| Project by AgentTwitch | posted 143 days ago | 871 views | 5 times favorited | 11 comments |  |
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This is a recently completed writing desk that I made for a teenager named Bella. They wanted to finish the desk themselves as a project so my work was done after sanding to 220. She wanted a shaker style writing desk with 2 drawers that was 4 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. So, with the rest of the decisions left to me, I chose white ash for the carcase and top, poplar for the drawer slides and cherry pulls. I like the look of inset drawers, and 4 way tapered legs so that is the way I went.
I really liked making the drawers, probably because I got to play with my new Veritas 35th anniversary stainless steel marking gauge! These were the first half blind dovetails I have cut and it was a lot of fun. The drawer backs are full dovetailed and the drawer bottoms slide in through the back. I referenced the Finewoodworking Dovetail Video series quite a bit for suggestions on the dovetails. Ended up hogging out the waste between the pins with a forstner bit on the drill press, that worked well for me. The through dovetails and half blind tails were cut with a hand saw, coping saw and chisels.
Other details…Mortise and tenon for legs to stretchers, single board for the front apron and drawer fronts, pegged bread board ends using home made ash dowels and lots and lots of sanding.
Thanks for looking
God Bless!
-- Regards, Norm
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11 comments so far
JSB
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519 posts in 250 days
#1 posted 143 days ago
Looks great. Im always hesitant to let someone else finish my work. Good job on the build.
-- Jay - http://www.jayscustomcreations.com or YouTube.com/jayscustomcreations
a1Jim
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#2 posted 143 days ago
This turned out great Norm.
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Oldtool
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#3 posted 143 days ago
Very nice desk, great attention to detail, like the consistent grain across the apron and drawer fronts.
-- "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln
majuvla
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#4 posted 143 days ago
Beautiful classic desk.
-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted
AgentTwitch
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#5 posted 143 days ago
Thanks everyone. I really like the shaker style. I have a few more projects lined up that I am excited to get started now that this is done.
Jay – I hear you on your concerns about having the client finish the work. I was initially hesitant, but they are the customer.
Oldtool – Thank you for your comment. I started off by attempting to match the grain on just the front apron, but found that I could actually have the grain wrap all 4 sides from a single board (BIG board) of ash.
-- Regards, Norm
workerinwood
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#6 posted 142 days ago
Well done, looks great!!
-- Jack, Albuquerque
helluvawreck
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#7 posted 141 days ago
It’s very clean looking. Congratulations.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau
toddbeaulieu
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#8 posted 38 days ago
I love this. It’s so clean looking. Ha. That’s already been said. But it’s true.
dbray45
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#9 posted 38 days ago
Great job – nice clean work. A real keeper – the recipient should enjoy this for many years.
-- David in Damascus, MD
joein10asee
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#10 posted 37 days ago
Only downside to the customer do the finish is they may _( dare I say it?) PAINT IT_! (GASP) :-)
That would hide the beautiful workmanship and be a real travesty.
-- Perform A Random Act Of Kindness Today ... Pay It Forward
dbray45
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2018 posts in 949 days
#11 posted 37 days ago
If the person is going to paint it – seriously – put a sealer coat on it. Something that the paint will stick to put seal the grain. Ash is very porous and will take 4 coats of paint to look good and taking the paint off will be impossible. If you seal it and they change their minds 5 years from now, they can sand the crap off and refinish.
-- David in Damascus, MD
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