| Project by Ric | posted 1763 days ago | 2138 views | 35 times favorited | 26 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
I got the inspiration for this portable writing desk from the “Treasure Chests” book from Taunton Press. The original desk was made of camphor wood in the mid 1800’s and was owned by a sea captain by the name of Elisha Palmer. All I had to go by for the project were the pictures in the book and the museum catalog entry for it from the Mystic Seaport Museum giving the overall dimensions.
It took me several design attempts before I was happy with the overall “feel” of the desk. I did not make a reproduction as I did not have enough information about the desk for that. What I ended up with is my interpretation of it and if I ever do it again, there are several things I would change, but I guess that is normal for most projects.
I used Honduran mahogany as my primary wood and quarter sawn white oak for the secondary wood. There is a removable tray under the tambour area that i veneered in crotch mahogany. I was lucky with the tambour slats as I only had 50% rejection on them. They are backed with linen attached with yellow glue. The tambour is linked to the drawer so it retracts as you open the drawer.
There is a secret compartment and a hidden compartment. (Secrete – because you have to know it is there to even look for it. Hidden – because you can stumble across it just checking out the desk.) The area just behind the pen tray has removable lids to access three small storage areas.
-- Ric :{) - Appleton, ME - (http://www.crwashburn.com)
| Pin It |




























26 comments so far
Russel
home | projects | blog
2199 posts in 2110 days
#1 posted 1763 days ago
Very nice. I’ve always been fascinated by these types of writing desks. A beautiful piece.
-- Working at Woodworking http://www.VillageLaneFurniture.com
jeanmarc
home | projects | blog
1883 posts in 1887 days
#2 posted 1763 days ago
very beautiful work.. A beautiful piece.
-- jeanmarc manosque france
PurpLev
home | projects | blog
7759 posts in 1819 days
#3 posted 1763 days ago
that looks great!
curious – in terms of usability – since the desktop space is folded in half – how convenient is it to write on that top? (with the connecting line between the pieces and all)
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Mike Lingenfelter
home | projects | blog
457 posts in 2285 days
#4 posted 1763 days ago
Wow that is absolutely beautiful. Great work on your interpretation with no working plans. It would be a nice project to work on someday.
-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/
Randy Sharp
home | projects | blog
318 posts in 1843 days
#5 posted 1763 days ago
Wow! A georgous piece of art! Simply beautiful.
-- Randy, Tupelo, MS ~ A man who honors his wife will have children who honor their father.
GregS
home | projects | blog
23 posts in 2044 days
#6 posted 1763 days ago
Great job, Ric. That a beautiful piece, well proportioned and executed. You make it hard for me to get my office work done, with my shop only a few steps away. I believe I hear the plaintive call of the lonely power tools.
-- GregS, Snohomish, WA ~ Some of life's greatest lessons I learned at my mother's knee; the rest I learned at other joints.
darryl
home | projects | blog
1785 posts in 2497 days
#7 posted 1763 days ago
this looks really cool.
you did a great job on it.
Douglas Bordner
home | projects | blog
3907 posts in 2235 days
#8 posted 1763 days ago
I have admired this piece in Scheining's Treasure Chests for quite a while. You have done the piece proud.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
SPHinTampa
home | projects | blog
507 posts in 1856 days
#9 posted 1763 days ago
First rate work.
-- Shawn, I ask in order to learn
puzzled
home | projects | blog
72 posts in 1963 days
#10 posted 1763 days ago
I have done ALOT of research on writing desks/slopes/laptops and that is a great design and example….great job. I recently built one Writing Slope, on a little bit different design, but the same concept. Thanks for sharing!!
-- -- Remember, a chip on the shoulder is a sure sign of a woodturner.
brunob
home | projects | blog
2275 posts in 2340 days
#11 posted 1763 days ago
Very fine work.
-- Bruce from Central New York...now, if you'll pardon me, I have some sawdust to make.
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
14858 posts in 2389 days
#12 posted 1763 days ago
Fabulous craftsmanship. This is a real heirloom piece!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
18320 posts in 2331 days
#13 posted 1763 days ago
this is SO beautiful.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
wwnovice
home | projects | blog
104 posts in 2357 days
#14 posted 1763 days ago
Very interesting piece – outstanding execution.
-- John
trifern
home | projects | blog
8131 posts in 1938 days
#15 posted 1763 days ago
Beautiful laptop. You don’t even have to worry about the network going down. Thank you for sharing.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 26 comments
Have your say...