Design question. Miter or dovetails..

Answer?

Virgil Johnson

But it was a difficult means to an end.

Yep. That sums it up it very well.

I looked for your question but did not see it. As for the reasoning of the construction method it seemed logical since the transition between the sides and base would have been nearly impossible to sand between coats of finish if the base was permanently attached. I have used the separate base method in the past but this method seemed to fit the style of the piece better.

not a problem

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I often build case pieces where the case sides go to the floor, then wrap molding around the base. One does have to sand before wrapping the molding. But then I stain and finish. I don't find any issue sanding the first coat as good as it needs to be at the intersection of wrapped molding and case side (see PIC)

I would not have attempted what you did because I could not have pulled it off successfully. Mitered joints always worry me.

Re: Two means of case construction with a base

William Duffield

The type of base you and Virgil are building used to be called a "library base." However, I'm afraid that in the gobbledegook spoken by today's "designers," that once clear term has lost all its meaning. You'd think they would make these people pass a test before they could call themselves designers.