Walnut Secretary Build Finished – last step drawer/drawer pulls and carving

[Mike Allen1010]

This is the last part of a series of build threads for a Walnut “Secretary” I’ve been building as a place to keep my some of my woodworking books handy for quick reference/comparison when thinking about new projects.
The rest of the build is covered in previous threads. The last couple steps described here were really more details, as compared to significant elements of the construction.

The secretary has an upper “bookshelf” section with 3 doors. I turned Holly pulls for these doors. Both results and process were not very satisfying; I couldn’t keep the knob/pull stock solemnly engaged in the jaws of the chuck on the lathe, and when I did I ended up breaking several blanks. Consequently, for the lower “desk” section that has 3 drawers in the front apron, I went with something a little more hand tool friendly and easier to execute – carved pulls. Here are some pictures of the blank with layout lines for the 3 pulls I needed, plus an extra because God knows I’m bound to screw at least one of them up!

For me, carving the polls was much easier and/more satisfying than turning. Rough shape was sawn into the blank and then face was dished with gouges. The flutes on the perimeter were started with a “V” tool and then blended into a curve with shallow gouges. I was going for something vaguely floral, but not sure I got there.


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4405/36256892940_8d7602c5b4.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XeU46N)1 (https://flic.kr/p/XeU46N) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4373/35843759723_5b21bbb417.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCZi)2 (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCZi) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr



https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4390/36653097875_fc4797934c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XQUH2n)3 (https://flic.kr/p/XQUH2n) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr




https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4367/35843758963_c3d992e52e.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCLc)4 (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCLc) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4399/36653097585_e132b496e2.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XQUGWn)5 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/XQUGWn) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


Here’s a picture of the runners/kickers. You may notice the notches in the center of the drawers/front apron – those are for the guide rods on the slide out extra writing surface.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4336/35843758593_c22b3cb601.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCDP)6 (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCDP) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr



This shows the underside of the desktop; cleats center the desktop in the apron, allowing for easy disassembly into 2 parts for moving. Felt strips protect the upper surface of the slide out writing service, and 3 “sockets” to capture the guide rods of the slide out writing surface, and hopefully keep everything aligned

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4372/36256890970_df232408af.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XeU3vQ)8 (https://flic.kr/p/XeU3vQ) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr

[Mike Allen1010]

Desktop as a pigeonhole section – small drawers and a central small door. Here’s some pics of carving a rosette for the central door – roughly 3 ½” tall x 2” wide:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4424/35843758223_84b15bb507.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCxr)9 (https://flic.kr/p/WBoCxr) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4386/36256890680_48911a5c38.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XeU3qQ)10 (https://flic.kr/p/XeU3qQ) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4360/35818302294_fbf612af6b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ao7)11 (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ao7) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4373/36514845421_e5b80c11a4.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XCG8on)12 (https://flic.kr/p/XCG8on) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr



https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4335/35818302244_c6cbc4983f.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9anf)13 (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9anf) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr



https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4417/36483960882_9d68a6dd73.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQuj)15 (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQuj) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr

[Mike Allen1010]

This picture shows the bottom 3 drawers and the pullout writing surface with breadboard ends.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4407/35818302164_ac38365993.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9akS)17 (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9akS) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr





The small drawers with curved fronts in the pigeonhole unit:.


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4337/35818301734_31a9b59f5a.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ads)18 (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ads) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr




Hidden compartments – 3 slide out trays that fit behind the upper molding and slide out pilaster next to the central door.


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4435/36483960802_d3eecdb01f.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQsW)19 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQsW) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4364/35818302004_639d50fe97.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ai7)20 (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ai7) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


Here’s some pictures of the completed project.



https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4423/36483960712_781d560cde.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQro)21 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQro) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4410/36483960542_aea5cb6679.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQos)22 (https://flic.kr/p/XzXQos) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4418/35818301834_4869cc0d08.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9afb)24 (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9afb) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4345/35818301594_a517191cc9.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ab3)25 (https://flic.kr/p/Wz9ab3) by Mike Allen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157847244@N02/), on Flickr


Thanks for looking.

