Things I'd Like to Build - Would Like Plans

[Roy Shaw]

I would like to find some plans for the following projects. Hope someone can help.

http://monticellostore.stores.yahoo.net/070175.html

http://monticellostore.stores.yahoo.net/110000.html

http://monticellostore.stores.yahoo.net/111006.html

And the desk that Bartholdi used when designed the Statue of Liberty
(I can't find a picture of it on the web, but I can scan it in and post if
anyone wants to see it.)

I am just a home woodworker, non-commercial, so I won't be making money off of someone else's work. I love Jefferson's designs and Bartholdi's desk is the coolest drafting table I've ever seen.

Thanks for any help you may provide.

Roy

[harry strasil]

take your pick. http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-msgr&p=lap%20desk%20plans&type=

[Dave Anderson NH]

Welcome Roy, I can't help you with the chair or the revolving stand, but the desk has been the subject of articles and plans in both Popular Woodworking and Fine Woodworking over the years. I don't remember what issue numbers for either magazine, but a search of the appropriate website would probably find it for you.

[Hank Knight]

Thomas Jefferson's lap desk was the subject of an article in Fine Woodworking issue #144. Here's a link to the article on the FWW web site:

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=2667

[William Duffield, Cohansey, NJ]

Lon Schleining has developed plans for his reproduction of the writing desk, and sells them for $19.50. Google will find his woodbender website for you.

The writing desk is on display at the Smithsonian American History museum in Washington DC. The book stand is on display at Monticello, near Charlottesville, VA.

While Lon's reproduction of the writing desk is very impressive, I think his execution is quite a bit more complicated than it needs to be. For sure, Jefferson's desk has the serious problems with warped writing surfaces leading to failed hinges that Lon describes, but there is are much simpler and more straightforward ways to deal with them. Additionally, the first part of the approach I propose would have been acceptable to the original maker of the desk, had he realized that the desk would have eventually failed as Lon describes in his article, and as can be clearly seen by examination of the desk itself. First, instead of using plywood with a mahogany veneer to prevent warping, it would be much simpler to use quarter sawn mahogany for both of these wide writing surfaces. Second, I think that finishing the inside and outside surfaces with a modern product that more effectively inhibits the transfer of moisture (e.g., lacquer or even, ugh!, polyurethane varnish) would obviate the problems. Third, the glue originally used to attach the baize to the wood would also have contributed to the problem of unequal moisture transferral. If you use contact cement, which is is not hygroscopic, you should be able to completely avoid these problems, even if the carriage that transports you between the White House and Monticello has no effective climate control system. The last point is that the desk that you build, unlike Jefferson's, probably won't get rained on and snowed on very often.

Sir William of the Cohansey

[Hank Knight]

It's good to see you back!

[Pam Niedermayer]

I'll say, it's great to see you. You've been missed.

Pam