Hope everyone's been doing well.

Anyway, after the big mistake, I found a way to make the drawers work, but I didn't like how the grain worked out. So, I ended up bagging them altogether. I guess I'll have plenty of stock to finish the gallery and feet now... I plan on picking up new drawer/lid stock in the next couple of days.

By default, then, I've been working on the gallery. Here's where I am now:


I've just about finished the gallery drawers, but still have to do the valances for the pigeonholes. Then it's on the pilasters and prospect door.

After chopping the first of 8 little drawer fronts, I figured that there had to be a more efficient way, so I came up with this jig:


The fronts slide in, and the piece that's perpendicular to the rest acts as a stop for the router. I blasted out the majority with the router, then cleaned it up by hand. (PS The router barely fit into the gallery when cutting the dados for the partitions. I looked at the Colt at Lowes the other night, and it was close to an inch shorter than the DeWalt. It would have made things a lot easier... FWIW) Anyway, the jig also made a nice cradle for the fonts when chopping out the rest of the waste.

Between work and traveling this week, I don't think I'll be able to get back in the shop for a couple of weeks, but I'm finally feeling pretty good about progress again.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Catch up with ya later,

Whit

Whit,

It's looking good.

rat

So can you inform me how & what was your technique for cutting the sides (ends) of the chest. Just curious to know you technique. Share with us your insights and frustrations. This will help us all.

Fred

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We got back from Texas a day earlier than planned, so I was able to sneak in a little shop time this afternoon.

Anyway, got the valances dry fit:


I'm still not sure that I like the way that they turned out. I think they looked better on paper... Any of y'all have an opinion? Do you think the radius should be wider?

If you're interested, here's how I cut the radiuses:


Good luck to everyone getting caught up at work this week!

Whit

i think the radius is ok....it seems to me that it should be less then 1/2 the circle..i think i would shorten the valence by 3/8 or so...from the bottom ...

dont get me wrong..i think it looks sweet just the way it is...but you asked

Hey T,

Thanks for your 2 cents... The great thing about this place is that if you ask for opinions, you're definitely going to get em...

Anyway, is this what you mean?


Thanks,

Whit

The flats are usually smaller.... So I think a slightly bigger arch will look more pleasing. Yet it still looks GOOD!!!!!

Whit,

I like them the way they are now. Seems to fit the piece well, in my opinion. Cal

Hey everyone,

I've been able to sneak a few hours in so far this week. I've got the center compartment built, and started on the three drawers. Still haven't decided on the layout of the hidden drawers. I'll get a pic of them next time. Here's what I've got:


I think I'm going to finish all of the gallery drawers next, then start figuring out how to turn and veneer the pilasters.

Whit

Whit-
very nice work, trying to figure out the best way to make something is half the fun in woodworking. Your desk is looking great!!

Chris

Hey guys,

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.

Aside from yesterday, I haven't been able to get much shop time in this month. I thought I'd check in before I found myself playing triple A, though...

Anyway, I spent most of the day gluing the gallery partitions (it has all been dry fit to this point), and finishing up all of the little drawers (minus the bottoms).


I also started messing around with the pilasters:






That being said, I don't think I care for them much... I may have painted myself into a corner, as I didn't set the gallery back far enough (if I make the pilasters any wider, the capital will project past the top of the case. I don't know how it will look, but I may try using 1/3rd of a column instead of a half. That way I can gain a little more width without depth...

Also started playing around with the Seymourish sand shaded veneer for the pilasters:


Hopefully I'll have a little more to report next time... In the meantime, I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year.

Whit

Smitty,

Man O Man!!!!!! It is coming out AWESOME. It is so inspiring seeing you make this. Now I want to make one. It looks like so much fun. Keep up the great work.

Fred

Whit,

Great work. Are you intending to veneer the pilasters in the round? That sounds very interesting, not to mention challenging. Have you seen them that way on any original 'transistional' pieces? The ones I have seen are flat and the veneer strips somewhat simulate fluting.

You have made quick work of this desk or so it seems, gives me a boost of confidence for making one in February.

It is looking like I will be driving the Northern route through Indy when I go out to NC. But I will keep you posted.

And....are you still interested in coming to KC for the Spring Sapfm meeting? We are pretty settled on the March 27th date. Would love to have you there, and the desk will make awesome "show and tell."

Keep up the good work and updates. And thanks for the good pictures.

Whit,

Here is a veneered pilaster on a Seymour basin stand built by Rob Millard that I picked up from his website. Cal

Cal,

I was going to give the round veneering a try. Here's a pic of one of the pilasters on the Seymour secretary/ campaign desk/ whatever it was/ that we saw in STL. (I can't believe I didn't get a better one):

(The grain orientation on the tambour doors is just sick, eh?)

