Second Logstore & Desk Project

[Orcamesh]

Finally finished my second logstore for firewood, this one for the front of the house so that in the winter you dont need to wade down to the end of the garden in the dark and wet ground to get logs! There was no where to put a logstore near the back door but we have this covered area outside the front door which was ideal for this.

See http://www.orcamesh.com/Orcamesh/My_Woodwork_Albums/Pages/Flat_Stuff.html#18

and

http://www.orcamesh.com/Orcamesh/My_Woodwork_Albums/Pages/Flat_Stuff.html#19

Its nothing special, just construction timber, but I did use proper M&Ts in joint between side uprights and horizontal bearers. More as an excuse to practice and use the morticer, etc. Still it is fit for purpose and that's all that matters!

Secondly, I have now updated my website with my old project aka "The Desk Project". This still needs the drawers to be made but since my new workshop has now been up and running for a wee while now, logstores (as requested by Mrs HM) are now made, I have no more things in the way so should be able to get on with these very soon.

See http://www.orcamesh.com/Orcamesh/Desk_Project.html

cheers
HM

 

[Orcamesh]

Seems logstores are of little interest (I am not surprised)! :wink:

But I did think someone might comment on the desk project, but alas there was silence! Oh well, back to my day job... :lol:

 

[Chems]

I didn't see this post, must have been lost.

That desk is lovely, and your dovetails are perfect. Great job!

I think it always helps to post pictures in the actual thread, we are like magpies, we look for pictures instead of silver thou!

 

[Orcamesh]

Thanks Chems! I guess as the whole project history is on the website I wanted to avoid repeating myself in here, but I will attach a couple of the photos below to try and entice any other magpies to the booty!

Here is the Sketchup drawing of the Shaker style desk :

Then some of the parts during the construction :

Here is one of the carcasses with drawer (yes, I know the full extension slides are showing and I should have used hidden slides or better still real drawer construction!) :

Then here is one of the drawers showing the dovetails made on the Woodrat :

and finally the desk as it stands today, minus completed drawers (tbd asap!) :

You can get the full commentary if you visit the website link.

Thanks for looking!

cheers
HM

I didn't see this post, must have been lost.

That desk is lovely, and your dovetails are perfect. Great job!

I think it always helps to post pictures in the actual thread, we are like magpies, we look for pictures instead of silver thou!

 

[flounder]

Really like the look of the desk and thanks for sharing the cautionary tale of initially designing it too tall! But blimey, has it really been on the go since 2003?!

 

[Orcamesh]

Thanks for your kind comments Flounder.

As for the length of time this project has been going, sadly, yes.

If you are reading this it might be a good idea to put the kettle on, make yourself a cuppa and take a seat...!

The reasons are many. I was an active member of this forum and others up until the end of 2003, some of the old timers in here will know me. My Mum & Step-Father both became ill suddenly and simultaneously in Oct 2003 and were both rushed into hospital. My Mum had secondary cancer and my SF had a stroke. Then they were both in several hospitals over the following year, my Mum passed away in mid-2004 and my SF in autumn 2004. After this I became depressed and didnt do any hobbies for at least a year and a bit. So now we are in 2005. Then we moved house to the current house I am in now in Oct 2005. The new house was bigger than the previous one and had space to build a bigger garage, the single garage at the new house was slightly smaller than the last one. All my kit was squeezed in and not very useable as the old garage at the new house was dark and very damp, my kit rusted up. It didnt motivate me to go out there! Then we applied for planning permission for a double garage, this was rejected by the council and we appealed and won, but this set us back another 18 months. Then we had a 6 month build from Sept 2007 until March 2008. Then there was lots of house renovation jobs as well as fitting out the garage into a workshop (placing floating floor in, painting walls and ceiling, electrics, etc). We had serious landscaping done, a block paved drive built and a huge patio in the back garden. So the new workshop (not on my website yet as I am still working on the garage/workshop build story!), has only recently been useable. Coupled with this I changed my career in Apr 2006 and have been studying since then, last year went back to uni, and I am continuously studying until I pass all my exams now. This could still take years. Right now I am having a summer break from my "other" books! Enjoying being able to go in the workshop and make stuff even if it is just a log store! I only bought my first table saw in March and I am kicking myself for not buying one in the first place (i.e. back in 1997 when I started!)!

