench is 1 in. thick, excepting the two rails, which are 7/8 in. thick. The bench can be made from any of the furniture woods, but the case may demand one made from mahogany. If so, this wood can be purchased from a piano factory. The following stock list of materials may be ordered from a mill, planed and sandpapered:

    1 top, 1 by 16 by 36-1/2 in.
    2 ends, 1 by 14 by 18 in.
    1 stretcher, 1 by 4 by 31-1/2 in.
    2 side rails, 7/8 by 4 by 29-1/2 in.
    2 keys, 1 by 1 by 3-1/2 in.
    6 cleats, 1 by 1 by 4 in.

The dimensions given, with the exception of the keys and cleats, are 1/2 in. longer than necessary for squaring up the ends.

The two rails are cut slanting from a point 1-1/2 in. from each end to the center, making them only 3 in. wide in the middle. The rails are "let into" the edges of the ends so the outside of the rails and end boards will be flush. The joints are put together with glue and screws. The cleats are fastened with screws to the inside of the rails and to the top. The stretcher has a tenon cut on each end which fits into a mortise cut in each end. The tenons will have sufficient length to cut the small mortise for the key.


Piano Bench Details

The kind of wood used will determine the color of the stain for the finish. This also depends on matching other pieces of furniture.
 

Piano Bench

Excerpt from the book:
Mission Furniture - HOW TO MAKE IT - PART I
POPULAR MECHANICS HANDBOOKS CHICAGO,
Printed 1909