rolltop desk by kgstakes - FINISHED - 1/4 scale

[kgstakes]

First thank you all for commenting on my desk.  Greatly appreciated.  Some asked if I would do a build log on how I built the desk.  I have pictures of some of the steps I did to build it but I also have a short video of how I did the mortise and tenon joint on my tablesaw (proxxon -- I know, may be a bad word here but I've been very happy with mine and it's done almost everything my big tablesaw can).  Anyway, getting off track.

 

First pictures are of the stiles and rails for the drawer stacks and the back panels.

 

 

[kgstakes]

Next is gluing all the panels and frames for the panels together.  No glue for the panels they just "float" in the dadoes.

 

 

[kgstakes]

Next is assembling the drawer stacks.  The frames in one of the pictures are to separate each drawer and to keep them from tipping when you open a drawer.

 

 

 

 

[kgstakes]

Next is assembling the drawer stacks for the back panel and front "skirt" (the curved piece in front that you put your feet under) -- where you sit.

The back of the drawer stacks (outside) panels have a dado down the back to accept the back panel.  Sorry some of these pictures have my other 1/12th scale miniatures to show the scale of the desk.

 

Have to mention here,  before assembly, I routed all the edges that would be shown to form a bullnose (complete round over edge).  Hope that makes sense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[yvesvidal]

Which company produces this kit? Your work is beautiful and very precise.

 

Yves

[kgstakes]

Next is the drawers (which I'm sorry no pictures of how I built them but I'll try to explain it.   The sides and front all have a dado on the bottom edge to accept the bottom.  Then the sides have dadoes to accept the back and the drawer front has dadoes on each side to accept the sides.  Glue it up and slip the bottom in from back and just glue at the very back of the bottom piece.  Floats in all the other dadoes.  

 

I have sense made a jig for my table saw to do box joints and that is what I use to build my drawers, boxes, etc. from now on.

 

Will included a picture of the box I made with box joints so show that as well.

 

 

 

 

[kgstakes]

Next the the desk top itself.  No pictures of it just glue stock up and size and then round over the edges and same as all the others (bullnose). 

 

Then comes the tricky part.  And I'll admit, it took me a few attempts to get something to work and that is the sides of the roll top.  Not pretty in these pictures but when working with small curves you have to do what you have to do.  Besides, in the end most of the "ugly" is hidden with the inside frame work for the cubbies, etc.  Also, at this time I made up the back upper panel as well.  The panels in the side panels do set in dadoes.

 

 

[kgstakes]

At this point, you pretty much have a completed desk.  Almost.  

 

 

[kgstakes]

Next comes the tambor.  Luckily when I was working in a cabinet shop and done a few full size ones for myself, I knew how these tricky things go together.

 

To make the tambor, I would route a bullnose on a large piece of wood and then set my table saw up to rip the piece off the thickness I wanted for the tambor pieces.  And do this over and over and over and over, you get the idea until you have enough strips for the tambor plus a little.  Then take some (for the model) some very light cloth.  spray contact adhesive on it and lay out all the tambor pieces and spray the back of them as well.  (tip: tape all the tambor pieces right side up and then flip to spray contact adhesive).  When you can touch it and not "sticky" very carefully lay the tambor pieces on the cloth and use a roller to get good adhesion.  then trim to fit and there you go.  (more or less).

 

Should of taken pictures of this whole operation but I'm sorry I didn't.  Just the finished result.

 

Edited October 4, 2023 by kgstakes

[kgstakes]

Then comes the handles and cubbies inside (make what you want).  Finish sand everything and stain and finish to suit.

 

I will mention here that all of my tenons I used a sled on my table saw and made multiple passes to get the size tenon I wanted.  Dado set would be nice.

Anyway, here is a picture of my sled on my table saw.

 

Love to put the video of how I do them on here but not sure how or if we can.

[kgstakes]

Here is the finished Roll Top Desk.  Questions??  I'll try to answer them and include photos.

 

 

[kgstakes]

33 minutes ago, yvesvidal said:

Which company produces this kit? Your work is beautiful and very precise.

 

Yves

This isn't a kit.  I took full size plans and scaled it all down to 3"=1'  made my own materials list.  Followed the plans (somewhat) and basically built it from scratch.

 

[yvesvidal]

36 minutes ago, kgstakes said:

This isn't a kit.  I took full size plans and scaled it all down to 3"=1'  made my own materials list.  Followed the plans (somewhat) and basically built it from scratch.

 

Sorry for asking you that silly question. I was misled by the assembly sheets that you showed at the beginning.

You definitively have some incredible skills with working wood.

 

Yves

[Egilman]

2 hours ago, kgstakes said:

I did the mortise and tenon joint on my tablesaw (proxxon -- I know, may be a bad word here but I've been very happy with mine and it's done almost everything my big tablesaw can)

Proxon, schmoxon... the brand of saw make no difference at all, all they do is spin a blade on an axis... Yes, some do it better than others, but no matter how good the saw is, it still comes down to the skill of the operator....

 

And you sir are an artist with a saw....

 

Very well done...

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow, incredible work!  Really nice job!

[Roger Pellett]

Very nice desk!  All you need now is a miniature brass spittoon!😆