| Project by jonhodges22 | posted 117 days ago | 449 views | 0 times favorited | 7 comments |  |
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This is my mixed wood drafting table. All of the wood materials are salvaged “rejects” from construction jobs except for the oak dowels which were bought for this project. The hinge hardware is brass.
The oak was rejected from a job because the ball milled feature on it was not the appropriate length. So my father salvaged the material and I incorporated the ball milling into the design of the table in order to use it for this project.
The birch plywood in the top and bottom were from a number of same-size pieces that were rejected from a job for not being uniform in grain. I picked out the most knotted grain of the bunch for the top and when the light hits it right it looks fantastic.
The walnut frame around the top is constructed from the remaining strips of the boards I used for the sides of my Simple Walnut Box project that is also posted here. Those walnut boards were rejected for having lighter colored sapwood.
The legs are redwood that was salvaged from a job.
The same setup used for the box joints on my Simple Walnut Box was used here. I did use some square head trim screws in places, where you can see the dots of filler. Instead of trying to hide the filler I just decided to keep everything symmetrical enough so the dots of filler don’t bother me.
Each leg is attached with two dowels (and glue) to the top. The only design feature of the desk I wish I would have done differently, so that the leg attachment would be sturdier. Not sure what I would have done instead though.
7 comments so far
cwdance1
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186 posts in 154 days
posted 117 days ago
Very nice job
woodchic
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posted 117 days ago
You did a great job! This is a very nice project!
Robin Renee’
AKA….............Woodchic
-- Robin Renee'
a1Jim
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16851 posts in 472 days
posted 117 days ago
Hey John
This is a very special drafting table great design and woods plus super details well done
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
mcoyfrog
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posted 117 days ago
Being a drafter by trade this has a special place for me, great job and welcome to lumberjocks..
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
pommy
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posted 117 days ago
Simple but elegant and made from salvage so a plus all round i my books
Andy
-- cut it saw it scrap it
Chris Cunanan
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posted 41 days ago
where do you get those hinges for a good price? trying to work on a commission here, thanks!
jonhodges22
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posted 41 days ago
Chris,
I’m not sure what I paid for those hinges or what a good price would be. However, I can tell you that I bought one of the friction support hinges at a Lowe’s and the other at an Ace Hardware. They are handed, i.e. left or right. Lowe’s didn’t have both at the time (not even a spot for both). But I bought the one I found there so I could show people what I was looking for. Finally, I found the other one at an Ace Hardware. I’m not sure who manufactured the ones I used.
So if you want to find them locally, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace, other local hardware stores, might have them. My experience was that I really had to search to find them and this was a number of years ago.
But on to some more useful information. I did a search and found a couple of online sources. First I found some Rockler “Curved Friction Lid Supports” through Amazon for $5.69 plus shipping.
Right handed:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HMVCA2/ref=asc_df_B001HMVCA2934791?tag=the004-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B001HMVCA2&linkCode=asn
Left handed:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HN3JMA/ref=asc_df_B001HN3JMA934791?tag=the004-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B001HN3JMA&linkCode=asn
Second, I found some Ives “Steel Friction Lid Supports” for $2.60 each plus shipping through a company called Handlesets. Note: I have never purchased anything from them so I cannot say whether they are good to buy from or not.
http://www.handlesets.com/ives-9220f-steel-friction-lid-support-with-approximately-5-extension/p536488
These are also handed and you have to select a checkbox for which you want before adding them to the cart.
Both I have listed are brass plated steel. They are in the style I used, curved, but not necessarily the same dimensions (I didn’t check). If you need them to fit in a shallow space use the curved ones and check the dimensions (if not the straight ones may work for you and could be cheaper).
There are also ratchet-style drafting table lid supports that can be more secure. I don’t think they are very attractive though and also I have never had any problem with the setup I used.
I know there are many other places online that would have these. It is just a matter of searching and finding them. Hopefully, these links will provide enough information to get your search going if they are not quite what you are looking for. If I can be of any further help just let me know.