pecan desk + Dodgy Loner's projects

pigman · June 19, 2007, 08:30:28 PM

I milled a pecan tree for a customer about six years ago. He informed me that he was going to have a desk made out of part of the wood. It seems that the woodworker he commissioned had health problems soon after he started on the desk. I was told that all it needed was a little sanding and a finish applied.The partially completed desk showed up last month at my shop to be completed. Well, the basic case was built. :(
All the desk lacked was making the drawers, shelves, door, keyboard pullout, shelf support holes and attaching the full 24" extension slides. With the back already in place in the 28 inch case, mounting the slides from the front was no easy task for this stiff old man. :

Since the first woodworker had been paid in full for the desk and since I had very little to do to finish the desk, I didn't charge but $100 to do the light sanding and spraying on some finish.

Bob

ellmoe · June 19, 2007, 09:23:36 PM

Nice job Bob. I've got a desk that needs only a little more work to be finished, how about $125 for you to complete? I'll let you know when I finish sawing the log! :D

Mark

WDH · June 19, 2007, 10:00:37 PM

Pigman,

I have been thinking about a desk. I have been formulating it in my mind, in fact, it is almost complete ;D. Since formulating it must be the hard part, maybe you could complete the project since it is near finished (in my mind :D).

You did a very fine job in making that desk a reality. I bet that is one satisfied desk owner ;).

Left Coast Chris · June 19, 2007, 11:41:11 PM

Bob.. very nice.

Since it looks like you shot it with lacquer or other volital illegal air polluting substance .... it will have to be confiscated. 8) 8) I have a California address to ship it to so this harsh action will be avoided :

Burlkraft · June 20, 2007, 06:08:14 AM

That's awesome Bob.........My birthday's not till February tho... :D :D :D

Patty · June 20, 2007, 08:02:29 AM

Nice job Bob. The desk is beautiful. I especially like how you made up the story about completing the desk for your friend....when we all know my birthday is Friday. You can't fool this old lady! 8) I will make shipping arrangements for you.

Norm · June 20, 2007, 04:35:44 PM

Looks great Bob! I love the look of pecan.

mike_van · June 20, 2007, 05:04:10 PM

I like it Bob, I've done that drawslide thing too, so I know what it's like - Pain in the you know what.

TexasTimbers · June 20, 2007, 05:12:21 PM

Nice job Bob. Pecan is so varied it can look like many different species.

brdmkr · June 20, 2007, 09:36:07 PM

Great job Bob. I have some pecan and the wife has already designed a bookcase. I could likely finish most of the work and maybe get you to sand and finish. I'll cut the lumber to length and then send it to you with the plans. I would put it together, but this should save on shipping ;)

Seriously, you do good work!

pigman · June 20, 2007, 10:27:51 PM

Thanks for the compliments, but you got to remember, all I did was a little sanding and finishing. ;D I am beginning to hate pecan. It is hard, it tears out bad and it is heavy. I do like to look at it though. ;) This is the seventh piece of furniture I have built out of the same pecan tree I milled for the customer. I am hoping that it is all gone.
I said I only charged $100 , but the customer's wife left a check considerably larger. 8) I just hate it when the customer pays more than the bill. It messes up the paper work. ;D ;D

Bob

WDH · June 21, 2007, 12:31:02 AM

From the looks of that desk, you earned every penny, and then some :D.

mike_van · June 21, 2007, 06:24:56 AM

Bob, is pecan like hickory? Same thing?

WDH · June 21, 2007, 08:52:21 AM

Same genus, Carya. Very hard like hickory.

TexasTimbers · June 21, 2007, 08:58:23 AM

Bob it's hard to tell if they are wood or not, but did you make those pulls? If so how about a close up. I need to make some for our cabinet drawers - never can have too many ideas.

pigman · June 21, 2007, 11:54:58 AM

The customer furnished the pulls. They are just some plated thin metal pulls he found at a yard sale. :

I am not going to get a close up of the pulls, they look better at a distance. ;D

Bob

Furby · June 21, 2007, 07:00:48 PM

Quote from: pigman on June 20, 2007, 10:27:51 PM
I just hate it when the customer pays more than the bill. It messes up the paper work. ;D ;D

I have a solution to that problem........... just send the difference to me and save the hassle with the paper work! ;D 8)

WDH · June 21, 2007, 11:06:00 PM

You can just put it in the COOKIE jar, Furby. The same one that you will fill up with Paschale's Chocolate Mint Explosion cookies we are all so fervently waiting for...........

TexasTimbers · June 22, 2007, 09:46:49 PM

Quote from: pigman on June 21, 2007, 11:54:58 AMI am not going to get a close up of the pulls, they look better at a distance.

Yeah, that's the same reasoning people use when they put a picture of their deceased loved ones in the obit section, which is of a 40 year old, and the man died at 90. ;D

I don't want to see a close up of the pulls now because the desk is too beautiful for cheap pulls.

WDH · June 22, 2007, 09:56:25 PM

That is an excellent point kevjay. I built a small 3-chest of drawers for my daughter for her college apartment. The pulls on it cost $60, but they were Horton Brasses and well worth it. A beautiful piece deserves quality hardware. This was made from cherry cut off the property.

Haytrader · June 22, 2007, 10:39:26 PM

WOO WOO!!

I don't care what everyone else says, that is purdy.

;)

pigman · June 22, 2007, 11:01:38 PM

WDH, I agree, I don't like to put cheap hardware on furniture I build. When I can't afford nice pulls I just make something that looks appropriate.

I like that cherry chest of drawers. 8) I made a cherry chest of drawers for my youngest that is twice that size. We have moved that thing five times already and have to move it to Ga. in August. There is an advantage to smaller furniture for a college student that moves a lot. :

Bob

WDH · June 23, 2007, 12:26:32 AM

Pigman,

Cherry furniture is heavy too. Let me know if you need another strong back. You got a girl going to UGA? I have two there. One likes walnut, One likes cherry. The third daughter is one year away from going there. She likes eastern red cedar ;D. Keeps a little sawyer like me on my toes :D.

I really like the stuff you build

. That pecan is fine.

pigman · June 23, 2007, 08:26:16 AM

WDH,

QuoteYou got a girl going to UGA?

. Yes, my youngest is going to be a Bulldog. She is going to be studing bugs, or as she says , insects. We keep asking her if she is going to be responsible for keeping the fleas off of the mascot, UGA the dog. ;)

Bob

WDH · June 23, 2007, 05:52:35 PM

Get ready to make some more furniture! I have made 2 desks, 2 chests, 2 bedside tables, 2 bookcases, 1 filing cabinet/printer stand, and 1 mirror for college apartments.

(Get a furnished one ;) ;D).