Shaker writing desk *PICs*

Re: Shaker writing desk *PICs*

Stuart Hough

>Mie, That's a pretty thing! I LOVE the way the grain pops with your choice of finish!

LOVELY piece of work

Bill Houghton, leftover turkey yum! Sebastopol, CA

>Very graceful shaping on the legs, and I like the little feet.

Nice design

Jim in Burlington On

>It's a nice design. I think it would look even better if everything but the top was stained the darker color.

Re: Shaker writing desk *PICs* *LINK*

Gary Roberts

>Lovely design. Great use of figured wood. Great proportions. The desk seems to float in the air. It's rare for me to see someone do a Shaker style anything that pulls in their design features without making the piece look heavy. I think you did a great job of incorporating the Shaker preference for lightness and utility. Plus now I am inspired to do something with that bunch of curly cherry I've been sitting on for years.

Gary

PS: leave the color as is. It pulls the whole piece together quite well.


Toolemera Press

Re: Shaker writing desk *PICs*

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Wonderful Mike,

I like so much of this desk's design. The edge is rounded perfectly and the figure runs all over this like icing on a cake, amazing visually. I also like the "lightness" of the design, the use of negative space is wonderful in bringing this work to completion for me.

Take care,

Jim

Thanks all!

Mike Schwing from Maryland

>One last note, this is the only table I've ever built who's feet did not need any little bit of leveling upon completion. Must finally have figured out how to do it right, whatever it is.

That sure is purdy!

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>I realy like the choice of woods you used. The top looks great. I made a set of A&C styled nesting tables and had the same problem planing the tops of the QS oak. I had to go almost parallel to the grain to get it nice and smooth. You should be proud!

Re: Shaker writing desk *PICs*

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Beautiful job, Mike, I love it; but I don't understand what you mean by planing perpendicular to the grain. Sure, on the ends, but on the table top and bottom?

Pam

Re: Shaker writing desk *PICs*

Wiley Horne

>Mike,

Just a stellar job which captures (as others have said) the lightness and directness of the piece. Every dimension seems exactly right.

To me, the gracefulness of the semi-circular legs/feet are the most spectacular aspect of what you have accomplished. My eye keeps going back to them. And also the drawer, which is another 'just right' aspect.

Wiley

Re: Shaker writing desk *PICs*

MikeW

>Hi Mike--beautiful job! I hope you don't mind if I copy the photos for future inspiration?

Planing cross-grained (or at an oblique angle) is sometimes the only way to avoid tear-out in lieu of having a higher angle smoother (and what ever planes it takes for thicknessing).

You can fudge the bedding angle of a 45 degree bedded plane (if that's what you used) by a very small in width back bevel. It is best to have a second blade for this to avoid having to regrind to get rid of the BB.

Adding a 10 degree BB effectively makes the smoother work as if it is a 55 degree bed, and so forth. Best to either have a higher bedded plane or a low angle plane one can put a steep bevel on a spare blade in my way of thinking.

However...I have also found it necessary to plane at some angle other than directly in-line with the grain even with a higher bedded plane. It works, though the cut isn't always as nice.

Again, wonderful job.

Take care, Mike

Beautiful!

Brad in Ottawa

>

Re: Shaker writing desk *PICs*

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>don't tell me that your clutter the top of that desk with such items as books and other sundry items. Looks like it could be in fine Woodworking.

T.O.

Drawer?

Dean Lapinel

>Very pretty. Dainty yet sturdy.

How does the drawer slide or is that a false drawer?

Re: Drawer?

Mike Schwing from Maryland

>Thank you. The drawer is functional. The drawer runs in 1/4" runners that were dado and glued in the tabletop supports. Equivalent stopped dadoes were cut into the drawer sides. A stop block is attached to the underside of the tabletop that prevents the drawer from being pulled completely out.