Introducing Knightlite FurnitureMaker Software (TM)

Learn to build a small table using rough-cut lumber, step-by-step using traditional 18th Century joinery. Connecticut Furniture Maker James Redway guides you through the process from start to finish, using over 45 minutes of full motion video in 91 video clips, using animated Agents, and over 350 images. Move through the software at your own speed. Easy to use navigational buttons allow you to jump from chapter to chapter, and to topic to topic with just a few clicks of the mouse. That is something that no book or video can do. Automatically bookmark your last position so you can easily return to where you left off. You can also set the software to self-run giving you over 3 1/2 hours of continuous instruction. A totally new, easy to use, interactive way to learn how to build quality pieces of furniture using time-tested methods, such as double pinned mortise and tenon joinery.

The Christmas Table (TM) that we will be making here is made from solid cherry. It has a rectangular table top with chamfered corners. (Very Toddler safe - No Sharp Corners.) It also has a Cupid's Bow carved skirt, and tapered legs. The table is constructed using double-pinned mortise and tenon joinery, one of the principle skills you will learn from this software program. It is finished with 5 coats of hand-rubbed Tung Oil. It is then waxed.

If constructed properly this Christmas Table will last for generations and represents a way a part of you can remain immortal. When we have long passed from this world, our furniture has a chance to live on. To ensure this vision of immortality is realized, we have to build furniture correctly. And that's exactly what this program is going to do for you.

In this software program we will teach you how to make a small stand using traditional 18th Century joinery techniques. These are time-tested techniques that will ensure that your table will last for years to come.

The program is broken down into sections that will allow you to review one section at a time. You can also print out any of these sections at anytime by clicking on the "File" menu and selecting "Build Instruction Book." You can print a single topic, chapter, or you can print out an entire book.

We have also included modules that will assist you in pricing out your lumber, calculate skirt sizes for other tables, create a database of past projects, estimate moisture content in your lumber, and more.

Here is what you get:

A comprehensive interactive tutorial consisting of 13 chapters that will take you through the entire sequence of making a small side table from start to finish.

Chapters Include:

Introduction

Stationary Power Tools

Hand Power Tools

Hand Tools And Other Stuff

Selecting The Lumber

Making The Table Top.

Making The Table Skirts

Making The Table Legs

Sanding And Assembly

Finish Working On The Table Top

Finish Sanding

Applying The Finish

Other Projects And Conclusion

Once you select a chapter, the main tutorial window appears. You can easily move between each step using the navigational buttons located at the lower left hand side of the screen. They allow you to move at your own pace between steps. If you don't feel like reading it yourself, you can use Ahsha, an animated agent who will read the text out loud to you. Many steps have full motion video that demonstrate a variety of skills and operations. It is far easier to learn when you can actually see a procedure being performed for you.

Click the Read All button, and the software will move into presentation mode. Ahsha will read the topic, and then play the video, before advancing to the next topic. This self running presentation is over 3 1/2 hours long when played from start to finish.

You can also print out any single step, chapter or even the entire database.

In this software program we make a small cherry side table called the Christmas Table from start to finish, covering every detail of the construction process. This includes construction notes on the various jigs needed to make the table.

There are a great deal of stationary power tools one can get to make this table and other pieces of furniture. We tell you which ones we think are absolutely necessary, and others that you can live without.

The same can be said for hand power tools. There are those that you will absolutely need, and those that you can live without as well.

In this chapter we will show you which hand tools and other materials you will need to make your Christmas Table. Many of these you probably already have.

Selecting lumber is the first important step in building your table. We show you what you should look for when purchasing your lumber to ensure that your piece will be destined to become a family heirloom.

We begin the building process with the table top. Topics covered include, choosing the lumber, rough cutting the piece, flattening the boards, planing the boards, joining them on the jointer, and finally gluing them up.

Next we move on to making the table skirts. The topics in this chapter include, selecting the boards, flattening then, planing the pieces, cutting the pieces to size, cutting the tenons and dados, cutting the Cupid's bow, preparing the tenons to fit the mortises, and sanding the skirt parts.

We then move on to creating the table legs. In this chapter we cover choosing the right leg stock, flattening the boards, planing the stock, ripping them to size, squaring them, cutting them to length, cutting the mortises, tapering the legs, and finally sanding the legs.

Once all of our parts are made, it is time to finish sand all of them, and assemble the piece. This software will take you through the process step-by-step, We will fit the tenons properly in the mortise holes, make pegs to drive through our tenons, and finally to assemble the frame showing every detail of the process.

While the glue is drying, we will finish working on the table top. Here we will rip the top to size, crosscut it to size, chamfer the corners, rout the top edge, and sand it. We will then show you how to make cleats for attaching the table top, and finally finish assembling the table.

Before we can put any finish on our table we have to finish sand all surfaces so that the table is prepared to receive the finish. We then move on to applying the finish to the table and once again take you through the entire process step-by-step.

In our conclusion chapter we will tell you how to maintain your finish, and how you can apply the skills learned in this program to make a host of other types of tables.

This module calculates board footage. Enter the thickness of the board, the width, the length, and the price per board foot, and it will calculate how much that board will cost you. It keeps a running total of all the lumber in your project. Print out your lumber list and take it with you to the lumber yard.

It is very important to use lumber that has been kiln dried. If you don't have a moisture meter, you can use this module for accurately calculating the moisture content of your lumber.

This is one of the handiest tools we have. It is our Skirts Calculator and we have used it for years to build thousands of custom tables. Lets say you want to build a table that is 12 inches wide, and 25 inches long. Your table legs are 1 3/8 inches wide, and you will be using 3/4 inch tenons for your skirts. Your table overhangs will be 1 1/2 on the sides and 2 1/2 inches on the ends. Taking all this into consideration, how long should you make your skirt pieces? This calculator will do all the math for you instantly. You can even save these measurements in your table database.

You can store the dimensions for this table in our Table Database program which is also included with this software package. The table database also comes with 12 other plans that you can use to make tables other than The Christmas Table. Above shows our Stockbridge side table which is another popular small stand that we build.