Thread: G'day folks...help with old english oak desk please.

Originally Posted by Lawry01

Any ideas about the bowing (other than my trolley jack?)

Cheers, Lawry

The sagging is due to a common design fault. Short of completely dismantling the carcase and rebuilding it, the only way of counteracting the sagging would be to tension a wire across the bottoms of the legs to pull them inwards and thus eliminating the sag in the carcase. Don't you just love Victorian and Edwardian cabinetmakers!

Originally Posted by Woodwould

The sagging is due to a common design fault. Short of completely dismantling the carcase and rebuilding it, the only way of counteracting the sagging would be to tension a wire across the bottoms of the legs to pull them inwards and thus eliminating the sag in the carcase. Don't you just love Victorian and Edwardian cabinetmakers!

ABsolutely....to our eye today, a very obvious design flaw, yet as a new piece, no doubt, a very streamlined and elegent piece!! (until you lean on it!) It would be interesting some day to actually try and date this build of this desk (although it has had some 'modernisation' done to it in the last 30 - 40 years by virtue of building in drawers & filing cabinet...not in any of my photos...looks like from a mob called Jaycee furniture in the UK..I think theu have shut down!) At any rate, the 'modern' component will be hidden behind the beautifully carve doors!

Off to sand back now..have soapy wate in hand and 600 grit ready!
L

Regrettably I think WW is on the money re the slight bowing, and while it is fine to keep the jack under the desk while you are working on it, somehow I doubt it is a good permanent solution. Ditto while the wire suggestion sounds good in theory, I too suspect that it probably isn't a long term future option. I am not sure I can offer any further useful suggestions apart from WWs comment re pulling the whole piece down, but seriously I don't think I would wish to entertain this thought.

So if it were me, I suspect and given the point of the exercise is to restore the desk for yourself rather than sale, I would simply live with it, though obviously keeping an eye on it and perhaps not placing anything too heavy in the middle (like a thumping big desk top computer etc).

You are doing well grasshopper, soon I am sure you will catch the fly with the chopsticks, or in other words, you will have mastered the ancient craft of re-polishing old furniture.

I too have a few more projects for myself to tackle in the near future including a couple of mahogany tables (side table and a drop leaf) which both need re-polishing (straightforward). Thereafter I am contemplating on some localised repairs to my father's mahogany Secretare, which unfortunately has been deeply scratched in the past by one of his cats. Am not sure yet how best to deal with this, filling, lightly sanding back and then polishing probably the best option, but it is the colour matching that is going to be the key to getting this project correct. I don't want to stuff it up, as it is a very expensive/rare piece of furniture.

AGreed...trolley jack is not practical in my study! (although I do sometimes need a lift!) And yes, we can add the bow to the list of 'character' features of the piece!.

3rd coat is on, so now, according to instructions, I wait 24 hours for it to dry before sanding and putting more coats! So...must be your turn HC to post some of your intended projects! The mahogony tables sound like they will come up nicely...the secretare sounds like a challenge! If only I had the experience to offer some wisdom..but I can offer encouragement!

The addiction has embedded itself..i want to see photos..before/ during & after. Also, (you & WW may cringe) I have acquired another old desk to restore!!! (no carvings, and NO varnish this time..a lovely old partners style desk) But more on that AFTER this one is ready!

N ow...off to the family room for an evbening scotch whlst my handywork dries!

A nice piece of oak, either full sized or arched, between the two carcasses at the back forming a modesty panel would overcome the sag.

Thanks for the update and the photos. Glad you had a good time at the Brissy Wood Show.

Is the bow primarily at the front? I am assuming the rear stretcher functions to keep the rear basically in shape?

At the - almost inevitable - risk of comparison to half a dunny seat ... I wondered if you could use a brace like below either vertically or horizontally where your knees are destined to ensconse?

{Offered in a spirit of complete lack of knowledge, and minimal self-awareness}
Paul.

Folks..thanks for the ideas on the bowing. Paul....complete lack of knowledge, and minimal self-awareness has managed to get me this far with the desk, with everyone's generous assistance!!!

OK..so..the bow is primarily at front of desk, a bit like a camping tarp that sags in rain and pours water down a middlish 'spout'! The concept of an arch, front or back, I think is interesting....couple of points: fistly, there is a drawer in the middle / front, so that would be inthe way. Also, the idea of a modesty panel at back might help..there is a rear strectcher there already, but it has a slight buckle in response to the bow. I would be also concerned about detracting a bit from the originality of the piece (though, the addition of more comtemporary drawers etc. behind the carved doors has already breached this issue I guess!) Final option..as stated before, is that I enjoy it as it is, and put it down to character and age (and poor design....by either edward or Victoria) as long as it doesnt beome one of those quirks that I get frustrated about because it stays front of mind Damn that can be frustrating!!

Meanwhile..3rd coat of shellac is drying, and I am enjoying walking into the garage and admiring the fiinish so far, and anticipating even greater depth and sheen as I put 3 more coats on!

Originally Posted by Lawry01

AGreed...trolley jack is not practical in my study! (although I do sometimes need a lift!) And yes, we can add the bow to the list of 'character' features of the piece!.

3rd coat is on, so now, according to instructions, I wait 24 hours for it to dry before sanding and putting more coats! So...must be your turn HC to post some of your intended projects! The mahogony tables sound like they will come up nicely...the secretare sounds like a challenge! If only I had the experience to offer some wisdom..but I can offer encouragement!

The addiction has embedded itself..i want to see photos..before/ during & after. Also, (you & WW may cringe) I have acquired another old desk to restore!!! (no carvings, and NO varnish this time..a lovely old partners style desk) But more on that AFTER this one is ready!

N ow...off to the family room for an evbening scotch whlst my handywork dries!

Mate, what another desk, you would definitely appear to have caught the restoration virus. There is no antidote apart from getting stuck in. Must be something to do with all those metho fumes, wax polishes etc

Admire your handiwork for it is well deserved, especially after you finish all those coats of shellac.

Re posting some pics (before/after of my next projects), yes point taken, but rather than stuff up your thread, I will start up a new one. This one afterall is about your project(s).

Lawry, I did think about the originality of the piece, but went ahead with the post anyway. What about if we looked at a way of fitting the panel so it could be removed, allowing the desk to continue on its merry way towards the floor? If you have already fitted extra drawers I guess the piece is defiled anyway.

Originally Posted by rustynail

A nice piece of oak, either full sized or arched, between the two carcasses at the back forming a modesty panel would overcome the sag.

Doh I obviously can't read, sorry.

I read modesty panel and got stuck on a picture of a solid panel.

Sorry RN.
Paul.

Arghhh!!!!!! I'm getting a little scared here! One step at a time for me folks!! Remember..? Grasshopper here!!!!!

A little fear never hurt anybody.

Originally Posted by rustynail

A little fear never hurt anybody.

That's what my mother always said.