Distressed Chalkboard Message Center

I've been making these chalkboard message centers for about a year now.  They're an absolute joy to make because each one has six, count'em, SIX! mortise and tenons in the frame construction.  These are designed and built in a tradition of woodworking I compulsively adhere to.  Old school construction you might say.  Say it again, OLD SCHOOL.  I've constructed these in many different materials, from spalted maple to your run-of-the-mill pine.  My wife is gifted in picking relevant paint colors and distressing these bad-boys and I wish I had her skill in color matching.  I'm going to use this blog post to explain my decidedly favorite part in the construction of these message centers; the joinery.

There are four mortise-tenons in the bottom frame and two in the top frame.  In the below image, I was making a batch of the message centers for selling to friends (and for my Etsy shop).  The mortising tool I primarily use is my router table with a tall fence.  It allows me to frame-out these chalkboard panels with pure perfection.  It takes very little sanding for the joints since the joined pieces are perfectly flush to each other.

Here's a bottom view of the message center and its relevant joint.  Flush and true, and I thank my router table and square fence for these results.

One more thing I'd like to point out in terms of joinery is the tightness (i.e. absolutely no gap) in all the joints.  This is mainly due to joined pieces of wood being cut exactly at right angles.  I took several hours building my table saw chop sled to cut pieces square within 1/1000 of an inch per foot.  For those who don't quite understand what I'm saying here, suffice it to say these joined pieces are dead square.

Like I said previously, these little buggers are an absolute joy to make.  I honestly put in about 5 - 8 hours in each one I make (from milling the wood to the final sealer), and that's not counting the time for paint, sealer, and glue to dry.  The trouble-free joinery makes assembly pain-free, but my perfectionism takes over with my cabinet scraper and sanding (to the point of sculpting/shaping).  Here's the one I built for my wife in the entryway of our house, and the list is real.  Don't forget the measuring spoons!

So, if you'd like one of these unique and stylish chalkboard message centers as an excellent addition to your entry way, kitchen, or what-have-you, drop me a message or visit my Etsy shop.