Walnut Writing Desk

edward alexander · Feb 18, 2009

part three-
i nearly always use dowels for side joints, as much for keeping the boards lined up when gluing as for the strength - i drill nine sets of 3/8" holes in each board-

to prepare the dowels i take a 3/8" dowel rod and with a with a little plane take two shavings off opposite so the glue at the bottom of the holes will have a getaway also i cut the dowels just a little short-

i have two bandsaws and could cut these 27 dowels in a fraction of the time it takes to do it by hand but like i said i'm not in that big of a hurry and besides i need the practice - i use a sharp chisel to point the ends-the little curved riffler off to the side will be used to slightly point the other end after they have been tapped in-

all 27 tapped in-each hole has a drop of glue-

before i glue it up i made sure all my ducks are in a row-

glued up-

later in the day i take my new walnut desk top out of the clamps and it don't look bad-

some answers-larry- iv'e been doing this for awhile
chris-later i will show how the legs will be attached.

more to come-----alex

Frank Fusco · Feb 18, 2009

"don't look bad" Huge understatement. Lookin' real fine from this end. :thumb:

ken werner · Feb 18, 2009

Alex - looking good, real good.

Jay Caughron · Feb 18, 2009

This is getting exciting now!!!!!!!! :thumb:

Jay

Ed Nelson · Feb 18, 2009

Love that walnut! I always enjoy following your threads and I doubt this will be any different! That's a great looking slab you are starting with!

larry merlau · Feb 18, 2009

ok alex i get the hint

that dust is younger than you are then huh

Lee Laird · Feb 18, 2009

Alex,

Really like the large desk you made and looking forward to the "rest of the story" on Junior.

Craig Arndt · Feb 18, 2009

What a super piece of walnut. Beautiful. Nice work, seeing that makes me want to run down to my shop.

Chris Mire · Feb 19, 2009

alex, question, what is the thinking behind grouping the dowels in 3's. does this make a difference or it just the way you do it? why not space them out evenly across the length of the boards? i see nothin wrong with your method, just wondering if there was a particular reason.

thanks
chris

Al killian · Feb 20, 2009

That is a great looking table.

edward alexander · Feb 20, 2009

Chris Mire said:
alex, question, what is the thinking behind grouping the dowels in 3's. does this make a difference or it just the way you do it? why not space them out evenly across the length of the boards? i see nothin wrong with your method, just wondering if there was a particular reason.

thanks
chris

chris-no reason-like i said the dowels are as much for keeping the two boards lined up as much as for strength -
to bend the frames for the curved panels - i'll need a steam box-i made it yesterday-
spanish cedar-

this is a test piece to see how much spring-back i'll have -from this i'll make a mold to compensate-

-

thanks ---- alex

larry merlau · Feb 20, 2009

this going along fine alex and very well done. you stop us just right when we are waiting for the next bit and thewn you go to advertizements making us wait till the next batch

edward alexander · Feb 20, 2009

larry-as for as the advertizements go-well iv'e not made a steam box in a long time (decades) so why not slip it in--oh always remember to wear gloves when messing with these things---

if you don't guard the snake oil
then buster you don't have a show

alex

Robert Schaubhut · Feb 20, 2009

Hi Edward, :wave:

Thank you so much for your willingness to take the time and energy to share with us such a wonderful project. I do appreciate it! :thumb:

Shaz

Ed Nelson · Feb 21, 2009

A walnut steam box???? I guess if ya got it ya use it!

allen levine · Feb 21, 2009

I believe he made the steam box out of spanish cedar.

Ed Nelson · Feb 21, 2009

allen levine said:
I believe he made the steam box out of spanish cedar.

Ahhhh! Thanks for the clarification. Helps to pay attention! Boy, it sure looks like walnut in the pics!

larry merlau · Feb 21, 2009

hey alex i wasnt complaining about you puttin in the steam box at all its part of the show ,,absoulutly :thumb:

i was just on the edge of my seat to se the out come of it.. i got some ideas that could use stem and was glad to see your methode.. and the stove in the shop leads us to belive you are in the dog house alot

if yu need to do your cooking out there :rofl:

allen levine · Feb 21, 2009

Ed Nelson said:
Ahhhh! Thanks for the clarification. Helps to pay attention! Boy, it sure looks like walnut in the pics![/QUOTE

the talent present on this board never ceases to amaze me. I pay close attention, never know when a novice can pick up a tip or two.

Royall Clark · Feb 21, 2009

Ed Nelson said:
A walnut steam box???? I guess if ya got it ya use it!

Don't feel bad Ed, I was reading and looking at the photos at the same time and was thinking walnut too. Didn't see the tag on the photo until Allen corrected you

I love to see how the "craftsman" goes about making the next work of art. Thanks Alex for taking the time to do so.

Walnut Writing Desk

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