Secrets of an 18th Century Desk

[tomsalwasser]

Greetings woodworkers,

I recently discovered Graham Blackburn's video "Secrets of an 18th Century Desk" and really enjoyed it. I've put it on youtube for just a few hours today because I don't own it but feel free to watch it tonight. I really enjoyed learning about the joinery, design and proportions that went into the desk in question. I learned about using the golden ratio and golden calipers to ensure pleasing dimensions. Check it out!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh_W-uLfBeg[/youtube]

Graham is a real class act. His bio, loosely lifted from one of his novels:

Graham Blackburn was born and educated in London. He lived for several years in Germany and Spain before moving to New York in order to continue his musical studies at the Juilliard School. He subsequently performed across the US and Canada with various artists including Van Morrison, Maria Muldaur, and Full Tilt Boogie, as well as recording with his own group Razmataz on the Warner Brothers label.

After building several houses in Woodstock, NY, he also pursued a career as a custom furniture maker. Meanwhile in addition to teaching and lecturing at major schools and woodworking shows, he has been a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking, Popular Woodworking and Woodwork - of which he was for several years editor.

He has written and illustrated 16 books on all aspects of woodworking, house building and furniture making, as well as several books on sailing and philately, and most recently four novels.

I just finished reading his novel "The Castilian Suite" and enjoyed it immensely.

[swampgator]

Thank you for this post. This is a great learning for design, function and assembly. I would have looked at this piece and thought it great. After his tour, I find this a fascinating piece that I greatly appreciate for both function, design and craftsmanship. It's far better than I can do.

[tomsalwasser]

Thank you for this post. This is a great learning for design, function and assembly. I would have looked at this piece and thought it great. After his tour, I find this a fascinating piece that I greatly appreciate for both function, design and craftsmanship. It's far better than I can do.

You're welcome Steve! The old masters who made the desk in the video would roll over in their grave if they saw me slap things together with pocket screws the way I do. When I really get fancy I've been known to use a dowel or 2. I have yet to cut my first dovetail but I'm slowly moving in that direction.

[nuhobby]

You're welcome Steve! The old masters who made the desk in the video would roll over in their grave if they saw me slap things together with pocket screws the way I do. When I really get fancy I've been known to use a dowel or 2. I have yet to cut my first dovetail but I'm slowly moving in that direction.

I've been doing about the same. To be noted lately, one of the blogs of Christopher Schwarz notes that pocket-screws actually go back over 100 years. Also, to be frank, many styles of work don't lend themselves readily to dovetails. E.g., a wall cabinet where the top of the case overhangs the sides. James Krenov wasn't above using dowels.

Chris

[algale]

Oh, dear! The video is gone!

[tomsalwasser]

To be noted lately, one of the blogs of Christopher Schwarz notes that pocket-screws actually go back over 100 years. Also, to be frank, many styles of work don't lend themselves readily to dovetails. E.g., a wall cabinet where the top of the case overhangs the sides. James Krenov wasn't above using dowels. Chris

Thanks Chris. I missed the recent Chris Schwarz blog on pocket screws: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodw ... ttle-clamp Chris is one of my favorites.

I also use a lot of glue and staples on the butt joints of my charity dresses. A lot stronger than one might think! My son has one that lasted through his college dorm years followed by 5 frat houses followed by several post higher education moves.

I really like the dovetails on all 4 corners of the casework on the 19th century desk though. And especially the step-dovetailed rails, which takes pressure off the narrowest part of the dovetail and steps it back to where the rail is full width. A nice detail for sure. And of course the drawer boxes.