Thread: Desk for Grandson

I'd love to have got a hand made desk from my grandfather. Fantastic. It looks great.

Originally Posted by BEM

I'd love to have got a hand made desk from my grandfather. Fantastic. It looks great.

Thanks BEM. Much appreciated.

However, today I started counting the number of pieces of furniture I had made for my daughter's household. The number quickly grew to 17 at which point I stopped.

I'm afraid it's likely this will be just another of Poppy's pieces of furniture. That's fine. I get a kick out of watching my kids throw out furniture they've bought (like the desk this one replaces) whilst my stuff continues to survive everything a house full of kids can throw at it. Seven years ago I made desks for three of my daughter's kids. If I brought them back to the shop, sanded them off and gave them a coat of lacquer they'd about pass as new. Along with doing the job and looking pretty, that's what turns me on.

Originally Posted by John Samuel

Then the 100 X 50 NGR was dressed and ripped to produce stock for the legs, which was then tapered.

Attachment 522758

Hi John, wonderful work mate. I was just wondering did you leave the legs slightly longer so they can be cut to exact length after the glue up?. As you might know I'm very much a novice and this is the way I've been doing it but unsure if its the correct way.

Originally Posted by EagerBeaver71

Hi John, wonderful work mate. I was just wondering did you leave the legs slightly longer so they can be cut to exact length after the glue up?. As you might know I'm very much a novice and this is the way I've been doing it but unsure if its the correct way.

No, Eager Beaver.

I cut them to length early in the piece. When they are tapered, we really must to be sure each leg has the same degree of taper. You could work around this, but I choose to cut them to length immediately after they are dressed to final size.

Whatever you have been doing, it sounds like it has been working for you. Before taking too much notice of amateurs like me, think about the ins and outs of each approach. You'll figure out what works for you.

If it were me trying to cut legs to length after glue up, no two legs would be even close. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses, both in terms of skills as well as equipment. Again, do what works for you.