While we are furnishing up our desk it would be well to consider the question of a book-rack for it. The rack illustrated is large enough to hold all of your study books or may be used to hold the current books being read by the rest of the family.

The end boards should be three-quarters of an inch thick and carefully marked out, as shown in the working drawing. If the sharp point of the compasses is placed exactly at the center points indicated by the black dots, no difficulty will be found in getting the curves. The only trouble will be in cutting the edge of the board exactly true with your lines. Do not saw too close, and when trimming off, frequently-test with the try-square, or you will be almost sure to cut away too much on one side. When both ends are finally worked down to line, place them back to back, with penciled sides out, and sandpaper the edges until they are exactly alike.

The two side boards should be about five-eighths of an inch thick and require only to be sawn off perfectly square on the ends and exactly the same length. Mark the places where these go on the end pieces and then nail the whole together. If you happen to know how to use dowel pins, the pieces may be fastened without nails. Dowels are simply short pieces of round wood. When a connection is to be made in this manner a hole just large enough to let the pin fit in tightly is bored in each of the two pieces exactly opposite. The pin is then coated with glue and driven into one of the holes. When the glue has set the other pieces may be temporarily driven on, and if everything fits together properly the pieces are taken apart and some glue applied to the other half of the pin, after which they are put together again for good. Usually not less than two dowel pins are used for each connection.

Stain, and if nails are used, putty over the heads with stained putty and rub with wax - all as previously described.

The second book-rack is made entirely of three-quarter-inch square strips. Should you desire to increase the extent, the size of the material used will have to be increased. When it is explained that all connections in this piece are "cross-lapped," that is, each piece is reduced to one-half its thickness at the point of crossing, little more need be said as to the construction.

First cut the several pieces to the proper lengths and then point up the ends, taking due care that all pieces are perfectly square and of the same size. With all possible accuracy mark off with a sharp pencil the various places to be cut out. Work up each end, putting the pieces together with glue and clamping tightly. Finally connect the two ends with the side pieces. The four feet should each be covered with felt.

Mill Bill