Best, Mike

[Prashun Patel]

I wish there were something more insightful to say than 'wow'. But wow.

I aspire to your commitment to every detail.

The way you've broken down the steps has given me an appreciation for this piece beyond its aesthetic; I can see the intent and effort of each detail from grain matching, to back panel selection, to carvings on even the pulls.

[Mel Fulks]

Love these things! Some day ,from across a room, a guest somewhere will see that and yell "that looks like it could be an
Allen!". Have a question,you said that's the central door but it looks like the details to the left and right are different.
Not detail of the door ,the trim

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Here's you. X




Here's the bar.
-------------------------------

You have well exceeded the bar! Well-done. Wow. Truly amazing work.

[Chet R Parks]

Like the others have said Mike, Wow just Wow, you have the patience of a saint and the talent to go with it. Unbelievable.
Chet

[Kees Heiden]

Where is the 'like' button? Great work and nice details.

[Jim Koepke]

A Great piece of work Mr. Allen.

jtk

[ken hatch]

Mike,

Add my "you did good" to the rest....Thanks for sharing,

ken

[Rick Malakoff]

Mike, kudos to you and your excellent craftsmanship. I really enjoyed watching it all come together.
Rick

[Derek Cohen]

Mike, every step along the way has been a delight and a learning experience. I just sit here and marvel at not just your execution, but your willingness to take on the amount of detail, and your perseverance to do it right. We really need an archive for builds such as these. The end result is stupendous, as has been the journey there.

Thank you.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Phil Mueller]

Just want to add my "well done!" and thanks for sharing the build. You've taken yourself to a level of talent that is truly inspirational. By the way, for someone who doesn't look forward to the finishing step, you seem to have really figured it out. Great looking piece.

[Christopher Charles]

I agree with all said above and can only add that all of your skills seem to be accelerating .

best,

Chris

[James Pallas]

Mike simply put You do fine work. Oh you are far to humble about it also.
Jim

[George Bokros]

Beautiful piece. Great attention to detail. Pulls were an awesome idea.

[Dave Anderson NH]

Well done Mike. What else is there to say. Your productivity is amazing.

[Normand Leblanc]

I wish I could build a piece of furniture like that one. Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[Mark Rainey]

Impressive craftsmanship!

[Jerry Olexa]

Excellent work Mike!!!!!!

[Brian Holcombe]

Spectacular work!

[glenn bradley]

Really beautiful piece. The pulls are a great finishing touch. The pullout writing surface, the small drawers and cubbies . . . It all comes together wonderfully.

[Mike Allen1010]

Thanks all for your far too generous comments. Feedback from talented craftsmen I respect and admire, like all who commented, is tremendously meaningful and humbling to me. I'm gratefully to be part of the SMC community – much of what I posted in this thread are things I've learned from the generous contributors here. I'm pleased I can make some small contribution to our community.


Below replies to some of the specific comments:


Prashun I'm humbled by your typically insightful comments – thank you.




Mel, you're far too kind – I have to believe there's zero chance anyone will recognize any my furniture down the road, except perhaps for when our Boys wives say "what the hell is this, can't we give it to the goodwill?". Regarding your question about the trim surrounding the central door: above the beaded section on the right side, you'lll see a repair I made to the profiled, vertical trim surrounding the pigeonhole unit. One of many screw ups and repairs. The vertically beaded dividers on either side of the drawer are supposed to look the same. The one on the left slides out to reveal the hidden compartment.


Malcolm, I was tickled by your graphical comments, but reject your conclusion.


Chet, thank you for the tremendous, tangible contribution you made to this project through your generosity. I have to confess, it's a struggle for me to respect your wishes to not recognize your contribution publicly.


Kees, I have no idea what a "like" button is, but I'm a big fan of your posts.




