Evening star., 1939-01-15
Group Finds
Men Enjoy
Worksho op
Instructions Given
For Constructing
Handy Chest

Members of the wood working
class at Langley Community Gen.
ter, Second and r streets N. E., have
convincing proof of the truth of the
adage, Every man is just boy at
heart"
The class is conducted from 6 to
9 pm. every Monday by j. r. RELY
Of College Park, Md. as a part OF
the Districts community center
program.
"Our purpose" Mr.. Reilly ex-
planned, lis to keep boys of the
streets-and, OF course, out of mis-
chief. We're in session every week,
except when Monday falls on holi-
day, from the first part of October
until the last part of May.
I'VE make wide variety of
things from wood-cabinets, stools,
tables, tabourets, benches, even
miniature boats. The Community
Center Department furnishes the
wood for the smaller objects, but, of
course, If any one wants to build
something bigger than our general
run of products, he has to furnish
his own lumber"
X X X X
Mr.. Reily's class averages from Is
to 20 members, he said. Some of
the boys attend only as long as it
takes them to complete the article
on which they are working; others
participate in the program almost
indefinitely, turning out one piece
Of handiwork after another.
II prefer boys Of IA or over" Mr..
Reilly said. when they're too
young, they just mess things up
The older boys realize that our
materials cost money-and they
make every piece of board, every
nail count for something.
You'd be surprised, though"
Mr.. Reilly continued, Ito know how
many men come in and ask if they
can join the class in making some
thing. They get as much fun out
of our activities as the boys do
and, ,-of course, I'm glad to let them
come in If they furnish their own
materials
I'VE had a man in the class not
long ago. He bought himself some
lumber and wanted to make a book
case. We helped him with it, and
he came Monday after Monday un-
til it was finished-and then took
it home"
All members of the class are at
liberty to take their products home,
regardless of whether the materials
are furnished by themselves or by
the Community Center Department,
Mr.. Reilly said.
Some of the boys specialize in
making neat little tabourets. to hold
f1owerpots and the like. and selling
them" Mr.. Reilly added. This not
only keeps them off the streets, but
enables them to pick up a little
spending money. too.
\ X r
AS an example of what can be
done by boys interested in wood
working, here are directions for
making knick knack chest:
Take six boards and saw them
into the shapes and sizes shown in
the drawing reproduced above. Use
a coping or jig saw to get the curves
into the two end boards. If you do
not have such saw. you can let
the ends of the boards remain
square - though, of course. the
curved ends make more graceful
appearance.
Your lumber should be one-half
inch thick. The dimensions of the
chest can vary, but If the ends are
IL inches wide and 80 inches long,
and the sides. top and bottom cut
to give space about IL inches deep
and "a inches long, you will have
good looking chest when finished.
The side pieces are QUITO fit be-
tween the ends and are held by six
penny finish nails The bottom is
set between the lower edges. The
top is two inches wider than the
bottom, and instead of hinges you
can use two 10-penny nails, one
driven through each end and into
each rear corner of the top 1t
will be necessary to round the back
edge of the top a little to insure
easy opening. Hinges can be used,
of course, if you prefer.
Before you assemble the boards,
make sure that each cut is square
and that the rough edges have been
smoothed with sandpaper or plane.
See that both ends and both sides
are Of the same dimensions. Then
assemble, driving the heads of the
finish nails below the surface with
a nail set. Sandpaper thoroughly
and fill the holes over the nails
with putty.
Apply a coat of wood filler first;
then, when that dries, put on a
good coat of paint, lacquer or var
nish. If the wood used has pretty
grain, you can use a stain, which will
enhance its natural beauty. The in
side need not be painted.
This chest will be large enough
to hold the odds and ends which
accumulate in your room. It can
stand under the window, and the
top can be used as either a seat or
bookshelf,