Arch-Top Bookends
These simple bookends allow you to try out some of the same techniques used on larger furniture like an arch-top headboard. And with some scrap hardwood and MDF you can build them in a weekend.
Every woodworker who sees these bookends asks the same question: “How did you do it?” You’ve got to admit, the answer isn’t exactly obvious. Even though you know the top hasn’t been literally bent into its curved shape, there aren’t many clues that might suggest how it’s done. One of the tricks is to work with oversized pieces. After a little shaping, some molding pieces are mitered to wrap around the body (which is also oversized). Then you begin the process of cutting and sanding the curve on the top. And to hide the evidence, a piece of veneer is simply glued to the top. It’s a fairly straightforward process for creating a pretty impressive detail.
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What You Get:
- 6 pages of step-by-step instructions
- 39 full-color exploded views, photos and illustrations
- Shop-tested tips and techniques
- Material list and cutting diagram
- Retail sources for hardware and supplies
Product Recommendations
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Similar Woodsmith Plans
Imperial Plans
The United States Customary System of Units (USCS or USC), more commonly referred to as the English or Imperial system, is the standard set of units for our plans. It uses inches and feet for measurement. This is the one you probably want if you are in the United States, and it is the one we have traditionally offered on this website.
Metric Plans
The International System of Units (SI), more commonly referred to as the metric system, is the alternative set of units that we have available for some of our plans. It uses millimeters, centimeters, and meters for measurement. This is the one you probably want if you are outside the United States. These plans are provided by our business partner, Australian Woodsmith, and are based on the original Woodsmith plan. However, dimensions and other elements of the plan may vary between the metric and standard versions. Be sure to double-check the plan before building.
Premium Plans
All of the information that you need to build our plans can be found in the standard plan. However, if you want even more granular detail to make your job easier, you should consider our premium plans. These come with additional shop diagrams that we drew when creating the prototypes. Shop drawings are not available for every plan.
Gift Plans
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