Cherry dry sink

The bottom

I used antique pine for the bottom because it was cheaper than cherry (a detail which isn't out of place in antique dry sinks for the same reason). The bottom is attached to the sides with through dovetails where it meets the end rails. This dovetailed joint will be hidden by the applied cove moulding later on. Cut the tails first on the ends of the bottom and use them to mark the pins on the bottom of the sides. Use a dovetail saw, a coping saw and a series of chisels to make all the dovetails.

The sink bottom

The sink bottom has tenons on the ends which fit into the side stiles and a rabbet on the back edge which fits into a dado in the rear rail. Square up and dress the blank for the sink bottom. Make the end joints by cutting the mortises in the side stiles first and then use them to mark the tenons on the end of the sink bottom. Use a dovetail saw, a coping saw and chisels to complete these tenons. Cut the rabbet in the back edge of the sink bottom and assemble the sides, bottom panel and sink bottom together. Position the back in place and mark the position of the dado on the rear rail that corresponds to the rabbet on the back edge of the sink bottom. Cut this dado and dry fit all the case components you've built so far. With the case fitted together, mark the notches that allow the face of the front stiles to fit flush with the in the front edge of the sink bottom. Cut these notches with a dovetail saw.

The recessed sink area and the drawer case are divided by the drawer divider. Cut a tenon on the back edge of the drawer divider and a corresponding mortise in the rear rail, the mortise-and-tenon in the back assembly is offset to allow room for this mortise. Cut a blind dovetail where the drawer divider meets the top front rail. Two final components complete the drawer case: the bridge and the drawer runner. Cut the dovetails which join the bridge to the drawer divider and side, then make the notch which accepts the front stile. Cut tenons on the ends of the drawer runner and fit them into mortises cut in the sink bottom. At this point, dry fit everything you've built so far.

The base

The main case sits on top of the base frame which in turn is supported by the feet. The joint where the case meets the base frame will be hidden later with the addition of shop-milled cove moulding. Round over the outside edges of the base frame members first then assemble the frame using mitred corners reinforced with biscuits. To make the feet, enlarge the detail from the plan and transfer it onto both sides of each foot blank. I cut the feet by hand with a coping saw but you have access to a bandsaw I suggest using it-you'll preserve your sanity. Once cut, shape and smooth the feet with sandpaper that's been glued to a length of 4" dia. ABS pipe. Join the contoured foot sides together with through dovetails. Cutting these is quite a challenge since the material is so thick. Once they are assembled, attach the feet to the base frame with glue and biscuits. Set the main case assembly on the base assembly.

The doors

With the main case assembled, the doors and door divider can be put together and fitted. The frame-and-panel doors are built the same way as the sides and back of the main case. The only tricky part of building the doors is fitting the French-style rabbeted overlap where the doors meet the door divider. Start the door divider by rabbeting the edges that will accept the doors. Now cut the decorative bead on each edge. Finally, chamfer the edges of the door divider to allow the doors to swing freely. The hinge edge of each door also gets a bead detail. This bead balances the one on the door divider but more importantly hides the barrel hinges. The hinges you use dictate the diameter of the bead. Mortise the hinges using a sharp chisel and attach them using brass screws. Drive steel screws of the same size to make pilot holes, then install the softer brass screws.

The top of the dry sink consists of a small panel surrounded by a frame. Make the top frame as you did the bottom frame and add the stopped dado on the inside edge. Mill tenons on three hidden edges of the top panel to fit into these dadoes. Assemble the top now.

The drawer

The drawer is standard construction. Blind dovetail the sides into the back and face, and slide the raised panel bottom into its dado before final assembly.

Time for glue

Begin the final assembly by bringing the case sides together with the bottom panel, sink bottom and door divider. Next attach the case back. Now assemble the front rails and stiles, fitting the drawer divider and bridge as you go. Attach the completed main case to the base with screws. Only two screws are needed, one at each end, driven up from the bottom, through the base frame into the bottom panel of the main case. Attach the top to the main case with glue and biscuits for alignment. Apply the glue only to the middle third of the top edge of the sides to allow for seasonal movement. The final construction step is applying the cove moulding trim. This moulding hides the joints between the base and the main case and between the main case and the top. Mitre the cove to fit then attach it with glue and brads to the base and top only. Not attaching the cove to the sides allows for seasonal movement. Install the door and drawer knobs now.

The secret finish

This is my standard finish for cherry, and imparts that rich dark colour. Let the dry sink tan outside for a day before adding the finish. With cherry, one day in the sunshine is equal to about five years of indoor aging. Just be sure that nothing is placed on it and to turn it regularly so it gets even exposure. As strange as it sounds, be on the lookout for birds flying overhead. They can ruin a piece quickly. After its tanning session, complete the finishing by applying three coats of tung oil followed by a coat of paste wax.