Daughters Desk - WIP

[jeff...]

Well, after cleaning up my shop a little, I got started on my daughter’s desk. After I finished mortising the legs for the rails, I remembered she’s a lefty. So first mistake a 3/8"X4" long mortise in the right front leg, I'll have to touch- up. It's being made out of some pretty strange looking quater sawn bird’s eye white oak; yes, birds eye white oak – weird looking...

Legs are 2x2 and rails are 1x5, thinking I might radius the bottom of the lower rails and do some 3/4" thick panels to close it in. A pencil drawer in the chair hole and maybe 3 drawers in the drawer hole. I don’t have any plans, so I’m making it up as I go along. Also thinking I might try and do something contrasting with some red cedar, though undecided at the moment.

Oh you can also see my shop pet in the background, daughter made him a nice saw dust bed :-D.

Thanks

 

[clowman]

Looks like you're off to a good start. Hopefully, it won't take you as long to finish your desk as it is my chessboard..

 

[D L Ames]

Looking good Jeff.:icon_thum That is some interesting looking grain in that QSWO.

How you coming on getting your cedar decking cut? Do you still need access to a large planer and shaper? Shoot me a PM if you still need a hand with it.

D L

 

[Travis Porter]

Looks good Jeff. You doing this from plans?

 

[DaveO]

Jeff...that's looking really good so far. I really look forward to seeing the wood finished. I have never seen QSWO with BE figure in it. I bet that is very cool looking.
Dave

 

[michaelgarner]

jeff,
Thats looking like it will be grand, keep up the good work. God bless friend.

 

[skeeter]

Good start on the desk. Birds Eye QSWO, interesting. That will really stand out with red cedar contrasts.

 

[cpowell]

Well, you're off to a good start. That QSWO looks awesome. Will the entire project be solid QSWO?

Chuck

 

[DaveT]

Looks like a good start. Where did you come across Bird's Eye oak?

 

[NZAPP1]

Wow Jeff that is a great start:icon_thum I am also looking forward to seeing the finish it should be awesome. Keep us posted on the progress.

 

[jeff...]

Managed to get a little time in the shop today, more work in progress pictures, starting the drawer layout and gluing up the top (26"x52"). At this point I'm just dry fitting the pieces together, since I have no plans it kinda helps me visualize what it's going to look like. I think I have enough 1" white oak to complete the desk. Still trying to visualize how I'm going to close this in. I know it will be panels of some kind just not sure what kind. Sure would appciate some design tips or pointers.

Thanks

 

[D L Ames]

Jeff, are you leaning toward raised panels for the sides or flat panels? I would think using flat panels sorta like a mission or craftsman style would work great with that QSWO you are using.

D L

 

[jeff...]

DL, I was thinking of panels like this - since the legs look at lot like these already.

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/plansnow/heirloombed-closer.jpg

I also really like the style of Alan's shop cabnets, if I could work something like that in for side panels

http://members.cox.net/schafftershop/Backbench-50.JPG

I'm with you I don't think raised panels would look good on this desk, in my mind raised panels are too formal. I really like the look of them on doors and formal furniture. This is my daughter’s desk; I kinda want to give it playful inviting look that matches her personality. If you have any pictures of the panels you’re thinking of and it's not too much to ask please post a link or picture of them.

Thanks

 

[D L Ames]

DL, I was thinking of panels like this - since the legs look at lot like these already.

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/plansnow/heirloombed-closer.jpg

I also really like the style of Alan's shop cabnets, if I could work something like that in for side panels

http://members.cox.net/schafftershop/Backbench-50.JPG

I'm with you I don't think raised panels would look good on this desk, in my mind raised panels are too formal. I really like the look of them on doors and formal furniture. This is my daughter’s desk; I kinda want to give it playful inviting look that matches her personality. If you have any pictures of the panels you’re thinking of and it's not too much to ask please post a link or picture of them.

