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25K views 88 replies 16 participants last post by  guyswoodshop 
#1 ·
Part 1

This is the first of a multi-part series detailing the construction of a small secretary built in the Federal style. One of the more interesting details of this piece are dual horizontal tambour doors that cover the drawers in the top hutch.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!

 
#5 ·
Hutch Joinery and Glue Up

This video shows how I tackle the joinery for the hutch. I also go through the assembly and glue up. I know this is fairly dry material for a video, however I felt it was necessary to show how to approach the fairly difficult glue up and joinery issues.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#19 ·
Making the Tambour Door

In this video, I start with rough lumber and mill it down to make the slats for the tambour door. Then place them in a jig, glue on the canvas and presto! A tambour door is made! Then I rabbet the tambour and install it in the hutch.
As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#20 ·
Very cool build Guy. I would only ad one thing. On your wedges that lock those slats together for gluing, maybe a small bit of sandpaper glued onto the wedges so they really don't slip?? Just a suggestion. The tambor door/s came out very nicely and your steps of doing it were a pleasure to watch. Got it in me brain for future use.. :)
 
#26 ·
Figured Drawer Fronts With Inlay

In this video, I start by selecting some beautiful figured crotch walnut for the drawer fronts. I resaw the board and then bookmatch the pieces so the "flame" of the figure radiates out from the center of the drawers. I also spend some time cutting and installing inlay in the drawer fronts, build the 6 drawers and then fit them to the openings.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#31 ·
Architectural Details and Inlaid Top

First I work on making the "pillars" for the architectural details in the front of the hutch. Then I carve the "foundations" for the pillars with a chisel. I cut the top to size, and using the router table, I form the decorative edge. Again, I use a router to cut the groove for the inlay, glue the inlay in, flush them to the surface as with the drawers and attach the top. I also show how I fix a pretty big mistake when I was cutting the inlay.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#36 ·
Turned Legs and Base Joinery

I start out with some 12/4 walnut, and cut 4 legs, making sure I use rift sawn lumber. Using a turning that I made for a template, I turn all 4 legs. Then I start on the joinery. This is traditional mortise and tenon joinery throughout, and I show an easy way to get nice tight fitting tenons. The front bottom rail uses a double tenon while the top uses a dovetail to hold everything together. The most unusual thing in this video is that there a shot where you can almost see me smile! Almost….

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#43 ·
Inlay, Inlay and More Inlay

I start out by creating a template for the oval fan medallions that will be recessed into the front of the leg. I then work on the recesses for the banding that will go on the rails. The banding on the legs at the top must match the rails exactly, and I show how I accomplish this. Then it's cutting for the banding on the legs, along with additional stringing that will be on the front of the legs. I wrap it all up by gluing all the banding and string inlay into the legs and the rails.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#48 ·
Base Internals and Assembly

In this video, I make the center divider for the drawers in the base. I also add some kickers for the drawers. After sanding, I glue it up taking special care to line up the inlay on the rails with the legs.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#53 ·
Figured Inlay Drawers and Top

In this video, I have a nice piece of figured walnut, and resaw it to make book matched drawer fronts. These pieces get laminated to another piece of walnut. I also make a small frame for the hutch to rest on the top, and make the top. And of course, everything gets inlay!
As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#60 ·
Pre-Assembly and Back

Final finishing up of the woodworking part of this project! I attach the hutch to the subframe, and then that assembly to the top. I also make the interior back and the back of the hutch.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#63 ·
Applying an Oil and Shellac Finish

First a coat of boiled linseed oil is applied, and then 4 coats of amber shellac. I also show my method of mixing my own shellac. The grain on the drawers really popped and they look great!

As always, I welcome your questions and comments!



 
#75 ·
Hardware and Final Assembly

It's finally finished! In this video I perform the final assembly of the secretary. I install the tambours and handles, the backs, and the drawer hardware. Yes, I did end up going with the larger pulls. There were some very good points made about the larger and smaller pulls. However in the end, it boiled down to my beautiful wife making the final decision. A nice coat of wax and it's complete! Thanks to everyone who watched and supported me during this build!

As always, I welcome your comments and questions!



 
#76 ·
Guy, I have been a member here for quite a while and I honestly believe that is my favorite project ever posted! Your attention to detail really paid off in the way those tambor doors and drawers slide! I wouldn't change a thing!
Can't wait to see what you do next.
 
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