1) Start with a drawing and a cut list.
2) Choose the pieces of your board best suited for each part of your project. Consider grain patterns, knots, and board irregularities.
3) Rough cut your board down to smaller pieces. Leave each piece at least 1 inch longer than its final dimension.
4) Joint one edge of each board and then rip them to their final width plus 1/32 of an inch. Joint that 1/32 off to remove the saw marks.
5) Crosscut your boards (with the exception of the stretcher and any shelf) to their final length. Use a back-up board.
6) Mark and cut any arches/designs that you wish to have on the legs.
7) Mark, but do not cut, any designs that you wish to have on the top.
8) Cut dados. Use a back-up board for through dados.
9) Cut any designs in the top. Sand end grain edges of top only with 100 grit sandpaper. Rout edges to be routed, remember, end grain first. Don’t forget to leave a shoulder where necessary.
10) Measure and cut stretcher to length (also the shelf, if you have one). Mark and cut any designs on the stretcher, and use the router if you like.
11) All faces and all edges not in a joint should be sanded down to at least 150 grit sandpaper. Don’t sand legs too thin. Do not sand end grain of legs!
12) Fit pieces together. Drill pilot holes in the top for nails. Nail legs into dados.
13) Install stretcher.
Locate stretcher position.
Lightly clamp into place.
Check to make sure that all pieces are fitting squarely.
Make sure that legs are bottomed out in the dados.
Mark centerlines on legs for drilling.
Drill pilot holes/counter bores.
Install screws.
Cut and install plugs. Saw them flush, sand smooth.