A project from a couple of years ago that I made for my son. He was just over four, lived in a small room and needed a table where he could sit and draw, write or read. Space was very limited, so the idea was a small wall-mounted desk.
I had just left my previous job and wanted to see what it was like to work as a cabinetmaker, something that had always been in the back of my mind. I got the chance to work two days a week during the spring with my good friend Pär H. A very interesting and educational time.
While I was with Pär we talked a lot about how to make a small wall-mounted desk. We looked through old books and searched for clever solutions. Pär had some pieces of very fine maple veneer that he thought I could use. The base was thick birch plywood. I made a drawing with dimensions and a few details.
After sawing the parts for the drawer, I used the Domino to join them. A dry fit showed that everything looked good.
Pär suggested we add some marquetry too, so I got to practise that. I didn't need to be asked twice. I thought my son's name would look cool on the front of the drawer. I sketched the name on paper, which was then placed on two pieces of veneer. Both pieces were then sawn at the same time on the scroll saw.
After using a whole roll of masking tape, it was time to start sawing. I sawed at an angle so that the lower piece fits perfectly into the upper one. And I have to say it turned out really well. It was a bit tricky to keep the angle in the right direction all the time.
Of course there were small mistakes, but we fixed them with a few small pieces before it was time to glue the two pieces together.
Just the name felt a bit empty, so we added a frame around it, and I got to practise some knife work and hand sawing too.
The marquetry for the drawer is done. Time to start on the desktop. An extra-thick birch plywood became the base. Rounded corners, so I got to practise with the hand router too. The next step was the edge veneer. More practice, this time with an old iron.
Then came the work with the maple pieces. They weren't big enough, so we decided I would make a double book-match: four pieces radiating from the centre. We talked about adding dark pieces here too, but concluded that a clean surface would look best.
Since the pieces came from the same flitch of veneer, the result was really beautiful when they were put together.
Into the press with the whole panel, and out comes a heavy top. Then the overhanging edge was trimmed to follow the panel. More work with the hand router, and a little sandpaper.
The veneered parts are done. Time to glue everything together. Even though there aren't that many parts, it got a bit stressful.
The drawer was to hang under the desktop, so I needed to glue on two pieces that slide in grooves under the top.
When it was finished I felt very proud. It was then oiled.
The drawer slides very easily, as gravity helps it a little. However, we haven't fitted a stop, so now and then it gets pulled out a bit too far and comes off.
After about two years the room was taken over by my youngest son, so he now uses his big brother's desk. A few small incidents have happened: something wet was left on the top a little too long before anyone noticed, so the veneer has lifted slightly at the cross joint. I have chosen not to do anything about it, as I feel it would probably only get worse. But one day, when I am more confident, perhaps I will tackle it. All in all a really fun project, and great to do it in a real joinery workshop using the big boys' (and girls') machines. A few months later I started working at Rubank Verktygs, and it has been busy ever since.
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