Grex Dwellings Conference

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Grex Dwellings Item 17: Roll-top desk restoration
Entered by mcpoz on Sun Jan 4 14:56:30 UTC 1998:

I am planning on restoring a 1920's vintage oak roll-top desk.  This desk is
complete (ie: has all the pieces), but there have been several attempts to
repair in the past.  Basically, all that is wrong with it is every glued joint
is loose, some veneer is loose/chipped, and it needs refinishing.  

Has anyone done such a project before? Do you have good sources for
supplies/tools? (I plan to take it all apart, repair/replace as needed,
reassemble, and refinish).

6 responses total.

#1 of 6 by keesan on Wed Jan 7 23:52:34 1998:

The public library has several good woodworking videos on furniture making
and restoring, as well as books on the subject, and perhaps one of the local
antique restoration places could help you with sources or even sell you
veneer.  The woodworking videos are by Fine Woodworking and are excellent.

#2 of 6 by gibson on Mon Jan 12 06:23:45 1998:

        One important tool disassembling the loose joints is a dead blow
hammer. It is a mallett filled, i think, with oil and steel shot. When you
hit the item, there is no rebound of the mallett so all the force is
transfered to the joint. The loose veneer should be glued with carpenters
glue, either clamped or weighted. If the finish is not really messed up
simply cleaned the whole desk with mineral spirits and 0000 steel wool, this
leaves the original finish on and if the piece has antique value it doesn't
lower the value.

#3 of 6 by scg on Sun Mar 21 04:00:28 1999:

I suppose this is as good a place as any to ask my refinishing question.  I
have a few pieces of nice cherry furniture, which originally belonged to my
grandparents.  Over the years they've gotten rather scratched up in parts.
Some of the scratches go all the way through the finish and down to the wood,
so I don't think just cleaning it will help.  What's the best way to either
refinish it, or polish it such that the scratches won't show?

#4 of 6 by scott on Sun Mar 21 15:03:46 1999:

The big refinishing project is to sand the whole thing down, then put all new
finish on.  You probably would find that a bit cumbersome and smelly to do
in an apartment, though.  Hardward stores ususally have "filler stick" which
is a waxy stuff in a range of wood colors.

#5 of 6 by keesan on Sun Mar 21 19:15:31 1999:

Jim uses dark floor wax to cover scratches, comes in various colors.

#6 of 6 by n8nxf on Mon Mar 22 12:06:35 1999:

You could also strip them and then refinish.  I did that with a 75 year
old canoe years ago.  You may even be able to find a place around town
that will strip them for you.

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