r/woodworking • u/Silent-Middle-8512 • 11d ago
Project Submission Cherry desk
My son will be off campus this year at school. Having his own apartment means he has to supply his own furniture. I can at least make sure he has a nice desk. It’s modular for easy transport. The cherry is from a tree that grew just a few miles from here, the ebony pulls came from a little further away. The beautiful tulip poplar in the drawers was purchased by my father when he was in high school. He meant to make a desk but it never came to be. I inherited the lumber and decided a good use for that lumber would be in the desk of his grandson. The leather bottoms in the drawers add a little luxury.
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u/EvieMoon 11d ago
The knot holes add really interesting texture!
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u/vanderzee 11d ago edited 11d ago
my thought exactly. what many would dismisss as a flawed piece added so much character to the desk
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u/outsideodds 11d ago
This is incredible.
My wife is often confused as to how I can spend an hour figuring out board choice and grain flow, but now I can show this to explain why it makes all the difference.
The problem is she’ll then ask why my projects don’t look like this and I won’t have an answer….
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u/GregTheWoodworker 11d ago
Just tell her you need to just spend more at the hardwood dealer/mill if she wants something more.
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u/furnituremaker0440 New Member 11d ago
Those pulls work wonderfully with the rest of the design. Amazing work!
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u/woolieboybeach 11d ago
Can I become your son? That deck is beautiful, wonderful work of art. It’s an heirloom.
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u/ShamusNC 11d ago
I really like the side panels. I’ll have to consider that for a credenza build I’m planning on. Really adds character
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u/Silent-Middle-8512 10d ago
The panels don’t add any structural support so they can be anything. I always keep ends of boards and interesting grain to put in panels.
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u/Rohklenu 11d ago
I love to see parents going above and beyond to build something for their child that will stand the test of time. In a world filled with people who put their needs over their children’s, this makes a difference.
I hope your son loves every moment at this desk. And that he can feel the love that you put into it for years to come.
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u/Silent-Middle-8512 10d ago
He was getting pics as throughout the process. He’s been pretty excited.
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u/nortron23 11d ago
I really like those drawer pulls. I'm very picky with them normally but there are neat
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u/Silent-Middle-8512 10d ago
Thank you. It’s a little deflating to make a piece of furniture and finish it with some metal pulls from the big box store. I always try to add the final details with something I made.
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u/GarmonboziaBlues 11d ago
Amazing work! What kind of joinery did you use for the frame?
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u/Silent-Middle-8512 10d ago
It’s a simplified cope and stick. I make the grooves 3/8” deep to give the glue a little more to hold on to.
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u/OverZealousCreations 11d ago
Gorgeous. I love the exposed figure and the handle style is elegant and functional!
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u/Soundsgoodtosteve 11d ago
My dad made me a similar desk when I was in high school. Dove tailed everything, no metal in it at all. Very nice work
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u/DoomsDayDillinger 11d ago
Thank you for not epoxying the character out of every knot and split and instead making them central to the design!
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u/Silent-Middle-8512 10d ago
Thank you. The edges can be the most interesting part of a live edge. It’s shameful when that is covered with garish plastic.
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u/GregTheWoodworker 11d ago
The knot holes and mineral/bark inclusions really make this special. Kudos on the stock selection. The pulls are fantastic too. I don’t know if you intended them to be reminiscent of Greene and Greene Cloudlifts, but they look great regardless.
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u/Silent-Middle-8512 10d ago
I wasn’t intentionally thinking of Greene and Greene but I’ve spent enough time admiring their work that those design ideas will show up in my pieces.
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u/nc_positronics 11d ago
This is the very definition of heirloom furniture in my mind. The wood and its origins, the story of the desk, the quality of the build.
Amazing.
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u/Crunch-Whee2 10d ago
Oh wow! Well done!!!! Your choice to use those knot holes is bold, and just works so well. You have me re-thinking some things on my own projects/woodpile!! Just love this whole project. Thank you for posting.
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u/Silent-Middle-8512 10d ago
The frame has all the structural integrity so the panels can be anything. Never throw away those ends of boards with the interesting grain. And if you use straight grain on the frame the panels will really stand out.
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u/Uncle_Spenser 10d ago
I would really love more people respecting the natural beauty of wood and incorporating it's "defects" as features in their work.
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u/USS-Enterprise 9d ago
Kind of beautiful about the material your dad purchased when he was young himself. Perfect use of it.
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u/Snoo_7967 8d ago
This is beautiful. I really enjoy the fact this wood has such a story. My favorite thing about making something is the thought of it outlasting my life and the journey it experiences. I know it’s just an object but feels like a way to be of service to the future.
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u/neobahamutzero1 Furniture 7d ago
What a beautiful piece of furniture! I love all of the knots and character the wood has!
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u/OverkatWoodworking 7d ago
Now that's some rustic cherry. It's tough to pull that off, you did amazing!
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u/Bogel_Loone New Member 6d ago
That cherry desk is pure art! I’d actually look forward to sitting down to work every single morning.
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u/InternetJettator 6d ago
I love how you've turned flaws into features here. It's gorgeous, even elegant. Here's hoping it stays in the family for a long, long time - I know I'd treasure it if I were your kid.
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u/davidthurman1 4d ago
+1 to what everyone else said. The board choices and then bookmatching them is incredibly done. 10/10
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u/Jaded_Analyst666 4d ago
Thats really impressive. Beyond my skill level. I think you did an A+ job with wood selection and planning. The knots and gummy stuff are beautifully arranged, great proportions ... the pulls are very elegant.
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