Shoji Series End Table

Basic shoji style end table

By Pete Novick

Hayama Cabinetmakers, LLC

I design and build my shoji series end tables using cross-lap joints, (Japanese: ai-gaki), which are used extensively in shoji door and screen construction. In the table application, the joint is used to join the legs to the horizontal rails. A mortise must be cut in both the leg and rail, effectively removing half the thickness of each piece where it is to be joined to the other.  

Structurally this joint is quite weak, though when used in large numbers (there are 12 cross-lap joints in each end table) and combined with other joints, such as a mortise and tenon used to join the shelf supports to the rails, it is possible to construct a very strong, lightweight table, one that can carry large static loads and resist axial deflection.

I leave the rail about 1 mm proud of the leg in the front... 

Front view of leg and rail

...and flush in the rear.

Rear view of leg and rail

 

I mill the leg and rail stock from one 12/4 cherry board so as to get the best match for grain and color. Then I mark all the joints and use a simple fence to guide the saw when cutting the cheeks. After removing the waste, I use a bench plane to achieve finished thickness.

Marking the joint

Cutting the cheek

Planing to thickness

Checking the thickness

 

The goal is to cut the joint so there is as close to zero gap as possible on all ten touching surfaces. 

Success!

 

I like the simple look achieved by the use of three plain shelves. I bevel the sides of the shelves to further lighten up the finished look.

Leg, rail and shelf detail

 

The table can also be built with a drawer. And by adding side rails, the lower shelf becomes a bookcase.  The Sunday New York Times fits on the shelf below the drawer; a customer-defined requirement from years ago! The drawer handles are traditional hikari style.  

The static load test