Woodworker's Journal 2006-30-5, страница 30

19th

By J. Petrovich

Some will look at this portable desk and ask "why?" Others of a certain vintage will see its value right away. Even in this computer-driven age, a few of us still compose the traditional way — with pen and paper.

dlor some of us it may have been our educations. We were taught to compose by hand and to transcribe from that draft with our typewriters. Those final handwritten drafts were worked, re-worked, edited and re-edited long before they were typed. Typing was a stage completely separate from composition. And so our writing habits were formed around composition at a pen's pace. This handsome desk serves that purpose.

Selecting Desk Hardware and Lumber

In designing this desk, my first concern was the hardware. Having built or repaired a dozen or so of these desks over the years, I knew the importance of the hardware. The old desks frequently had specialty hinges that are no longer manufactured, with L-shaped leaves that served to reinforce the corners of the desk as well as provide articulation. The simple butt hinges for the writing boards were much thicker than what's commonly available today.

To hinge the box of the desk, I found a reasonable substitute on the Internet (whitechapel-ltd.com). The hinges are "strap" or "box" style, made of l/8"-thick extruded brass. For the writing board, I selected two pair of 1" x 5/8" extruded brass butt hinges from Lee Valley Tools Geevalley.com). You could use stamped brass hinges instead, but realize that with use and over time, they will loosen, resulting in sloppy alignment and probably loose hinge screws.

To keep the desk closed and secure during transport, I chose a box lock. While a latch or draw catch could be substituted for a lock, it gives the box a different appearance. Because the back of the lock will be visible when the writing boards are opened, buy a good-quality lock with a snug-fitting link. They're available at rockler.com.

I used a pair of rare earth magnets to hold the writing boards snug against the lid or base while the desk is being opened. The antiques that I have seen depended on a tight fit or a very small lock for this security. Magnets, I've found, are a better solution.

Plan ahead and have your hardware on hand prior to starting work on this reproduction piece. There's even an opportunity to create some of your own.

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October 2006 Woodivorker's Journal