Thread: A George III Mahogany Kneehole Desk

Originally Posted by Grandad-5

An 18th century desk to house a 21st century PC.
Is it your intention to make any allowances in the design to suit its modern purpose?
I've seen several reproduction style desks with reasonably subtle changes to accomodate keyboard/PC tower/cables etc.
Jim

There'll be no concessions; if I was to adapt it for the PC etc., I may as well make it out of Vic Ash, or similar, and screw carved crescent 'pulls' onto the drawers.

The desk will be a standalone piece. I expect it to last somewhat longer than a particleboard desk and it should actually attain some value in the long term. It won't always be used as a workstation and would look atrocious in a smart bedroom with cable ducts and integrated power board. It will be a desk that I use for my computer as opposed to a computer desk.

WW's computer

Attachment 203280

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

WW's computer

Attachment 203280

The construction of this desk is mahogany veneer on pine, with solid mahogany feet and mouldings. I rubbed a series of pine boards together and set them aside to dry. With a veneered chest of drawers, I would normally veneer the carcase after it's been glued together. However, with the desk, the inner gables – which form the kneehole – would be challenging to veneer once assembled, so I deemed it prudent to veneer them prior to cutting the joints.

In for a penny and all that; I veneered the outer gables and back panels (not in the image below) while I was at it.

Pre-veneered gable panels.

What, with Fruit Bun Friday and Chocolate Rabbit Sunday upon us once again, progress on the desk is a little slow I'm afraid.

Hi WW,
Is it Radiata pine that you are using to veneer onto?


Pete

Originally Posted by pjt

Hi WW,
Is it Radiata pine that you are using to veneer onto?


Pete

It is.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

It is.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

It is.

Monterey Pine if you're feeling posh.

Strewth, I spend a day clearing up a fallen tree, one doing nothing, and finally one (the first in a month or so) in the shed, fire up this thing and Woodwould is building a desk.

Myself I like the library desk, pic 2. and would love to make one on reading the latest history lesson, the other I shall get upon watching Henry later tonight. However I digress. I shall be watching this with great interest.

Would rough rough dimensions be permissible as part of another great lesson?

Originally Posted by Waldo

Would rough rough dimensions be permissible as part of another great lesson?

Rough, rough dimensions would be nearly a yard tall, a yard and a third wide and almost a couple of feet deep.

Let me know if you'd like those dimensions refined!

Fig. 11 takes my fancy, just seems to flow nicely. Did this type of desk tend to vary in dimensions or stay around the same size?

Not only did the width and depth vary considerably with kneeholes, but the height varied widely too which was unusual for furniture such as tables and desks that people interacted with.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

It is.

Did you use the finger jointed /knot free boards or use what was to hand .

Originally Posted by Peter36

Did you use the finger jointed /knot free boards or use what was to hand .

In this instance, I used non-finger-jointed clear pine because it was what came off the stack and was sold to me at a good price. Had there been the odd, small tight knot though, I wouldn't have worried about them.