One small wedge: why our book stand has no screws

Hi, it's Tristan.

I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite details in our Zen Book Stand: the small wedge that holds it together. It's easy to overlook when you're looking at the whole piece, but a lot of what I like about the design comes down to that joint.

The stand started with one Maisy's mom had as a girl in Hong Kong. Maisy and I worked on bringing it into the way we live now, going back and forth between how it should feel and how we could make it. We wanted it to be simple enough that the books you choose are still what you notice first.

Why the wedge is there

The joint is called a tusk tenon. One part passes through the other, and a wedge gets tapped into place to lock them together. That's how the stand holds together without screws. I cut the joints and make the wedges by hand, fitting them together here in the woodshop.

On the maple stands, we use cherry for the wedge. On the oak ones, we use walnut. The different wood gives it a little contrast, so you can see the part that's doing the work. We didn't want to hide it, but we didn't want it to take over the design either.

When we use an older technique like this, I like to understand why it worked in the first place before deciding what to change. There's a lot to learn from how a few pieces of wood can hold each other in place. In this case, keeping the joint visible lets you see how the stand goes together, which is part of what makes it interesting to me.

Keeping the feel of the wood

The finish matters just as much as the fit. After sanding, we oil the pieces by hand. Wood doesn't absorb the finish evenly everywhere, so I give it time to soak in, then go back and wipe away the excess. If you see a batch halfway through, it can look like there's too much oil on it. We haven't finished wiping it back yet.

What we're after is an even finish that still feels like wood when you put your hand on it. We do the sanding, oiling and wiping together at the long table, and Ash checks the details as we assemble. 

I like that a book stand asks you to choose a few books to keep out, rather than finding somewhere to put all of them. The shape stays quiet, and your favorites get a place where you'll actually see them.

If you have one of ours, I hope this gives you a reason to take another look at the wedge. It's a small detail, but now you know why we left it where you can see it.

Tristan

From our family, to yours.