Re: Small roll top desk for a Granddaughter

[Bryan Cowing]

Last 4 weeks I have been building a roll top, from a free plan found online. I made some changes, making an interlocking tambour instead of cloth backed. I also added 2" to the leg length so a drawer could be added to the desk. I made through dovetails for the drawer. The little drawers for the desk organizer, I made a simple jig for the TS to do the 1/4" box joints. To get the fingers loose enough to go together, I shimmed the dado stack 0.016.
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[Mike Null]

Very nice work. I like the interlocking tambour.

The lucky girl will love it. I'd like to see it with the finish.

[Phil Thien]

Bryan, that is outstanding work!

[Yonak Hawkins]

Question : Is it still called a tambour door if it doesn't use a fabric hinge ?

Anyway, that interlocking tambour door or sliding flexible door, or lid .. whatever it's called .. is the cat's pajamas. Is that an original design ?

It's a beautiful piece of furniture and marvelous engineering.

[Bryan Cowing]

Question : Is it still called a tambour door if it doesn't use a fabric hinge ?

Anyway, that interlocking tambour door or sliding flexible door, or lid .. whatever it's called .. is the cat's pajamas. Is that an original design ?

It's a beautiful piece of furniture and marvelous engineering.
I first made the interlocking tambour when making a cherry roll top desk from the Fine Woodworking article on building a roll top desk , back around 1990. 2 years ago made myself a roll top using the same FWW plan. Shaping the ball using available router bits, etc, took a lot of passes and time to make the parts. I was going to buy a Tambour router bit set this time to make a 5/8" thick tambour. But I decided to make a HSS shaper cutter to speed the process making a 3/4" thick tambour. I re ground 3 Sears Craftsman moulding head cutters which fit an other manufacturers shaper head. Making the socket is easy, 1/4" wide saw cut followed by a pass over a 1/2" wide core box cutter with 1/4" shank.
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[Pat Barry]

I love it. Truly outstanding work. This is destined to be a treasured heirloom. Congratulations and thanks for posting this.

[Bryan Cowing]

Broke down the desk & got stain on all the parts. The desktop has some sanding swirls, which I will re-sand today and stain again. Parts sitting all over the shop drying.

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[Mike Wilkins]

Fine desk/fine craftsmanship. Hope to complete one of these some day. Show us some shop shots if you get a chance.

[Bryan Cowing]

Show us some shop shots if you get a chance.
shop is 20x24

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[Bryan Cowing]

spent the day to apply 2 coats of satin lacquer.
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[Mark Engel]

Very nice.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Bryan....Very well done Sir! That is a family heirloom before you even deliver it. Question? What type of wood is that? White oak?

[Sam Whit]

Looks amazing!

[Bruce Page]

Very nice! I love the interlocking tambour design.

Nice shop too!

[Yonak Hawkins]

Great looking shop, Bryan. I've never seen a shop floor that clean.

[Bryan Cowing]

Great looking shop, Bryan. I've never seen a shop floor that clean.I had just finished laying new 2x2 interlocking foam mats when the pic was taken 2 weeks ago:D.

todays shop pic

280074280075got some puttin away before the next project can start, buddy wants a pantry:(

[Bryan Cowing]

Bryan.... Question? What type of wood is that? White oak?
It's made from red oak with some ash ( hidden from view) in the desk organizer and the pencil drawer. Stain is ML Campbell country pine and to me looks a lot like min wax's early american.

[Jerry Olexa]

VERY well done !!!!!

[Terry Beadle]

That's a beauty !!

Well done.

[Floyd Cox]

WOW what craftsmanship !