Interesting old desk

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Another old desk has been dragged from the shed.
This will need a bit of love.

I first thought it was all Australian Cedar, but on closer inspection it seems to be Kauri Pine. The front apron and drawer are definitely Cedar.
The drawer would have had a screw type pine knob, which I have some of, but I may turn a Cedar knob with a dowel and glue it in.
It has a thick brown/red stain (original) that I don't plan to try and rejuvenate.

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This is the desk now.

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I normally try and install the original hardware, but I think I may have to replace a couple of screws for the top

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Here's an example after a test clean. I'm thinking that I won't re-stain, but instead fully clean and polish.
I like the warm golden old pine look.
It still has a lot of stain in it, but I can live with that as long as it's fairly even.

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I'll post some more pics when I get some more done.

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Very envious

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Drawer has put back together and the front apron has been repaired.
I'll melt some coloured wax into the crack voids.

Tip: Don't try and clean this type of leg without a lathe
Steel wool and metho to clean off the gunk and polished with shellac.
I've left the top of the leg bare. I'll polish it when the table frame is together.

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A Few hours were spent cleaning the parts on the weekend.
The less fun part of restoration.

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A few more pics.

Floating Cedar tenons added to back of the front face.
One of the original tenons was cut off to take the desk apart, and the other broke in half when tapped out.

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The drawer runners were replaced with Kauri.
I used the original guides and nails.

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The front and back sections are now glued up.

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It should look more like a desk next weekend

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Love the pictures showing the progress. Feel good I'm not the only one reusing the original nails

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Love the pictures showing the progress. Feel good I'm not the only one reusing the original nails

I always try and replace original nails/screws.

I would have loved to have kept heaps of hand cut nails and even hand filed screws that I have found in the past.
It just doesn't feel right. They go back into the furniture.

[wood spirit]

Probably some kinda pine - not thinking red cedar.

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Probably some kinda pine - not thinking red cedar.

Yep.
It's pine all right. I think it's Kauri Pine with a Red Cedar front and drawer.

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A few more pics.

The table frame is now together.

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I turned a Cedar knob for the drawer.

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Fitted the case runners and tweaked the drawer runners.
I like a 5 1/4 size plane for this.

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I think I'm going to add kickers for the drawer. It's very floppy when pulled out and I'm sure it contributed to the damage at the bottom of the front face.
Since there's no real meat to add them to the frame (at the front), I may just screw kickers to the underside of the top.

Here's where I'm up to now.
Polishing the frame.
Next job is cleaning, adding and polishing the top.

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Some work on the top on the weekend.

Before cleaning ...

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After.

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I added the drawer kickers under the top. They are just screwed in and some shellac has been applied.
I also plugged up some of the nastier screw holes to prepare for attaching the top.

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Put some music on and filled all the nail holes around the edge of the top with coloured wax.
Took about 1/2 an hour.

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This is after a couple of coats of neat shellac (brushed on).
Still plenty of age and character. No sanding.

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Next is to attach the top, and complete polishing. I'll give this a good build and shine (more music required ).
I'll glue the knob into the drawer, give the whole thing a wax and call it done.

Next up , the finished pics.

Cheers all,
Stu

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The last piece of the puzzle.
Glued the knob in (after polishing).

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And we're done!

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Whilst I quite like this little desk, I don't know if I have room in the house. We already have 3 Cedar writing desks scattered around.
I'll probably have to sell this as well. This project was just for fun.

Thanks for looking all.

Cheers,
Stu

[Xanthorrhoeas]

A great project, perfect for winter. I'm pleased to see the old glue pot. I still use mine but have become a bit lazy when I fix small pieces of veneer I use the liquid hide glue unless I have the glue pot simmering in the corner for a larger project.
Cheers

David