5 drawer cedar desk restoration

[G Mack]

This is my first post wanting to share a project that I started nearly 30 years ago!
I saw a friend using this desk as a workshop bench with a bench grinder bolted to it. There were chunks missing from the legs and broken bits and pieces but all in all, pretty sound and all there.
I wish I'd taken before photos but didn't so what I have here are what I'm currently up to.Attachment 495812B5C9C8BB-DF5E-417B-A7E6-6A16C40ADE77.jpg7D8EACC3-A124-412E-A661-711302B975A3.jpgimage.jpg
I read how holes were filled with wax but I'm wondering how does shellac go over it. I've used coloured woodfiller with some of holes but not that happy with the results. I'm thinking that the remaining dings, scratches and holes I will leave as evidence of its age.
I'm sanding now with 240 grit and planning to finish up with 320 before applying a light coat of shellac with several finishing coats of heavier shellac.
In regards to the top, under the Masonite that had been fortunately layed over it is some remnants of the original material that covered the insert. F9E28A46-91DB-4014-AB55-7E42726350C6.jpg801EDBCE-6193-4202-8C03-EBBFFA59977B.jpgI was wondering if anyone knows if it's possible to obtain this kind of covering these days? The only material that comes up in my search for leatherette is vinyl which of course is nothing like the original.
I want to keep the desk as close as possible to the original as I can despite using PVA glue and the odd Phillips head screw. I'd love to have some comments or suggestions on what I'm doing.
It's a real privilege to have this cedar desk to work on. I just hope my work on it can do some justice to the heritage value bound up in it.
Graeme

[G Mack]

Having worked out where all the bits should be according to the original arrangement, I gave everything a brushed-on coat of 1lb cut shellac.
Next I put in a couple of sessions" of french75564497-FE53-419F-99E1-C8E08C769101.jpg polishing so that all that's left is covering the MDF insert with vinyl.
I rang a couple of restoration businesses and was told that the original fabric -based material used for this kind of application isn't available anymore and that the required amount of leather would be at least $270 which is not probably appropriate for the value of the desk.
So here is where the desk is up to.
53539F63-FCC7-4A9F-9F3B-00AA36BAE10B.jpg4BA4F2C4-37A5-41BD-BC99-303963EE40B9.jpgAlthough the desk is not particularly "fine" furniture, I love this desk because of the iconic Aussie timber and its aesthetic.
Thanks for taking an interest
Graeme

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Hi Graeme,

Congratulations on your 'restoration' of the desk. It looks great. I don't know how bad a condition it was in beforehand but understand that you may not have had any choice in your approach. With more valuable antiques a conservation approach will better preserve their value.

I guess that you know that the table-style desk is abut 1900? As you have found, this style and quality of desk was usually finished on top with a doped fabric. I haven't tried to reproduce it but I suspect that, with a bit of research, you may be able to reproduce it if you wanted to. If you stretched a large enough piece of fine wove fabric over a frame tightly so it was flat you could paint it with shellac to fill the pores and seal it. Successive layers of coloured shellac would build-up to eventually produce a smooth finish. Another approach would be to glue down a piece of smoothly woven fabric to the top of the desk (use hide glue - reversible - in case it doesn't work out). Once set and smooth then you could apply shellac and stain until you get the desired effect.

Instead of leaving the Phillips head screws you could replace them with steel slot heads. From memory you can still buy them from Forums sponsor Goods and Chattels. Also, in future, it would be best to avoid PVA and other modern adhesives if you can. Liquid hide glue (Titebond, from Carba-Tec etc.) is as easy to use and bonds well with old hide glue whereas PVA often either won''t stick or else is too solid for the required movement in the piece.

Thanks for sharing.

[Lappa]

That’s a great job It’s always great when you bring a piece back to life.
Sorry this information has come a bit late but this is an interesting video from one of the best antique restorers out there re desk top replacement.

Installing Oilcloth for an Antique Desk - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration - YouTube

[forrestmount]

First of all great job

But your comments about the desk not being having worth $270??
Don’t get me wrong the vinyl looks good but I would have thought a desk like this would be well north of $700.

I have not been into a shop for a while just wondering if I am out of touch


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[Blackout]

Definitely not too late for me. I bought a red cedar desk from a family. It belonged to the father who had it from the 1950's and apparently took it around the world including Africa when he was an Ansett Airlines pilot. I've reconditioned the base by basically cleaning. Now I am more confident about installed oil cloth for the missing top. Probably take another year but would like to get it right.