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Al Forster

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I build many things from wood-tables,cuboards,to
coat racks.
I would like to make my wife a recipe box with a roll top,
I do not have a clue as to building the roll top for it.
If anyone has any suggestions it would be much appreciated.
 
Welcome to the family Al.
So we understand what it is you are trying to do can you find an example on the Web and post it here.

When I think roll top I think of a desk with a roll up top (tambour). When I think recipe box I think a lot smaller.

Are you talking about something like this? If so isn't the roll top wood slats glued to fabric or veneer?

6112recipe_box.jpg
 
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Al Forster said:
I do not have a clue as to building the roll top for it.
If anyone has any suggestions it would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Al,

This is easy and hard at the same time. Essentially, you have a bunch of rounded slats, glued to a piece of heavy cloth. It's called a tambour, for some obscure reason habing to do with the english, the french, the arabs, and the persians... ;)

Here's a pic:

rolltopdesk32.jpg


Those are more rounded than one usually sees...

more here: http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Making_Tambour_Doors.html

some people make their own. Others give up and buy them. Then there's something in between: http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/search_results.cfm?filter=tambour&cookietest=1

Intricate theory and practice here: http://books.google.com/books?id=wD...&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result


Thanks,

Bill
 
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I prefer this method. There is a video on this site to watch.

http://www.amanatool.com/tambour/

OR

1. Make the slats.
2. Cut the fabric about 6" larger (L+W) than you need.
3. Lay wax paper over the flat area you are making the tambour door on - taping the edges down helps.
4. Staple the fabric to the flat area while stretching the fabric to smooth it down.
5. Squeegee carpenters glue over the fabric. use a drywall knife because it is wide. Use your judgment to keep the glue thickness to a minimum.
6. Place the slats on the fabric and press into place.
7. Walk away for about 40 minutes.
8. Carefully remove the staples and flex the tambour just enough to make sure there is no slat-to-slat glue bond.
9. Let dry for a few hours then cut to the final size.
 
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ok al thats not fair:) you can also make your own with some bits from a routeer that dont use the fabric.. i think frued has a set that will do it.. or else lonnie bird has a signature set for it,, do a search for it on google.
 
larry merlau said:
ok al thats not fair:) you can also make your own with some bits from a routeer that dont use the fabric.. i think frued has a set that will do it.. or else lonnie bird has a signature set for it,, do a search for it on google.
Click to expand...
Or you could click the link in Bart's post above. :rofl:
 
2 pts

for vaughn,, i didnt get barts response sorry i do stand corrected,, i was wrong and the better half isnt here to correct me,, so vaughn stepped upto the plate. thanks vaughn for keepin tabs on me:rofl:
 
Larry, it is ok - I got confused with Bart talking about gluing to fabric but his link being for the no glue method too.

Bart already posted the link - I had just read about this bit set in a recent annual router issue of something or other magazine.
 
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