Arch-Top Bookends

These simple bookends allow you to try out some of the same techniques used on larger furniture like an arch-top headboard. And with some scrap hardwood and MDF you can build them in a weekend.

Every woodworker who sees these bookends asks the same question: “How did you do it?” You’ve got to admit, the answer isn’t exactly obvious. Even though you know the top hasn’t been literally bent into its curved shape, there aren’t many clues that might suggest how it’s done. One of the tricks is to work with oversized pieces. After a little shaping, some molding pieces are mitered to wrap around the body (which is also oversized). Then you begin the process of cutting and sanding the curve on the top. And to hide the evidence, a piece of veneer is simply glued to the top. It’s a fairly straightforward process for creating a pretty impressive detail.

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What You Get:

  • 6 pages of step-by-step instructions
  • 39 full-color exploded views, photos and illustrations
  • Shop-tested tips and techniques
  • Material list and cutting diagram
  • Retail sources for hardware and supplies

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