Popular Woodworking 2004-06 № 141, страница 72
Writing letters longhand is one of life's simple pleasures, as is building this traditional lap desk. Portable Writing Desk The portable writing desk was an integral part of 18 th and 19 th century life, when writing was the only form of long-distance communication. As people spread across the globe in the 19th century, correspondence by mail became much more popular, and so did the writing desk. The portable desks needed to be sturdy and lightweight, hold stationery and writing utensils, and have a place for people to write easily. The desk seen here will do all of the above, plus hold paper clips, rubber bands and more in the simple side drawer. While you might not abandon your laptop computer for this more traditional item, it is an excellent place to write holiday cards, thank-you notes and personal correspondence. Though we all like the immediacy of e-mail, a hand-written letter always is a welcome surprise. by David Thiel Comments or questions? Contact David at 513-531-2690 ext. 1255 or david.thiel@fwpubs.com. Rabbets are the Key Construction of this project is simple, but the joints are still sturdy. All the pieces are made from ^s'-thick cherry, and the primary joinery is an interlocking 3/l6" x rabbet joint that can be cut on all the pieces at one time with a standard table saw blade. A band saw (or jigsaw) handles most of the project's angles, and a hand plane finishes things up. This is a good first project for the novice woodworker, or a pleasant weekend project for the accomplished craftsman. Photos by Al Parrish 70 Popular Woodworking June 2004 |