JK, you are one of the true gentlemen of the Creek and your comment means a lot to me. "Mr. Allen" is my Dad, please call me Mike.


Ken, I'm a big fan of your "I'm an OK Guy" site. At the risk of overstepping my bounds, I think you're far too modest about all you do to support the many talented toolmakers working today. I hope when you are planning your upcoming West Coast trip you'll look me up; I can promise excellent Mexican food and fantastic cocktails.


Rick, you're in my neighborhood – let's get together for shop talk. My best friend grew up on a chicken ranch in Ramona. My memories of bucking hay and cleaning out the chicken houses are the primary reason I went to college.


Derek, as you know I'm a huge fan your work. You have long been an inspiration to me and I really appreciate all your contributions the woodworking community.


Phil, yes it's true – I hate finishing. Why? - simply because I've wrecked more projects than I care to admit with a horrible fishing job. For this project I went with the one "go to" finish I learned to execute through extensive practice: oil/varnish (Watco), sanded while wet with 600 grit, followed by padding on hundreds of coats of shellac (OK, probably not really hundreds of coats, but it seems like it), followed by paste wax. There is literally no other finish I can do that wouldn't be improved by a coat of paint.




Chris, James, George I really appreciate your generous comments. I can authoritatively confirm my skills are not accelerating, but in fact regressing because basically I can't see crap now! Yes it sucks to get old! The worst my vision gets, the more I have to rely on "it's sort of feels right; ahhh I let's just go with it and hope it turns out ".


Dave, thanks for your selfless contributions to the Creek. I'm a big fan of your work and your comments mean a lot to me.


Normand, Mark (any relation to the legendary plane maker?) and Jerry, I very much appreciate your support.


Brian, I'm a huge fan of your work and your website. – Your attention to detail and level execution is something I can only aspire to. I've reached a quandary; the boss says we have way too much furniture, and now that the boys have both finish school , as empty-nesters we're looking to downsize – ergo my problem; what am I gonna do with the furniture I want to build? Your advice much appreciated


Glenn, I always appreciate your contributions the Creek. I love the combination of your avatar and Latin tagline – I'm not exactly sure what they mean, but I think they're definitely the signs of a creative mind at work!


Cheers, Mike

[Patrick McCarthy]

You, sir, are KILLING me. I am a big, big fan. Best regards from an unworthy admirer, patrick

[Mel Fulks]

Mike, most gracious of you. Most of the really original designs we see are in modern styles. Your stuff is traditional in some ways, but so exuberantly original and decorative. And that quality is rare and always prized by collectors. Take a look at pics and info on John Shearer of Britain working 1790 -1820 in USA South. Interesting guy who has gotten to be quite a big deal. Press on!

[Brian Holcombe]

Hah that is quite a conundrum. My advice is to make sure that there is room enough for a very large study for yourself and another for the missus.

[Kees Heiden]

Kees, I have no idea what a "like" button is

Aha, I see, you are not familiar with Facebook or Twitter. Good on you :D

[James Pallas]

Mike, it's the "Siren Song". Once you get into it it keeps calling you. I'm much in the same place. Built enough to fill three houses. Given most of it away. I can't do the big stuff anymore. I tried all kinds of stuff, boxes, kitchen tools, picture frames, the furniture keeps calling me back. I'm building a treasure chest for my new great nephew currently. After watching Ken's bench build I'm tempted to do one more big project(big for me). It would replace my garage bench that I haven't used for a year. Last thing I used it for was to repair a chainsaw (don't need to be doing that either). Build and give away if you must. That siren witch will keep calling you.
Jim

[Mark Stutz]

Wow. Just WOW. I'm glad I came back to the Creek. Inspiration for sure.

[Thomas Crawford]

I'd love to tie some flies on that secretary.

[Karl Andersson]

Mike,
sorry to be late to the show (forum) - I'll add my admiration and thanks for sharing your excellent build and the final product. Oh, and I'd say you can claim to be a carver now - nicely done!
Karl