The Bottom Line
Pros
- Great reference, clearly illustrated and written
- Nineteen furniture projects demonstrate a range of styles and techniques
- Lots of techniques and methods for working in small scales in metal and wood are shown
Cons
- Most (but not all) pieces will require the use of a lathe to finish
- All projects are made of hardwoods
- The projects are not laid out in order of complexity as a 'how to' for beginning woodworkers
Description
- Great range of detailed projects, no complete room settings. The Federal pieces consist of a Bracket-Foot Chest and a Pembroke Table, both with Holly inlay.
- Lots of well illustrated techniques for museum quality furniture in miniature. One of the ultimate resources for miniature furniture makers.
- Clear and detailed photos and descriptions of every process, from choosing tools to finishing various types of hardwoods.
Guide Review - Review - The Art of Making Furniture In Miniature by Harry W.Smith
Construction and Finishing Instructions for Museum Quality Miniature Furniture
Harry W. Smith began making miniature furniture in 1959. The nineteen projects he chose to feature in this book contain some beautiful examples of what is possible in making high quality miniature furniture across a range of period styles. The instructions are clear and concise with good illustrations and photographs which illustrate the entire process. There are clear, larger than life size color photographs of all but two of the (simpler) pieces in finished form.
The book is a substantial 283 pages, with the first 63 pages devoted to tools, jointing and construction techniques, choosing wood, finishing techniques and metal work (hinges and drawer pulls) all having their own sections. The tool section is the only one which is slightly dated, but aside from the photographs of the tools, the information is still current. The remaining pages of the book are devoted to precisely drawn diagrams, materials lists, and well photographed and clearly written instruction for the assembly of nineteen pieces of detailed furniture and an eleven page glossary of terms.
Although most of the furniture requires turned sections and the use of a lathe, the various techniques and methods illustrated will help everyone interested in building quality miniature furniture learn good construction techniques. The projects are chosen to represent a wide range of furniture styles and construction methods. None of the furniture plans are set out to create complete room settings. This book, like the Dorsett Publications Cabinet Makers Guides is aimed mainly at people who have some experience with basic woodwork, who want to practise and stretch their skills to a higher level of miniature furniture making, making museum quality furniture pieces which cannot be distinguished from their full sized counterparts.
Some sections, the information on hand tools, the sections on joints, woods and finishing are useful to complete beginners. The information on joints and how to create them, as well as the instructions for miniature wood carving and carving cabriole legs are skills beginners would do well to practise, as it is practise, rather than equipment, which lead to production of better furniture. This book does rely on use of a jig saw, lathe, and drill press for many of the pieces, although it does demonstrate how to use hand tools as well.
The book is available in paperback from Scott Publications for around $20.00, or as an autographed edition from Harry W. Smith's Website for $35.00 including shipping IBSN 0-89024-159-7 Kalmbach Publishing, 1993
