place and give the whole exterior a very thin
coat of shellac. After this has hardened, apply two coats of wax. Wax
comes in paste form and is to be applied with a cloth very sparingly.
Allow it to stand five or ten minutes then rub briskly with a soft dry
cloth to polish. The first coat is allowed to stand 24 hours before the
second is applied in a similar manner.

Another finish, known as an egg-shell gloss shellac finish, is obtained
by omitting the wax and instead applying from two to five more coats of
shellac. Allow each coat 24 hours in which to harden, and rub each
hardened coat to a smooth finish, using curled hair, or fine steel
wool, or fine oiled sandpaper, before applying the next.

[Illustration: Cedar Chest Complete]

The metal reinforcements for the corners can be bought at a hardware
store, as can the lock, hinges, and handles. These parts are applied in
the usual manner--butt hinges being used.

If well made, the chest is practically airtight. The interior is all of
red cedar, while the effect of the exterior in combining the light oak
and the red cedar is striking.

A TOOL FOR MAKING MORTISES

In the construction of mission furniture where mortise joints are mostly
used, those who cannot have access to a mortising machine will find the
following method of great assistance in obtaining a true mortise, which
is necessary in work of this kind.

[Illustration: Boring Holes for Tenons]

Take a block of wood, A, the exact thickness of the piece B to be
mortised, and with an auger bore a hole, the same size as the width of
the mortise to be made, exactly parallel to the sides of the block. This
can best be done on a drill press or a wood boring machine. If no
machine is available, great care should be taken in boring by hand, to
get the hole as nearly true as possible. Then nail a cleat, C, on the
side of the block, A, and let it extend down on piece B. Use a clamp to
hold the block in place while boring out the mortise. By changing the
position of the block and boring a number of holes, any length of
mortise can be made. The holes should afterwards be squared up with a
chisel.

A DRESSER FOR CHILD'S PLAYROOM

This dresser can be made of two kinds of wood as marked on the drawing
or it can be made all of one kind. The original dresser was made of oak
and walnut and was finished natural, the contrast between the light and
dark woods adding much to the value of the piece in the eye