Thanks

Jeff,
To be honest either one of the links you provided would look great. The pic of Alan's cabinets is a perfect example of what I was referring to when I mentioned the Mission or Craftsman style. I think Alan's example would be an excellent candidate to match up with the QSWO you are using for this project.

D L

 

[Ray Martin]

Jeff,

Excellent progress on the desk. Are you going to do with all oak or will there be other / accent pieces in there? Any ideas on what kind of finish yet? ... and how much help is your daughter giving you on her desk?

Ray

 

[thrt15nc]

Jeff, the desk looks good. It's similar to one I did for my wife. There are some pics in my gallery. I used raised panels as I wanted a little more formal look. I think any of the choices shown would be nice. I too like the panels on the shop cabs.

I'm curious if you're dog is still breathing there. (Pics from one day to the next and still in the same spot) :lol: :lol: :lol:

Tom S

 

[jeff...]

Jeff, the desk looks good. It's similar to one I did for my wife. There are some pics in my gallery. I used raised panels as I wanted a little more formal look. I think any of the choices shown would be nice. I too like the panels on the shop cabs.

I'm curious if you're dog is still breathing there. (Pics from one day to the next and still in the same spot) :lol: :lol: :lol:

Tom S

Wow Tom, I can't believe it - it looks like I stole your design. I'm even going to radius the bottom rails like yours.
http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showphoto.php?photo=6051&cat=500&ppuser=967

Does yours have drawers? I'm trying to figure out the drawer configuration too. At the very top of the drawer hole will be a pull out 1" thick slab for writting and three drawers underneath it, smaller to larger from the top down. The chair hole will have either one or two 3" drawers, since it's a 30" wide hole I'm undecided at the moment on one or two equal width drawers.

Yep, the dog is still alive, He's just real old - sleeps a lot. Daughter made him a saw dust bed in the corner which he loves to sleep on :roll:

Thanks

 

[thrt15nc]

:lol: :lol:
You can steal "my" designs anytime you want. Actually mine came from a plan in Wood magazine I think. I didn't put any drawers in the two pieces I made. "Client" wanted it that way for now! I have enough of the fibreboard for the top and the laminate left over for one more piece like the side piece. I think what I'll do is make that and either add drawers to it, or make a couple of roll arounds with drawers and storage space that can be stored underneath it.

Tom

 

[jeff...]

Went to go reply to your message and bam at the top of the page up popped a picture of bdjessup sons highboy: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showphoto.php?photo=3961

This is almost exactly I had in mind for the cedar accents and can't believe the picture just popped up in front of me I hope bdjessup doesn't mind me "stealing" his idea. I'm a very visual kinda guy, pictures speak 1000's of words. One reason I don't use plans much.

I do believe I've come to closure - this is the flat panel drawer and panel design I'm going to use. Instead of walnut accents I'm going to use eastern red cedar. Now I just need to make it work.

Hopefully I can find some good hearted NCWoodworker to turn some cedar knobs for me, since I don't own lathe.

Thanks

 

[jeff...]

Jeff,

Excellent progress on the desk. Are you going to do with all oak or will there be other / accent pieces in there? Any ideas on what kind of finish yet? ... and how much help is your daughter giving you on her desk?

Ray

Ray and everyone thanks for the reply - I've had this "picture" of my daughters desk in my mind for a long time. It's kinda nice to see it finally start to take shape. I think I have enough of this weird looking white oak to finish the desk. I'll be adding a little contrasting eastern red cedar to accent it, mainly around the panel frames and drawers. As for finish, no stain, toner or dye, it'll just be several coats of spray on clear gloss polyurethane, with a thick coating of clear gloss bar top finish on both the top and the writing slab. I'm thinking the bar top finish should make a pretty good flat and tough writing surface. This will be my first attempt at a bar top finish so any do's and dont's would be really helpful.

Also looking for some good hearted NCWoodworker to turn a few cedar drawer pulls for me, since I don't have a lathe.

Thanks