The Best thing I have yet to finished - A Wooten Patent Desk

Wow

This is going to be cool.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Wow is right. I look forward to seeing it done!

-- Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam

THAT is quite a project!

Are you planning on keeping it… or selling it?

Will be interesting to see how you progress…

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Gary, I don’t know you at all but from what i’ve read in your posts over the past months (year?) I could tell you have the type of discipline/patience that everyone wishes they had, including me. Just the fact that you take on some of the projects you do is admirable, thank you for helping to remind me to not always think about what projects will make the most $ in the shortest amount of time and the importance of the passion over the dollar…although it does sound like you could make some decent bucks even if you make the lowest grade, one per year, what do you think? I think it’s very interesting the different high-dollar niches that people find/fulfill, I would like to hear more from other woodworkers ‘n their niches they’ve found. You always have plans to crazy projects no one has usually heard of, where do you get this stuff?

Gary,

This is a pretty intense piece. It reminds me of your bookcase entry. Can’t wait to see the desk (and the bookcase) finished.

-- "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

amazing Gary….always amazing…not sure if this tops the squirrel picnic table but this might get close…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...sanity...has arrived...JUNE-JULY-AUGUST...

Yep, if anyone can pull this off, you sir, are the one. Can’t wait to see whatever you share about this journey!

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Whoa! That’s quite a project. Can we assume that you’ll be doing the carving as well?

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

You were right on the money when you said that you were working on something pretty cool. This is certainly going to be a challenging project, but it is one that is tailored for you. With the details and inlays this is going to be an interesting project.

Keep us posted on your progress. This is going to be fun just watching the piece develop.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

That is beautiful! I hope you get it finished before to long, because I can’t wait to see it finished! That’s just awesome!

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

I can`t wait to see it complete.
Knowing your skills and attention to detail, it
will be superb.
Thanks for sharing your dream with us.

-- ''Carry on my wayward son''

Beautiful replica Gary. As usua,l your skill level is outstanding.
I can’t wait to see it finished..
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Sweet! Look forward to seeing it done.

-- Dennis Zongker

Let’s hope it keeps you busy through the next 2-3 contests.

Wait a minute! You’ve been doing this and the harpsichord and a dozen other projects plus trips to research the serving tray. Are you twins?

Lee

As usual another terrific post

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Douglas took the words right out of my mouth. Not many people have the skill and the patience to pull this off, but I know YOU do.

Now we’ll all be bugging you for progress reports. Maybe that’s why you posted it…. you wanted an extra push from your old LJ buddies? <g>

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Your work is amazing. I am curious on how you did the side panels.

-- Jerry, Set in the foothills of the Smokey's

Everybody took the words out of my mouth. Hurry up and get this done so we can admire it like everything else you do. It WILL be fantastic!!!

-- Thos. Angle

So very beautiful Gary! Love to see your work, WOW!....Someday I wanna grow up and be as good as you at wood working..lol
Will you be adding the carvings as well?

-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.

Well, It’s no corncob backscratcher… but I guess it’s pretty cool :)

That is AWESOME! Ditto to everything above, and to parphrase Chris C. I love the fact that the projects you pick are never typical!

-- Jon

I am sure there are therapy groups for people with your kind of problem Gary. Oh wait, that’s what LJ is… :)
Really cool project.

-- Rich in Richmond

Gary – you do like a challenge. Will you be doing the carved pediment and inlaid roll top Wooten used in his high-end models? It will be fun watching your progress – best wishes

-- Phil in British Columbia

yah but is it going to feature a “knot” or have a secret compartment??!!! yah.. now THAT’s tricky! :)

Jaw-dropping, eye-popping amazing! I, too, look forward the progress and the end result.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Gary: I know how children are to take care of. So I suggest that you take them into the shop and let them help you on the design and construction of the desk. I know it will make it more memorable for you but might not have the same resale value.

A fabulous project and something to stretch your design and creative abilities.

Looking forward to the progress photos.

Gary this one looks close to your picture.

A poster for sale

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Wow…it goes on my to do list.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

This is going on my eventual to-do list also. Wow. Its perfect for the packrat collector in me.

-- ~too many hobbies, not enough free time.

Dennis are you going to make it rustic.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Holy crap….....I mean…....Holy crap!!!!! Talk about ambitious. Good luck and I expect to see the write-up in Fine Woodworking.

-- Don, Pittsburgh

This tops all very very nice work makes my work look cheap….by seeing some of your work it doesn’t surprise at the level of work you can do

-- Woodworking what a way to relax

We’ll be watching!

No pressure, though… <g>

-- - Don't Panic!

what did you do on this today Gary ? got any progress photos ? >GRIN<

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

You’re going to describe how to do some of the parts of this, right? Like the bending and carving and how strong the hinges have to be, etc.. This raises expectations to a new level. Thanks!

-- Rich, Seattle, WA

Thanks for all the comments. Now for some of your questions.

Russel, Stanley2 – Yes I am going to try the carvings. I figure if I screw them up I don’t have to install them.

Sac – The side panels are just you standard panel and frame construction for the for the end of the doors that close against each other. For the outside panels I made a “T” shaped molding and glued it to the frame and used the rabbet created to hold the panels. The hardest part was the intersections of the curved and straight moldings. Especially on the outside curve on the tops of the doors.

Karson – They all kind of look the same but there are two styles. The main difference is the feet. Most all of them have the feet exposed like the one you pictured. Mine will have the feet covered like this one:

.
.
Compared to this one that are exposed:
.
.

Dan – Yea, right! :-)

Richforever – The curved sections were glue laminations. Then I had to figure out how to route them. I did them 3 years ago so I don’t really remember. As for the hinges I found a bunch of 4” ball bearings ones on ebay for about $3.00 a pair. I bought about 10 pairs. That’s one of the best deals I ever got on ebay. They can go for about $20+ each. Three on each door should do the trick. I think they are rated for a 200+ pound door.

Don’t look for much progress any time soon. At most I get about an hour a day in the shop.

Scott Bryan – This is not the special thing I mentioned before. I am also working on that also.

So much to do and so little time.

I still have to figure some secret compartment and knot thing! :-)

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Nice job Gary, exceptional, as ususual.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Some terrific craftsmanship as usual Gary.

I hope we don’t have to wait 4 more years for its completion.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Hi Gary;

Very ambitious project. It’s so rare to be able to build something just for kicks.

I imagine this project will keep kicking for quite some time!

Exceptional work, as always.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Gary I think I’d be in favor of the enclosed legs also.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Hi Gary

As usual i’m in awe if i ever get anywhere close to what you do i would class myself as a master craftsman as you truly are

-- cut it saw it scrap it

A truly awesome project. I would love to build something like that but I just don’t have the skills nor the space to do something this grand. I am confident that the end result will be a work of art. I look forward to the day you post the finished project.

Have you thought about what finish you are going to use on it yet?

-- Greg - Charles Town, WV

Fantastic project, I know you’re the jock who can pull this off. I should have started years ago if I was going to to try something half as ambitious in my lifetime.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Holy cow.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

I’m feeling a lot more humble than I want to right now…

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

you take on the coolest projects. this is great

-- making sawdust....

Gary

Good to see your skills and ambition are flourishing ~ you are an inspiration!

Tony Ward

-- Bandsaw Box Plans