Replies

1. 
   furnituremaker | May 14, 2007 04:18pm | #1

   I am not aware of any rule of thumb governing width and thickness of apron & stretchers in relation to legs, however there are a few things I would keep in mind.

   Four inches is a pretty hefty thickness for a leg - the other structural members should also be somewhat hefty to look right. I would shy away from making the parts all the same width - too boring - no visual interest. Without seeing the overall proportions of the piece it is difficult to comment directly.   

   Often I will make the lower rails wider (than the width of the legs ) to give visual weight to the piece - but depending upon the overall proportioning this may not work and also from your description you mention stretchers which makes me think there is not a large rail at the bottom but rather smaller structural members connecting the legs - as you would find connecting chair legs. If there are  indeed small stretchers at the bottom of the legs -  the apron would then have to be the wider and heftier member and the small stretchers could be less in width than the width of the legs.

   Your decision on width of structural members will also  impact the negative space - that space framed in by the legs - aprons - rails and stretchers  -left over in the interior. So keep that in mind.

   As far a thickness of the aprons and stretchers goes. With 4 inch legs I would probably go with at least 1 1/2" apron thickness - maybe even more. If the stretchers are open and seen, I would tend to go with a thickness of at least 1".

   I am afraid I have not been of much specific help - but  if you could post a sketch with some rough dimensions I could be more specific.

   For further reading I would highly recommend "Arts & Crafts Design" by William H Varnum

    

   .......Darrell

1. 
   studly | May 16, 2007 04:19am | #2

   Thanks Darrell