Good evening my fellow woody chaps!
I wasn't sure if I had already started a thread about this project. I've been in search and can't find anything, so this tells me I couldn't have started a thread about this project.
The clients approached me last summer with a really good brief including a sketched line drawing and dimensions etc. They wanted to go with the same wood as their TV stand which is a dense hardwood, possibly mango or something like that. After making enquiries, I couldn’t find anything, so the clients were happy to go with African walnut as a substitute – a very expensive one at that. The timber came in (if memory serves) around £1,800 plus my labour making the project way too expensive, so at the time, this is where I was........
I’m reviewing the situation,
Can a fellow be a chippy all his life,
All the trials and tribulations,
Better settle down and get myself a....hmmm... already got one thank you Mr Fagin!
Doobeedoobeedumdum-diddlydoodiddlydoodiddlydum...
I think I better think it out again!
A man's got a heart, hasn't he...?
Moving on...
Long-short - after a bit more research, I invited the client over to the workshop for a look at my wood samples. By the end of the meeting, the brief was now pine with straight forward construction – no dovetails, so I suggested giving the desk a bit more character by maybe veneering the drawer fronts in yew and perhaps ebony string. This was a direct hit with the client, so I later revised the price and the job was now on!
As the clients were then away in America for 2 months, I waited until they returned before I started, mainly because I anticipated things could change with the desk – and they did, a bit.
I started the work just before Christmas and then shelved it to get on with another job, which I don’t normally do, but on this particular occasion, all was dandy.
Now up to date: I was back on the desk last week with only the two little doors and a couple more drawers to make and then veneer the drawer fronts.
Not much in the way of work-in-progress, but I have taken some photos of the veneer work.
Okay... first up, here is the drawing work with a few alternate options. Straight forward twin pedestal desk with desktop 'hutch' as they say in America.
And now onto the veneering - nice bit of yew.
And here, I’m preparing the veneer ready to glue on to the drawer fronts. After establishing proportions with trying to leave as much of the sapwood on show, I’ve cut the vertical lines ready for the ebony string and cross band of heartwood yew.
Both leaves now ready for gluing. If these leaves were any more curly, I would have gone through the flattening process first.
Middle drawer front.
Desktop drawer front.
Here is everything organised and ready to go...
As I’m low on other veneer stock, I decided to use some oak construction veneer for the internal face of the drawer fronts.
Firstly, the oak.
Glue (Titebond 3) applied.
Pine panel on the oak.
Glue applied to the panel.
Veneer leaf on the pine board and taped down to hopefully prevent any slip sliding away.
Transferred onto the press. Yes I know, still back in the whenever times, although I did advanced from wooden clamps to cast iron jobbies a few years back.
Newspaper under and over the work.
MDF board and bearers on top.
And fully clamped.
After a few minutes of clamping, I check the clamps for tightness and often tighten up a bit more.
Newspaper doing its job - catching the surplus glue.
Then out of the way so I can get on with other work – lovely jubbly.
I always look forward to arriving in the shop next morning after a glue session, although with veneer work, I’m always only very slightly apprehensive - but all was beautiful.
With the woodwork now complete, I’m just waiting on the client to decide which colour finish to go with and she’s also providing the pull handles.
Initially, I wasn’t overly struck on this project and the client lady wanted a rustic finish to the external edges, so I’ve sort of bull nosed them with irregular waves of humps and bumps. I know she’s already happy with this detail because I gave her a sample beforehand. But, she might want me to elaborate the edges a bit more yet.
So, saying I wasn’t overly struck is a complete understatement, the end result (excluding the finish) is I think, beautiful. I am really pleased with the way this bespoke desk has turned out - she's a reet beauty!
Some photos... Please excuse the tape as temporary pulls.
The next few photos were an opportunity to take them while the sun was beaming through the workshop door and onto the desk. The lady wanted rustic edges and after making a sample piece, she loved it, so I applied this throughout the desk - I think I've already mentioned this detail (I'm reviewing...). The sun picks it out pretty well and I must say, it's grown on me - I love it too. You should be able to see subtle humps n bumps along the external edges.
And finally, here are a few finishing options - which will she prefer
Left - light oak. Middle - clear. Right - antique pine.
I'm going to recommend using a clear finish throughout.
Apart from fitting the pull handles, glazing the doors and applying the finish, that's it - but not necessarily in that order.
Thoughts are welcome.
Much obliged.
Many thanks,
In my previous life, I was a tree.