Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/roll top desk.

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Expert: - 2/18/2009


Question
QUESTION: I am refinishing a roll top desk the pieces of wood that fit together to make the actual roll top were threaded together with wire. i rethread the pieces(because the original wire was brittle. When I got to the end however I connected the locking mechanism (which is also threaded in and a much thicker piece of wood containing a metal lock) I am not sure what to use to fasten the wire to this piece? Any ideas????

ANSWER: Hi Nicki, I have never seen this type of arrangement on a roll top before....so not sure how to advise you. It sounds like perhaps you should thread from the other end though, finishing at the top instaed of the bottom...could you not see how it was fastened off originally when you disassembled it? Post back - Greg

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: no the piece containing the lock was already apart from the rest of the rolltop. there are three pieces of wire threaded through and the piece with the lock has holes hollowed out to give room too  fasten or tie.. If i had to guess I would say that the wire was tied off in the hole..again the reason I rethread it was that the wire was breaking...My husband said that most are attached to a material? should I look into that?

Answer
Hmmm....wire isn't the kind of thing one can tie off though, and have the pieces remain tight....yes, usually the tambour is glued to canvas, and that holds it all together and allows it to hinge at each piece. I'm afraid I'm kind of at a loss here...is there a label or makers mark anywhere on the piece?

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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