How do you take the top off a roll top desk?
- Clean off the surface of your desk, both inside the roll top and on the very top of the desk. ...
- Cut a vertical strip of material from the middle of the roll top using the panel saw. ...
- Break up the remaining strips of of wood, including the thickest strip at end, from the top of the roll top.
Full Answer
How do you remove screws from a roll-top 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 do you cut a roll top desk top?
Cut the fabric to be about four inches less than the width of your roll top and just slightly less than the length. The roll top on my desk was only broke into two sections, so I did not tear the old fabric off and re-position everything.
How do you fix a broken roll top desk?
All that you'll need to fix the desk is some heavy duty fabric and glue (I used wood glue, but I'm sure craft glue would work as well). Cut the fabric to be about four inches less than the width of your roll top and just slightly less than the length.
How do I remove the top of the door?
Remove the screws lift the top straight up. Then you can remove the crossbars to easily move each side separately. The "roll" top fits into deep groves on each side.. allowing them to move back and forth... think of a rolling garage door and you get the idea.
How to make a lift bar?
How to get hide glue off a desk?
How to make a tambour cloth?
How to replace a tambour on a desk?
How to reassemble a tambour?
What is a roll top desk?
How to remove a screw from a desk?
See 4 more
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How do I remove the top of a roll top desk?
Open the roll-top portion of the desk, looking inside for straps or screws which hold the top onto the rest of the desk. Remove the screws with a slotted screwdriver. Lift the roll-top portion of the desk and slide out the tambour, or slatted door, setting it cloth-side up on top of the replacement cloth.
What is the top of a roll top desk called?
tambourrolltop desk, desk with a sliding roll top, or tambour, that encloses the working surface of the upper part and can be locked.
How do you take apart a desk?
DESKYour desk is now ready to be disassembled for moving. ... DISENGAGE any detachable trays – for example, a keyboard tray.UNSCREW and remove any legs from the desk. ... REMOVE any glass elements that your desk may have, including a glass top. ... SEPARATE the two sections in case you're moving an L-shaped desk.More items...•
How do you fix a tambour roll top desk?
0:4411:00How To Repair A Rolltop Tambour Door - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll right well like I said earlier we got everything glued the last thing we have to do is thisMoreAll right well like I said earlier we got everything glued the last thing we have to do is this Tambor door here the fabric on the back is ripped so we're gonna get that replaced. So what we're going
How do I know if my roll top desk is antique?
Double-check the knee-hole, both sides of the bottom of the main drawer and the back of both the desk and its top. Finding a label lets you confirm age from a commercial history.
Are roll top desks still popular?
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. We have a wonderful surprise for you in our collection of roll top desks.
Can I disassemble my desk?
Desks or Tables Remove any glass elements. Cover them with bubble wrap or packing paper and place them in a box. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the legs or other sections of the desk or table (if possible), particularly if they are pretty hefty. Use a moving blanket to wrap the larger parts.
Is disassemble and dismantle the same thing?
Dismantle - to take apart. To demolish or raze. To strip of covering. Disassemble - to take apart (a piece of machinery etc).
What tools do I need to take apart a table?
2. Gather Your Toolsflat head screwdriver.staple puller.socket wrench.power drill.
Can you fix a roll top desk?
All that you'll need to fix the desk is some heavy duty fabric and glue (I used wood glue, but I'm sure craft glue would work as well). Cut the fabric to be about four inches less than the width of your roll top and just slightly less than the length.
What is a tambour on a roll top desk?
The small drawers, pigeonholes, and shelves provided storage for writing utensils, fresh paper, ink, envelopes, and stamps. The most attractive element of the roll top desk was the slatted wood cover called a tambour, which rolled down and locked. This attractive feature concealed any clutter or work in progress.
What is a tambour top?
The top is a tambour, with a series of narrow slats glued to a flexible canvas backing. The tambour slides in a curving track in the sides of the box, and its bottom edge is directly attached to the back of the drawer.
What is a tambour on a roll-top desk?
The small drawers, pigeonholes, and shelves provided storage for writing utensils, fresh paper, ink, envelopes, and stamps. The most attractive element of the roll top desk was the slatted wood cover called a tambour, which rolled down and locked. This attractive feature concealed any clutter or work in progress.
What is the top of a desk made of?
Most desks are constructed with laminate or melamine surfaces. These are usually bonded over a chipboard (particle board) or MDF core. Both materials are made by fusing layers of kraft paper with resin to create a tough, durable surface. This is a highly durable and adaptable material for desk surfaces.
What should the top of a desk be?
While average desk height varies a bit, most desk heights range between 29" and 30" from the floor to the tabletop.
What are the slots in a roll-top desk for?
The curved slots on the sides of the top were added for letter delivery when the desk was closed and locked? The side slots were also used to slide letters out to drop into a Out basket that would be picked at regular intervals by office staff.
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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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.
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 make a tambour cloth?
Spread a new piece of canvas or tambour cloth over the work surface, if needed, and set the old tambour atop it. Press the sides so the slats align evenly. Trace around the old tambour onto the cloth using a pencil, making dots on the new tambour cloth where each slat is positioned, as a guide for gluing. Cut the new cloth along the traced lines using scissors. Skip to Step 8 if the cloth is fine but slats require more glue.
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 reassemble a tambour?
Place the tambour back into the roll top track. Reassemble the top onto the desk by replacing the screws and tightening them.
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.
What is Zinsser 123 Primer?
The Zinsser 123 Primer is perfect for this application because it is thin but clings well to the grooves while covering well. At this point, fill any remaining holes, dents, or scratches on the rest of the desk. You should now be able to see them easier with the piece primed. Sand those parts after they are dry.
Why are roll top desks so hard to paint?
They are notorious for being difficult to paint because you can easily gunk up the tambour (rolling portion) with paint causing it not to roll at all. If you are lucky enough to come across one, here are some tips for a successful ...
How to sand a tambour?
Sand the tambour by laying it out flat on the ground and sand as you would the rest of the desk.
Can you use polyurethane after gel stain?
After the second and final gel stain coat, I added a coat of wipe-on polyurethane to the stained parts. The nice thing about latex paint and polyurethane is that you know that in 10 years the finish will look the same and be just as durable. Both finishes provide a clean, wipe-able surface that will not hold dirt easily.
Can I put a tambour over a garbage can?
After priming the rest of the desk, I laid the tambour over a round kitchen garbage can that was on its side. I wanted to open up the crea ses so I could get primer in each crea se between the wood slats. I was able to do this with a thin coa t of primer .
How to access a wood desk cover?
In order to access the wood desk cover, you'll need to first take the back panel off of the desk. It should be held on with small nails. Once the back is off, you should be able to pull the roll top right out of the track. After taking it out of the desk, I realized that a roll top is constructed of wood slats attached to a fabric backing.
Can you paint over a roll top?
Painting a rolltop is a lot easier if it is done before putting it back in the desk. If you are interested in painting over the fabric to make it "disappear," it helps to thin the paint out a little with some water. Allow the paint to dry and then insert the roll top back into the track.
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.
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 make a tambour cloth?
Spread a new piece of canvas or tambour cloth over the work surface, if needed, and set the old tambour atop it. Press the sides so the slats align evenly. Trace around the old tambour onto the cloth using a pencil, making dots on the new tambour cloth where each slat is positioned, as a guide for gluing. Cut the new cloth along the traced lines using scissors. Skip to Step 8 if the cloth is fine but slats require more glue.
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 reassemble a tambour?
Place the tambour back into the roll top track. Reassemble the top onto the desk by replacing the screws and tightening them.
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.
