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Cherry Writing Desk

Project by CharlieM1958 posted 251 days ago 442 views 2 times favorited 32 comments Add to Favorites
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CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


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Cherry Writing Desk Cherry Writing Desk Cherry Writing Desk Click the pictures to enlarge them

I’ve been working on this for several weekends (in between my curbside scavanging episodes). It is solid cherry, except for the walnut drawer fronts.

Not having a lathe, but wanting to do something a little decorative with the legs, I adapted an idea from a project I saw posted here in which the corners of the legs were bandsawed off. In my version, I just used a cove bit in my router table. By the way, since I had no thick stock (purchased the cherry on e-bay – can’t get it here), the legs are made of two 4/4 boards glued together and trimmed to size on the table saw.

The inlay on the top is InLace epoxy, which I had never heard of until Cajunpen Bill talked about using it on a project. I was curious, and had to give it a try. It’s not the easiest stuff in the world to work with, but it came out pretty nice in the end.

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


32 comments so far

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

2286 posts in 464 days


posted 251 days ago

Extremely handsome piece. Great looking finish and I really like the leg details! To borrow from Don, I don’t think it’s a small wooden box, but I love it.

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

View Max's profile

Max

5003 posts in 674 days


posted 251 days ago

A very beautiful desk. I really like the legs and the inlay. I must have missed the InLace epoxy deal. What is it and where do you get the stuff to use?

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

View DAN's profile

DAN

2627 posts in 383 days


posted 251 days ago

I like it. I’ve done epoxy inlay before, but never “inlace” epoxy. what is it ?

Table design is well balanced. Looks like it stepped off the showroom floor.

-- I made a cool back scratcher !!

View Sgt_Lobo's profile

Sgt_Lobo

87 posts in 259 days


posted 251 days ago

Extremely nice writing desk. I too do not own a lathe, so I really like the leg ideas. I have thought of making a hallway table for nik-naks, and was searching for ideas for the legs. Guess it is time to bust out the cove bit!

-- Sgt_Lobo -- Montgomery, AL

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1480 posts in 281 days


posted 251 days ago

great looking desk charlie. i was just browsing thru your projects and i think your headed for the lumber jocks hall of fame !

-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes

View Karson's profile

Karson

11919 posts in 801 days


posted 251 days ago

Charlie.

A very nice looking table. I do like the legs. Great job.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View relic's profile

relic

276 posts in 337 days


posted 251 days ago

Graet looking desk, I like the inlay.

-- Andy Stark

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

668 posts in 283 days


posted 251 days ago

Very nice proportions. I like it. Do you actually write things on it?

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 251 days ago

Thanks, everyboby!

InLace is a brand name of epoxy inlay that comes in a bunch of different colors and textures. Different additives are available to give it a variety of looks. When Cajunpen mentioned it, I googled it and found several places that sell it online. I also have some in turquoise I’m just holding on to until the right project comes along.

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

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 251 days ago

Oh, I forgot to mention… the finish is Danish oil followed by 5 coats of wipe-on satin poly.

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

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

3243 posts in 363 days


posted 251 days ago

Nice work, Charlie. Why can’t you get Cherry there?

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 251 days ago

Thomas, anything besides yellow pine, fir, and oak was hard to find in New Orleans before Katrina. The couple of places I know of that did handle hardwoods are out of business. But maybe I just haven’t run across the right place yet. Now that I think about it, I’ll ask my neighbor Cajunpen if he has any sources.

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

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

3243 posts in 363 days


posted 251 days ago

After I asked , I looked to see where you are. It occured to me that the storm had something to do with it. It should be getting better pretty soon. We can only pray.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 251 days ago

Steve, it is called a cherry writing desk because it is used by monks who inscribe bible verses on cherries with teeny-tiny pens. :-)

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

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1480 posts in 281 days


posted 251 days ago

well maybe YOU should be in the hardwood business charlie ! my supplier can get ya about anything you want
look up weiss hardwoods on the net.

-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes

View schroeder's profile

schroeder

453 posts in 526 days


posted 251 days ago

That is beautiful Charlie! – I like the inlay and must do some research on it -truly an heirloom!

-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

290 posts in 400 days


posted 251 days ago

Wow, very nice table. I like the proportions, design, colors and especially the workmanship. I’m just finishing up my latest project (which I’ll post tomorrow) and I’ve been looking for a design like this for a new TV for some relatives. The legs are a great idea and look good. Is a lathe in your future? I buy lots of wood on ebay and have found some pretty good deals including a couple guys who will sell 50+ bd ft at a time for great price.
Overall, congrats on a nice project. BTW, thats a lot of work for only a couple weekends.

-- Bob A in NJ

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

3833 posts in 647 days


posted 250 days ago

Great table Charlie. I’ve used inlace in turnings before but have’nt been able to make it look that good. Did you grind it up super fine? mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

View Dominic Vanacora's profile

Dominic Vanacora

310 posts in 270 days


posted 250 days ago

I’ve wanted to make a desk for my grandchild and had a drawing from one of the mags I read but this looks better and easier to make. I love working with cherry and it finishs great. Thanks for a great Idea. I like the walnut draws against the cherry. Nice project.

-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 250 days ago

Thanks.

Mike, I used the inlace straight out the jar. I did have to go back after it cured and fill in a few spots where voids had formed. And when smoothing it out, I was surprised to find that a cabinet scraper works pretty well on the stuff.

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

View Chip's profile

Chip

1058 posts in 493 days


posted 247 days ago

Beautiful work as always Charlie. Hope all is well and thanks for posting this.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 246 days ago

Thanks, Chip!

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

View Bill Butler's profile

Bill Butler

72 posts in 164 days


posted 142 days ago

The legs are inspirational!

I owe my mother-in-law a new kitchen table, and I know I could probably pull off those legs. I think she will dig them.

There is a story here of course so i will keep it brief. I already built her a kitchen table but let her pick out something to use as legs at the local HD. She selected these oak staircase spindles that looked a little weak to me, but she really liked them. I should have spoken up; the resultant table racks around something fierce.

Thanks,
Bill.

View grovemadman's profile

grovemadman

541 posts in 172 days


posted 138 days ago

Nice job Charlie, proving once again that you can make nice stuff without a $1500.00 Unisaw… thanks for the tip on the inlay – you just gave me a great idea.

-- --Chuck

View HallTree's profile

HallTree

563 posts in 168 days


posted 138 days ago

I like your desk. I had to go look at your other projects, nice. Nice music also.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

6604 posts in 275 days


posted 138 days ago

Charlie, this is fabulous. So much fine detail. I like the coves on the legs, and the inlays on the top. Good job.

-- Maplewood, MN

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 138 days ago

Chuck, the stuff smells just like Bondo, so be sure to have good ventilation.

rikkor and Ron, thanks for the kind words.

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

View Tom Adamski's profile

Tom Adamski

178 posts in 171 days


posted 135 days ago

Charlie…
I really like this desk. Very well done! How did you join the table skirts to the legs, mortise & tennon?

Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 135 days ago

Thanks, Tom.

I know m/t joints would be the conventional wisdom, but I’m a big fan of my doweling jig whenever I can get by with it, and that is what I used here here.

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

View Tom Adamski's profile

Tom Adamski

178 posts in 171 days


posted 135 days ago

Charlie…
Doweling is one of the few joints I have never tried on a project. You make it work very well.

Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

704 posts in 115 days


posted 9 days ago

This is a fantastic desk! I really like the contrast of the drawer faces, and the lines in the top… very cool.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

3635 posts in 619 days


posted 9 days ago

Thanks Steve. It’s now in my son’s room under a computer and who knows how much dust. lol!

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

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