Making LOML's big desk - Finished

[Don Baer]

Well I been working on this for a while so I figured I'd show some progress. LOML wanted a desk for the new house, she had some rather specific ideas about what it should be. She wanted a filing cabinet on the left, a work space, some drawer in the center another work space and then another 42 drawer file cabinet. when I drew it up in sketchup it turned out the top will be 9 Ft long and 24" deep. Here are the 2 file cabinets and the 4 drawer center sections. She very specifically specified no plywood, other then that she left the choice of materials up to me. The material is 4/4 white oak. One think I did for the first time was make the glue up for the drawer pieces as one continuous panel then cut them in the proper size for the drawer, this kept the grain running continuous. Thye pictures don't show it very good, but it was a challenge. I still have some sanding and clean up to do. Then I'll add the feet and do the top. The top will be a 2 piece glue up, my hardwood supplier was able to find me some nice 10 ft pieces of 4/4 white oak that are 14" wide. I won't fasten the top to the case work until we are in the new house in order to make this thing movable.

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Thanks for looking.

[Steve Clardy]

Looking good.

Inset fronts.
Baltic birch drawers?
Half blinds?
Full extension slides.

No ply anywhere? Cool:cool:
What did you use for a bottom on the cases Don.

[Don Baer]

Steve, Baltic Birch there too.:D

[Jim Pattie]

Looking good Don. But curious...you guys don't consider Baltic Birch plywood ...as being plywood?

[Don Baer]

Looking good Don. But curious...you guys don't consider Baltic Birch plywood ...as being plywood?

Not as far as LOML is concerned..;)

[Jim Pattie]

O.K. Don...will keep quiet about it. :thumb:

[Robert Schaubhut]

That is a very nice set of custom office furniture.:thumb: Running drawer fronts like that add a lot of class to a piece, like with using the same board on base or freize and having the grain run around the mitre. It is hard to tell but it looks like you also have the top rail cut using the matching run of the grain too. It all looks sharp Don. :D
Shaz

[Jerry Olexa]

Looks good Don...We won't tell anybody:D

[Don Baer]

That is a very nice set of custom office furniture.:thumb: Running drawer fronts like that add a lot of class to a piece, like with using the same board on base or freize and having the grain run around the mitre. It is hard to tell but it looks like you also have the top rail cut using the matching run of the grain too. It all looks sharp Don. :D
Shaz

Thanks Shaz,
Here is a close up of one of the file cabinates. I still need to adjust the bottom drawer but you can see how the top rail, top drawer and bottom drawer all blend together. I'll adjust the bottom drawer before final finishing.

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Thanks for noticing

[Vaughn McMillan]

That's looking real nice, Don. If I had the time and money, I'd like to build myself a desk/command center for my office/studio. Maybe for the next house. :rolleyes:

[Jay Lock]

Don

Great looking work, I'll echo Shaz's comment about the grain matching.

Jay

[Craig Feuerzeig]

Cool Don,

She's going to love it. Will the file folders be hanging? I ask because I wonder what method would be used. I've tried every which way... metal runners, extruded plastic runners, home-made wood runners, those drop in frames...

[Don Baer]

As an FYI here is a picture of the sketchup design.

[Sam Blasco]

Steve, Baltic Birch there too.:D

She'll never notice that, so it don't count.

[Don Baer]

This week ends task was to put feet on the case work. Originally I planned on using some 8/4 2" tall with a slight taper. When LOML saw them she didn't care for the look and asked me if I could make something curvy. This is what I came up with. 4310I used some 4/4 2" by 3" I for the front and a 2x2 Piece for the back part. Cut them up on the scroll saw 4311and glued them up. They're fastened onto the case work with a 3/8" dowl to help with alignment during glue up.4312

[Robert Schaubhut]

This week ends task was to put feet on the case work. Originally I planned on using some 8/4 2" tall with a slight taper. When LOML saw them she didn't care for the look and asked me if I could make something curvy. This is what I came up with. 4310I used some 4/4 2" by 3" I for the front and a 2x2 Piece for the back part. Cut them up on the scroll saw 4311and glued them up. They're fastened onto the case work with a 3/8" dowl to help with alignment during glue up.4312
Hi Don,
They like real nice, do you like them?
Sometimes we are led into unknown territory by others and that can be rewarding too. :D
Shaz

[Don Baer]

Shaz,
I can live with them. They're not what I had in mind but it doesn't look bad now that I see it.

And besides the customer is always right, especiaslly when you sleep with the customer..:D

[Jay Lock]

Don

I think they look great! And, of cours, if the customer is happy the cabinet maker is happy! :D

Jay

[Don Taylor]

Better than professional Don! :thumb:

It has that special look, just for her. ;)

DT

[Don Baer]

Well I Finally finished this project what with the moving into the New house, setting up a shop and a job change it got delayed but it's finaly done. 9 Feet long white Oak finished with BLO, Transting light OAK dye and several coats of Polycrylic. LOML love it and wasted no time filling it up.

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As always comments critcs and questions are always welcome

[Jerry Olexa]

Excellent work, Don!! Looks professional to me...

[Rennie Heuer]

Don,

Congrats! :congrats::clap: It's a great feeling to finally finish a project that has seen unexpected delays.

That's big! Brings back memories of my visit to the USS Intrepid in NYC many years ago.:D

[Bruce Page]

Don, Don, Don, :dunno:
From what I can tell, it looks like a lovely desk BUT! We need more than one picture!! We need pic’s of the details! I’m doing a white oak project and I’d like some better pics of your finish and how you did it.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Nicely done Don! I hope you dated and signed it! It's family heirloom quality!

[Al killian]

Don, That looks great. I wouldnt change a thing.

[Don Baer]

Don, Don, Don, :dunno:
From what I can tell, it looks like a lovely desk BUT! We need more than one picture!! We need pic’s of the details! I’m doing a white oak project and I’d like some better pics of your finish and how you did it.

Bruce,
The finishing was rather simple, sanded to 400, wipe on the BLO, let dry, sanded again at 400, put on the dye, sanded again at 400, put on poly sanding between coats at 400.

[Vaughn McMillan]

Bruce,
The finishing was rather simple, sanded to 400, wipe on the BLO, let dry, sanded again at 400, put on the dye, sanded again at 400, put on poly sanding between coats at 400.
Hey Don...ya ever try it with...I dunno...maybe 400 grit? :rofl:

The desk came out looking real nice Don. Great job.

[Ed Nelson]

Good lookin' desk Don! If LOYL is happy, I'm sure you're happy too! Looks like a desk you can get plenty of exercise with moving from one end to the other! Finish looks like it came out excellent!

[Sam Blasco]

Nice job, Don. Even the installation looks professional. Did you add a scribe to the drawer bank next to the wall?