Thread: My attempt at a French Provincial Style Desk

Thanks Arty.

I think she will like it, but she would like it a lot more if I was a faster worker.

Nothing today, but I'll try again tomorrow. The Drawer runners did turn up today & I realised that I have made an oop's. nothing too serious, & I can get out of it ok, but it means more time to achieve very little. I should have got those drawer runners weeks ago, & I could have avoided this. Very Slack on my part.

Steve

My shed is 20'x20' or about 6m x 6m, & is really more of a storage shed for my tools, machines & wood rack. I have tracks around it & very little room to do any actual work, but I am very fortunate to have an 8m x 6m carport attached to the front of it with a cement floor, enclosed & weather proof. Nearly all of my machinery is on wheels, so I generaly work in the carport & just wheel out what I need on the day.

This is usually a very simple exersise, but today, before I could get my tablesaw out, I had to move 2 trailers & a caravan. I knew this day was coming as I had to trim the false top & the top & there was just no way I could do this in the shed. There was a couple other little jobs I had to take care of as well while I had the saw out, so this afternoon, I was able to get the tablesaw out & get them all done.

Fortunatley, it's not always this difficult, but I have a little garden project on at the moment and I have materials for that stored in my wood working area.

Anyway, The top & false top are now trimmed to the correct size. Moving forward slowly, but moving forward.
Ems Desk 8.jpg

Steve

Looks good but I got a question or two. Why have you used clamps down the lenght but not across the width? and in using dovetail joints why have you used clamps at all? as would/did not the dovetails fit snuggly? alright three questions.

Originally Posted by rod1949

Looks good but I got a question or two. Why have you used clamps down the lenght but not across the width? and in using dovetail joints why have you used clamps at all? as would/did not the dovetails fit snuggly? alright three questions.

g'day Rod,

step 1 in the assembly was to join each pair of legs together across the short axis, which I clamped.

next, I joint the two pairs of legs together & clamped them along the long axis as shown in the first set of pics

The Dovetails did fit quite snugly, so I think the your main question still to be answered is ... Why did I use clamps on Dove Tail Joints.

I could go into great length to answer this, but the truth is, I didn't know any better.

I am not a master cabinet maker, but I am a master at making simple things more difficult than they have to be.

So is it fair to say most people would not clamp Dove tail joints? Thinking about it now, I can see your point, as they are really a self clamping joint if they are a snug fit.

Good point made Rod.

Thank you.


Steve

I got a bit more done on this little desk today. I made the drawers. they need a bit of a sand & a tidy up, but I am planning on getting back out to it again tomorrow. infact, my ambition is to finish it off my next Tuesday.

Next Tuesday is my Daughters birthday and while the desk is not a birthday present, maybe finishing it for her will be.

Anyway, couple more pics.


draw 2.jpgdraw 1.jpgdraw 3.jpgdraw 4.jpgdraw 5.jpg

Steve

Progressing slowly.

I made a bit of a blue by not ordering the drawer runners before I installed the supports for them. Not a big deal & easy to fix, but more time spent with buggerall to show for it. Anyway, It's done now & the drawers are installed.

I still have some routing to do, but the false top is nearly ready to be fixed to the frame & then sand & paint.


Ems Desk 9.jpgEms Desk 10.jpgEms Desk 11.jpg



I installed a couple of locating dowels in the false top so when the time comes to fix this in position, it should go without a hitch.

Still hoping for next tuesday deadline. My baby turns Sweet Sixteen so although it is not a birthday present, it would be nice to have it finished for her Birthday.

Steve

Hi,
Looking good.
One of the local magazines had an editorial recommending that you have all the hard wear to hand before you start as so many manufactures are going bust and retailers just discontinuing lines for the fun of it that you may not be able to get the fittings you have always used.
Regards

Hi there ticky,
That's a great looking desk, by the looks of it you've done a top notch job. It was great to see the beginnings of this project to the concluding stages. Can't wait to see the finished product.
quality work mate.

Mitre10 hardware

Thanks for the positve comments, much appreciated.

I havent done anything to it for a couple of days, but I will need to get out in the shed if I am to make my deadline of next Tuesday. With the weather here, it might take a while to dry.

I have the cut the drawer fronts to the correct width & the center one is the correct length, but I have left the two small ones a bit long until final assembly. I cut them all from a single board & kept them in order so as when I paint over them it will make absolutly no difference at all, but who knows, one day someone might sand it back & stain it.

The great thing about my work is it starts of as Modern Contemp, & by the time I get it finished, its an antique. The only thing worse than getting old... is not getting old.

Steve

That is going to look really tops when finished!!

You are doing a great job sire!!!

Thanks Arty & SKew.

I was into it again today & it is getting pretty close now.


I rounded over the false top & gave that a bit of a sand
Ems Desk 12.jpgEms Desk 13.jpgEms Desk 14.jpg


And the same with the top.

Ems Desk 16.jpg


I have given the frame & the under side of the top an Undercoat
& fixed the false top to the frame with glue & screws


Ems Desk 15.jpg


Sadly, I will not make my Tuesday Deadline.

Not a lot left to do, but I ran out of undercoat, I still have to get the top coat, make the clamps up to secure the top to the false top, drawer handles & paint it. Tomorrow is Monday & I have an 11:30 appointment in the city & a 1:30 at the Hospital. I have to have minor surgery on Tuesday, no big deal, but I will miss Bubbies 16th birthday & I cant finish her desk in time for it. I gave it my best shot, It just wasn't quite good enough.

My Daughter is not worried about it not being ready, so thats the main thing.

Anyway, Not a lot left to do, it will prolly be a couple of days to a week or so before I can get back to it now, but one good push could see the job done.


Steve

Well, my expectation of being layed up for a couple of days was pehaps a bit optermistic. 1 month later & I have just completed my fist shed day since I went to hospital.

Anyway, I have given the little desk a few coats of Gloss Enamel & it is starting to look quite nice. I'm not a big fan of painting timber, but I think it is turning out alright anyway.

Ems Desk 17.jpg

I still have to paint the drawers, & the under side of the top, but before I paint the drawers, I want to get the handles. I also still have to make the clamps up, buts thats not a big job. It will be much more fun smelling sawdust than paint fumes.

Ems Desk 18.jpg


Steve

Looking really good, Ticky. Can't wait to see it with its finish coat on.

Regards,

Rob