DIY Network

Contemporary Writing Desk: Finishing Touches From "Wood Works" episode WWK-511

	Subtly curved legs support the contemporary lines of the cherry base, creating a functional desk with an accent on design.
	Zebra wood is an African hardwood with a spectacular figure. The contrasting dark-brown veins against the creamy background make for an eye-catching surface.

For the finishing touches on the writing desk, decorative brass pins are added to reinforce the drawer joinery, a custom-made ebony handle is added to the drawer-front, and a tung-oil finish is applied to complete the desk.

Materials:

Disc sander
Table router
Drill press
Cordless drill
Brass pins
File
Ebony stock
Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue
Tung-oil wood finish
Paint brushes
Rags

Safety Alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when
working with wood, power-tools, saws, drills, routers, etc.

Safety Alert: Always wear protective gloves, and ensure adequate ventilation, when working with wood stains, solvents and other toxic solutions.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Finishing Touches

• To complete the drawer, brass pins are added to the corner rabbet-joinery for added reinforcement.

• For insertion of the brass pins, drill three evenly-spaced 1/8-inch holes into each of the drawer's corners.

• Place a drop of cyanoacrylate glue into each of the holes (figure A) and insert the brass pins.

• Tap the pins in place with a hammer.

• Once the glue has dried, cut off the excess and level the pins flush with the surface of the wood using a file (figure B).

• To finish off our drawer, we made a custom handle out of ebony. To create a handle like this, use the table router to round the edges of a 1/2-inch square strip of ebony.

• Refine the shape of the handle at the disc sander (figure C).

• The handle is attached to the drawer using brass pins. Drill holes for the pins in the handle using the drill press.

• Drill matching holes for the pins in the drawer front, and glue the handle in place (figure D).

• We chose tung oil as a finish for the writing desk. The tung oil makes the natural color and contast of the zebra wood even more vibrant (figure E).

• As you apply the tung-oil finish, use 0000-gauge steel wool between coats. Repeat this process, applying five to six coats for an enduring, satiny finish.

Wood Works factoid: Because the zebra-wood top in this project is veneered, there's no need to worry about wood movement. A veneered panel can be made flush to the frame of the piece. This is ideal for a desktop. A solid-wood panel would need room to move for wood-expansion and contraction.

RESOURCES :

David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com

Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456

Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com