How to Repair a Roll-Top Desk
- 1. Open the roll-top portion of the desk to expose screws that hold the top to the base of the desk. ...
- 2. Lift the roll-top lid off the desk. ...
- 3. Spread a new piece of canvas or tambour cloth over the work surface, if needed, and set the old tambour atop it. ...
Full Answer
What is a roll top desk?
How to remove a screw from a desk?
How to get hide glue off a desk?
How to replace a tambour on a desk?
How to make a lift bar?
See 2 more
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Can you refinish a roll top desk?
1:2710:10DIY Refinished Roll Top Desk | Before & After - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd used Waverly brand chalk paint and some foam paint brushes to paint the entire desk.MoreAnd used Waverly brand chalk paint and some foam paint brushes to paint the entire desk.
How do I make my roll top desk roll smoother?
Try reducing any high spots, using a chisel for the grooves, a wood rasp for the slats and a low-angled block plane for trimming end grain. Try another fitting, and if the tambour now moves more comfortably, rub paraffin along the edges to make for a smoother run.
What kind of glue do you use to repair a roll top desk?
On antiques, the fabric was typically attached with hide glue, which warm water softens. Today, white woodworking glue is more common. Stefan Ohmke, owner of New England Antique Furniture Repair Shop in Arlington (703-528-1800), softens that with vinegar. However, repairing a roll-top isn't always so simple.
Are old roll top desks worth anything?
Vintage roll top desks can be found in many price ranges. It is possible to find a vintage roll top desk at a thrift store for fewer than a hundred dollars; while at the same time a very high quality desk may be found at auction for well over ten thousand.
How do you make a roll up desk?
2:1823:33Roll Top Desk Project ~ Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEvery piece of timber is the same size and length you're gonna see us doing a lot of that here todayMoreEvery piece of timber is the same size and length you're gonna see us doing a lot of that here today I want to start by building the case for the drawers. There's a side panel inner and outer.
What material is used on a roll top desk?
The portion of the desk that gives the form its name is constructed of narrow slats of wood glued to some flexible material, the slats running along slides or grooves fitted into the upper edges of the desk.
What is Tambour glue?
This tambour glue is a commercial grade adhesive formulated for the furniture industry. Ideal for gluing cloth backing to tambour door slats. This multi-purpose adhesive is flexible when cured and can be used for bonding wood, leather, cloth and other porous materials. Dries clear and flexible.
How does a roll top desk lock work?
Roll top desk locks are mortised into base of roll-top lid, facing downward. Square strike, with spring loaded trap door, is mortised to sit flat in desk surface. When desk lid is rolled down, winged bolt drops down into strike to lock lid to writing surface.
Are roll top desks out of style?
A roll top desk will never go out of style. Even if they are not the most popular concept right now, there are still plenty of people that love the look and functionality of this terrific desk idea.
When did they stop making roll top desks?
Antique Roll Top Desk Makers produced different types of antique roll top desks and stayed in business till 1877.
Are roll top desks in style?
Too much paperwork caused roll top desks in the nineteenth century to go out of style. Today, roll top desks are cherished by those who appreciate their classic design – which brings us to our next point.
How do I know if my roll top desk is antique?
Look closely at how drawers on your desk are assembled. Like wooden pegs instead of screws, hand-cut dovetail joints on the sides of drawers indicate older, prefactory assembly methods. Hand-cut dovetails were often used before the 1860s, when factory-cut methods became widely available and economical.
How do I identify my antique desk?
Look for a furniture mark that can tell you the manufacturer. Many antique writing desks have a label or mark on the back or underside. This can help you identify the piece.
When were roll top desks popular?
19th centuryUsage. The rolltop desk was the mainstay of the small or medium-sized office at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Because it was produced in vast numbers and at varying levels of quality, the rolltop desk is popular in the antique market.
When were Oak Crest roll top desks made?
This is an antique early 20th century, Edwardian era, Arts & Crafts/Mission style, single 3-drawer pedestal and single off-center drawer, oak wood desk with s-curved tambour roll front that was produced by Ramsey-Alton Manufacturing Co of Portland, Michigan between 1905 - 1915 in their Oak Craft line.
Please tell me the trick to unlock a roll top desk
Good Luck! I have an AB Chase 1905 piano the lid got slammed and locked. EVERYONE who came over had tried to 'pick' with no success. A local locksmith with a good reputation came out for $50 and tried everything in his arsenal and still couldn't opened.
Roll top desk repair - DoItYourself.com Community Forums
Furniture and Furnishings - Roll top desk repair - I have a 25 year old oak roll top desk. The slats have fallen off of the canvas on the roll top. How do I remove the roll top portion of the desk and repair (reglue) the slats onto the canvas?
How To Repair A Rolltop Tambour Door - YouTube
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Ask a Handyman - Other - stuck roll top desk
stuck roll top desk: by: Lana: posted: Friday - August 12, 2011: The roll top on the desk is stuck half way up. It will come down all the way, but will not go up.
Repairing a Stiff Roll Top Desk? | ThriftyFun
I inherited my Father's antique rolltop desk and it needed some dust removed from the rolltop to make it open smoothly. I vacuumned the rolltop while closed along every movable part and moved the rolltop up and vacuumed the channels it moved in as much as possible.
What is an antique roll top desk?
An antique roll-top desk is worth repairing and preserving. When restored and polished, they give an office a rich and comforting feel. Often times, the tambour of the desk is in bad shape and needs to be re-glued and restored. The proper tambour and cloth must be used to repair the back of the tambour. Human hands cannot tear the natural cotton ...
Can you replace a roll top desk with a new backing?
Luckily, replacing a roll-top desk cloth with a new backing is possible and it can be glued onto the slats after removing the assembly from the desk.
What is a roll top desk?
A roll-top desk's door or "tambour" is what sets it apart from any other wood desk, offering a way to keep things out of sight, out of mind after the day's work is done . As the tambour wears over time, some of the slats may come partially unglued from the backing fabric, jamming the roll top, or the backing cloth may tear or deteriorate.
How to remove a screw from a desk?
1. Open the roll-top portion of the desk to expose screws that hold the top to the base of the desk. If there are drawers atop the desk, beneath the roll-top area, you may have to remove some of them to locate the screws. Remove the screws with the appropriate screwdriver type, either slotted or Phillips, and set them in a safe place.
How to get hide glue off a desk?
Dampen the old cloth with a sponge to loosen the hide glue if the desk is old. If the desk is somewhat new and the glue does not respond to water, use vinegar instead. Pull the lift bar and the slats off the old cloth and wipe them dry with paper towels. If necessary, sand remnants of the old glue away and wipe the dust off with a soft cloth.
How to replace a tambour on a desk?
Lift the roll-top lid off the desk. Remove the sliding slatted door, called a tambour. Inspect the tambour cloth, the lift bar and the slats to determine if the slats need to be reglued or if the cloth needs to be replaced entirely. If the cloth is decayed or torn, it should be replaced.
How to make a lift bar?
Brush glue over the lift bar and wrap the end of the tambour cloth around it. Nail and clamp the cloth in place. Then apply a thin layer of glue over the lift bar and the slats using a foam brush, or by squirting lines of glue randomly over the bar and slats, rolling it smooth with a paint roller. Smooth the tambour cloth down over the glue, with the lift bar to the right of the slats, using a rubber sanding block without sandpaper. The weight of the rubber helps press the cloth down. Place a cut-to-size piece of plywood over the tambour cloth, then several heavy weights such as full paint cans to keep the cloth in place until the glue dries completely. Remove the cans and plywood once the glue is dry.