Anyway, maybe I'm missing something, but I didn't think it would be too hard... I figured the trick would be using a fluting bit in the router to make a caul the same diameter as the pilaster for the glue-up.

I can't say that I've ever seen anything like it on a piece like my desk before, but it is going to be so heavily inlaid, what's a little more, right?

Sorry you wont be coming through Nashville; Angie and I would have loved for you to stop by... Glad your brother will be able to make the trip, though.

As far as KC, it may be a game time decision. If some of the builders we work for pay their bills a little more quickly (or at all, for that matter) this spring I hope to be there.

Whit

Cool. Thanks for the picture. I can't believe I didn't catch that detail from St. Louis. I must be slipping.

This is an awesome desk. You will love having it once you are done. And the workmanship is superb.

There will be chances to get by Nashville, hopefully sooner than later. Cal

Pilasters: Done!

I know they're still not 100% perfect, but I can't spend any more time on them... It was about to drive me crazy:

Otherwise, I started messing around with some of the shells/fans/whatever. I've got to go to WC to hopefully find a smaller sweep gouge to make the install easier. (I figure I've only get 21 more to do, so I probably need to get it streamlined). Aside from that, I need to bang out 3 little drawers for the pull-out section, script an initial in the door, then it's on to the feet (I think I'm going to do French feet after all...)

Hope to have a little more to report tomorrow...

Y'all have a good rest of the weekend.

Whit

PS: Tommy, what kind were the second set of hinges you put on the bombe's prospect door? I'm about to have a similar problem.

Whit,
Wow.. well done on the veneered pilasters.. now you'll have to share with us how you applied them.. glue.. what you used to wrap them around.
I like your decision on the french feet... they are a great detail.. how are you going to do them? wedged from underneath or cut out of solid stock? Inquiring minds want to know.

Scott,

Here's how I glued the veneer. (Its pretty technical):


I veneer taped the 4 shaded sections together from the pic a few posts ago. (They were about 1/8" wider than the radius I needed.) Once dry, I licked it a couple times (no kidding) and began to apply it to the pilaster which was tacked to the edge of a piece of plywood. I then started going down the pilaster with packing tape, getting progressively tighter as I went. I had initially considered making some sort of caul, but I didn't have a fluting bit the correct diameter to make one. Anyway, the packing tape was kind of nice, because it pulled most of the veneer tape off when I removed it. I had very little to sand and scrape. I then taped a piece of sandpaper to the bench and lightly sanded the backs until the excess veneer hanging off the sides was sanded flat.

Hope this makes sense,

Whit

thats looking great. i love the veneered pillaster. i've never seen that before and it looks amazing.

I wonder if you could of used solid Holly strips, sand shade them really dark, glue it up and then turn them. I don't know. Or what about coopering the little pieces and then turning them? I don't know, I am just thinking out loud.

I think they came out awesome!! Great Job!!!

Fred

Whit,

Way to push it man, those pilasters look awesome and you figured out a technique that almost nobody else has tried. My hat's off to you. Cal

like cal said...awesome!

Hope y'all are ready for a little rambling.

Anyway, been a bit chilly in anyone else's shop lately? I've been through an entire 100lb propane tank in the last couple weeks...

Despite hands to cold to work well, and trying not to drip snot on any prospect parts, the center compartment is just about finished (minus a little cockbeading on the door). Since last time, I've managed to recess the fans that were taped on, finish the drawers, and inlay the script:



So, I thought I was just about finished with the gallery until I found this on Chipstone:


I hadn't planned on doing any embellishments on the gallery drawers for fear of the piece looking to "busy", but this was too cool.I may do a mock up and re-evaluate.It would obviously be a ton more work, but... Any thoughts? It would be a little tougher now that the drawers are glued up, too. If I do end up doing it though, I would get to procrastinate a little longer in making a decision on the feet. (Scott, I think I'm going to have to try and wedge them, as I only have 6/4 material that's already been milled down a little.)

Stay warm,

Whit

Whit,

I hear ya on the cold. My shop in the garage is almost uninhabitable. Hopefully the temps will warm up next week. It is -2 in the KC area as I type this.

As far as the desk, I love everything about it. As far as the detail work, it is really up to you (and your wife?). To be true to the Appalachian transitional work, I don't think there is such a thing as "too busy". I'm sure you've seen this clock from Winchester, Va:

I personally would go for it! Thanks for keeping the thread updated with your work, I am really enjoying it. Cal