So it is a long story and hopefully explains my absence from here (as you can see I joined back in 2003 just shortly before my Mum became ill), and secondly explains why this flaming desk has taken so long to sort out.

I am determined to finish it now!

cheers
HM

Really like the look of the desk and thanks for sharing the cautionary tale of initially designing it too tall! But blimey, has it really been on the go since 2003?!

 

[flounder]

Sorry to hear of all your trials and worries over the last few years. It sounds like things are starting to get better for you now (apart from the continual studying!) and I am looking forward to seeing the finished desk in all its drawer fronted glory!

 

[Orcamesh]

Well that's life I guess, it never stops! I am sure my life is no different to everyone elses in that there are always problems.

Anyway, yep, I have no excuses now...

Thanks to Joiner_Sim's feedback I have now updated the website with a white background so it is easier to read and I have to say his advice was spot on, it is now much easier to read! I have also increased the text size which helps too.

Still I had better stop mucking about with websites and get on with this desk!

Sorry to hear of all your trials and worries over the last few years. It sounds like things are starting to get better for you now (apart from the continual studying!) and I am looking forward to seeing the finished desk in all its drawer fronted glory!

 

[OPJ]

That's a very nice desk indeed.

Did you use soft-close runners? I was looking at a couple of pieces that had these fitted in our exhibition last night and, as much as I'm a fan of traditional drawer construction, I have to admit that the action is so nice I would now consider it for a future project! 8)

Very sorry to hear of the troubles you've faced in the last few years. There are a few of us here who've suffered from depression so, you're never alone.

 

[Orcamesh]

Thanks Olly!

No the runners are Blum (without soft-close) and I think can have soft-close add-ons added on, but at the time it was all new to me, and since I havent been thinking about the drawers for some time now I havent revisited this. I bought them from Isaac Lord. The reason I chose runners at all was due to the original idea that at least one of the lower drawers would have a tower PC on it, and I wanted the ability to pull it right out (full extension) so I can fiddle around at the back with cables when needed. These runners can handle a reasonable load too.

The other thing with this whole desk design is that I didnt want to tackle too many perceived difficult joints/tasks, as it was there were a huge number of mortice and tenons plus panelling to do. Then the dovetailed drawers. Now I am more confident I think I would have no fear in making something next which has traditional joints all over. I guess this was a bit of a learning exercise and my first real furniture project.

cheers HM/Steve

That's a very nice desk indeed.

Did you use soft-close runners? I was looking at a couple of pieces that had these fitted in our exhibition last night and, as much as I'm a fan of traditional drawer construction, I have to admit that the action is so nice I would now consider it for a future project! 8)

Very sorry to hear of the troubles you've faced in the last few years. There are a few of us here who've suffered from depression so, you're never alone.

 

[Benchwayze]

I like both these projects Simon. Some very nice work there.

My only niggle is, I would have had the 'roof' of the log-store falling away from the brickwork and not towards it. As it is it's inviting damp patches on the other side of the wall, and when we do get a freeze, there's damage to the bricks to consider.

Just a thought.
John

 

[Orcamesh]

Hi John

Good points, however, the whole thing is under a canopy provided by the upper part of the house so it wont get wet much at all. The roof is mostly decoration in its current location. I can always pull it slightly away from the wall so that if any water does get down there it wont affect the brickwork! The reason it slopes that way is so that you have the largest opening face available to you for reaching in and grabbing logs, if it were the other way around it would make it quite restricted. It is only about 1m tall at its highest point. Anyway, good feedback! cheers HM

I like both these projects Simon. Some very nice work there.

My only niggle is, I would have had the 'roof' of the log-store falling away from the brickwork and not towards it. As it is it's inviting damp patches on the other side of the wall, and when we do get a freeze, there's damage to the bricks to consider.

Just a thought.
John