Desk

[alex grams]

A follow-up from my in-progress thread earlier (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=146974) on a desk for my father, some updated photos.

The finish is transtint dye (dark mission) follow by about 5 coats of waterlox, 4 base being semi-gloss then 2 coats of satin on top.

The sides are figured oak, framing is QSWO, and the top is white oak burl framed in QSWO with a 1/8" thick walnut inlay between the burl center and oak frame.

I need to work on taking better pictures, but with a piece so large it is difficult to get good shots encompassing the entire project. From wing to wing point is is about 10' and assembled takes up a huge area in the shop, so moving around to get perspective for pictures isn't feasible from most angles. I hope to have some more pictures which are better when I deliver/install it this weekend.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3950

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3949

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3948

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3947

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3946

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3945

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3944

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3943

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=3942

[C Scott McDonald]

Wow that looks great! Well done!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Alex,

You are right. You need to work on the photos and redo them because I just drooled all over them.

Incredible desk. Your Father will cherish it. A family airloom today!

Very well done Sir!

[Mike Watts]

WOW. Makes me feel like going home and burning the QSWO desk I am making for my son. You have set the standard for desks.

[Charlie Gummer]

Stunning. I really like the figure in the panels, the whole package comes together beautifully.

[Scott Dodd]

Absolutly AWESOME! Hopefully in 200 years someone from Antiques Roadshow will be drooling over it as such a fine example of 21st century craftsmanship!

Excellent,

Scott

[alex grams]

Scott, a funny thought regarding what we build now as being antiques in 200 years. When we look at stuff from 19th century and older, we typically can find a shop/craftsman and locate it back to that person or company via maker marks/initials or style. What are they going to do for us? Go scour an archive of sawmillcreek.org and match our 200 year old work with a 200 year old thread on this desk? Funny thought. I imagine with so many smaller 1 man shops and so much information out there on the internet, it would be a daunting task to allocate a project to a particular individual from then until now. It is probably easier for us to tell who made what in the 1800's than it will be for someone to tell what we made in 200 years.

[Sparky Norton]

Wowzers! The grain in those front panels and the top really came "alive" with that finish. Beautiful wood. Awesome craftsmanship!

Sparky

[gary Zimmel]

That is one beautiful desk Alex... A true family heirloom. Thanks for giving us a peek of it all done.

[glenn bradley]

That is just great stuff there Alex. A treasure to be treasured for sure.

[Ryan Sparreboom]

Amazing! Where did you get such figured oak (side panels)? And the burl on top is amazing too. Great work indeed!

Ryan

[Bret Duffin]

Alex,

I like your Sketchup drawing. Your drawing talent is only exceeded by your woodworking talent.

How do you like the vacuum press? How much do they cost?

I completed a desk for myself about a year ago. It's quite a bit different than your's but there are some similarities such as bookmatched panels and use of burl veneers.

Thanks for sharing, Bret

[alex grams]

Ryan,
The panel veneer was from certainlywood.com. This was my first time using them as a supplier. They did an exceptional job going out of their way to help me find veneers that worked for me. They dug through several stacks to find a burl veneer which was clear over the large area which I needed.

The panels were from this flitch from certainlywood.com (http://www.certainlywood.com/detail.cfm?ID=3074)

Bret,
The vacuum press kit is the Excel 1 (http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Excel-1-Continuous-Run-Vacuum-Press-System.html) from Veneer Supplies. (http://www.veneersupplies.com/) It ran about 450$ all-together with a bag. However, I also got the heavier 30 gauge poly bag, which made things a little more expensive. I also had to get a 4'x6' bag for the desk tops. I was very happy with the results. I had a few bubbles on the desktop which I had to fix afterwards, but I couldn't be happier with the results. It is absolutely the best tool I have purchased in a while.

[Doug Carpenter]

I would love to see the look on your Dad's face when he sees that desk.

I think he is going to be really proud.

Nice Job.

[eugene thomas]

i built a air powered kit think called the v2 for around $350 for the kit and a 2'x4' bag. Works great now just need to get some veneer to use it with.

[John Hartman]

Beautiful piece.
Thanks for sharing.

John

[Troy Turner]

Very, very, nice...even for an Aggie :)

[Greg Cole]

Whoa, thats AWESOME Alex.
The e-mailed progress pics showed me it was going to be nice.. but with the finish applied.... all I can say is WHOA.

[glenn bradley]

I came back for a second look. I really do like that piece Alex.

[Ben Hatcher]

Very nice desk, Alex. Almost makes me want to buy a vacuum press.

[Lee Schierer]

I guess they aren't kidding when they say every thing is bigger in Texas. Wow, that is a large good looking desk. I would need to build an addition on the house for that. Great looking work.

[Prashun Patel]

Alex-
I love your desk. Great all the way around.

[Gordon Eyre]

Beautiful project, your father will be thrilled with this.

[Dave MacArthur]

Wow, really super desk. I love the grain, the design, and the effort for Dad. Really nice work.

[Tim Mahoney]

That is just great stuff there Alex. A treasure to be treasured for sure.
That looks Sam Maloof's lounge. I saw it in Riverside just after he died

[Anthony Albano]

Awesome; Great job

[Bruce Page]

Can I call you Son?...

Absolutely beautiful! :eek:

[Gary Herrmann]

Beautiful design and execution. The oak is stunning.

Please tell us what your Dad thinks when you deliver it.

[Van Huskey]

Gorgeous!!! I have also had excellent luck with certainlywood.

[Jon Lanier]

Wow. I want one!!!! It's too big for my office though.

[mitch fike]

Wow, that's a beautiful desk. I honestly didn't know oak could look that good.

[Garrett Ellis]

reminds me of dwights 'mega desk' from The Office, LOL.

looks awesome!

[Jerry Olexa]

Beautiful choice of materials!!

[Jeffrey Makiel]

Outstanding! Pop must be proud.
Jeff :)

[alex grams]

A little delayed on the update, but i delivered and installed it a few weeks ago. Took a while playing around with how we want it in the room, it certainly is the centerpiece given its size. Rained for most of the 300 mile drive with the desk in the u-haul covered trailer. I hedged my bets and guessed the trailer would leak some, so I raised everything up off the trailer floor a little. Smart move, as there was water on the floor of the trailer when we got there. That is his 'wall of fishing' on the left, with pictures of him and his other kids. I don't get to fish as much with him nowadays, so the desk may have been my substitute for spending that time together.

For those who PM'd and asked, I think the materials for the desk came in around $1600 with about 200-250 hours of labor.

A picture with my old man and myself with the desk. Cabling is still not fully run, but the desk grommet's are installed and the computer monitors are installed. I don't give him long until he has it cluttered back up. It seems desk space is like having tools, no matter how much you have, you always find yourself needing more.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/picture.php?albumid=405&pictureid=4113

[Steve Costa]

Great Desk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can purchase an electric "branding iron" from many woodworking stores. Pick your logo, add your name and city. Everyone will know who made it 200 years from now.

[alex grams]

My wife got me one from Rockler about 2 years ago, so I was sure to put my name on the desk. Great Christmas gift from the wife!