Although called a study table, this model will serve equally well for many other general purposes in the girl's room or about the house.

The kind of wood you will use for making this project will, to a great extent, depend upon the other furniture in your room and also the amount of money you wish to invest. I would recommend a medium soft wood, such as white wood, for this is easy to work into shape.

Tables used for writing are made 30" high. A good size for the top will be 20"x30". The shelf at the back and near the bottom of the legs will be handy for keeping books and magazines on and at the same time, will help greatly to brace the table.

Method Of Procedure

Step No. 1: Shape four legs to about 11/2" square and taper towards the bottom. The rails (pieces connecting the legs), should be thick. Top and shelf 3/4" or 7/8" thick.

Step No. 2: Join the upper rails to the legs with two screws at each joint. The lower three rails or stretchers as they are called, are also screwed in place. Use one screw and one brad (nail with small head) at each joint.

Step No. 3: Fasten the shelf to the stretchers with two screws at each joint.

Step No. 4: The top is nailed to the rails with finishing nails or brads and the heads are countersunk to allow for putty, so as to conceal the nail heads.

Step No. 5: Thoroughly sandpaper all parts with No. 1/2 and then No. 00 sandpaper. Fold the sandpaper over a scrap block of wood so as to insure flat surfaces free from waves and irregularities; then slightly round all sharp corners. Before applying the finish as directed, clean off all sawdust with a soft brush.

Step No. 6: Finish this table with oil stain to imitate mahogany or walnut. When the stain is dry (allow eight hours for this), apply two or three thin coats of white shellac and wax. The shellac may be thinned with alcohol to get the right consistency.

A very pleasing effect can be produced on open grained wood, such as chestnut, by first applying a coat of diluted walnut oil stain (dilute with one-third stain and two-thirds turpentine). Apply and rub off surplus stain; when dry, apply a coat of white oil paint and while still wet, rub off the paint across the grain. Some paint will remain in the pores, producing a silver grey effect. Follow this with shellac and wax as already explained.