Home › LIWForum › LIW Public Forum › A roll top in progress
This topic contains 7 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by 
Charlie James 8 years, 3 months ago.
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December 4, 2016 at 12:13 pm #2097
Hi, Woodworkers,
Work progresses on my roll top desk, which is about half the size of a full-size one. But using white oak, it already feels like a massive desk! It’s no wonder that most were built as modular pieces of furniture that could be disassembled and reassembled.
To make the tambour “roll,” I used contact cement for the first time. I can’t say the result were 100%, but the canvas and slats seem to be holding. While the glue needs to cure for a while, and the assembly should be weighted during that time, I sure wish I had had a vacuum bag to insure that the slats and canvas were making the best contact possible while setting up.
However, the slots it rides in were just the right size, so the roll moves smoothly with no binding. That was a Wow! moment when I first installed it
Makes me wonder how many hats woodworkers have to wear: The wood technologist’s hat, the joiner’s hat, the machinist cap, the chemist’s, the math major’s, the hardware specialist’s, and the list goes on.
Best to all in this holiday season, although my favorite radio station is playing Christmas songs 24/7, so maybe we’re not quite in the spirit yet.
Roger -
December 4, 2016 at 12:29 pm #2098
Photo of roll top in progress
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December 5, 2016 at 7:02 am #2100
Roger, Very Nice!
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December 5, 2016 at 8:54 am #2101
Coming along real nicely.
I would imagine that contact cement has its plus and minuses in this case. I’m curious to see how it holds up in the long haul. -
December 5, 2016 at 8:12 pm #2104
Thanks, guys, for the encouragement.
Yeah, contact cement has its minuses. I had to do the glue up in the garage or turn off the gas in the house. Dangerous stuff to work with, although I’ve read there’s a water-based cement which is pretty harmless.
I read about an antiques restorer who uses “old brown glue” to repair roll top tambours. I assume this is an old timers’ name for hide glue. I’m certain that before white and yellow glues became the norm, and before contact cement, hide glue was it. -
December 6, 2016 at 7:24 am #2105
Roger, I researched it pretty well before I built mine and contact cement was the way to go. It holds up very well to the rigors of opening and closing vs hide glue. Mine was built 21 years ago and still no problems with the canvas. As a matter of fact I lock the top and open/close it more than ever since the kids are here. The little guy climbs on top of the slats to get to the top. The older guys ride the cars on it because it makes a funny noise! Need any furniture tested? They seem to have lost their fascination with it for now but who knows? I was thinking of barbed wire but it may ruin the aesthetics of the first floor…
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December 6, 2016 at 9:02 am #2106
Who you kidding, Charlie, you love it. And I bet the desk does too. I’m surprised to hear how well the contact cement holds up. But it is good news since it really reduces the stress of clamping.
Roger, “Old Brown Glue” is a brand name of a liquid hide glue. I have a bottle I turn to every once in a while. I’ve read that you can heat it up to make it flow better. It’s not as versatile as hot hide glue (when it cools it’s still a liquid) but it does provide all the reverse capability as the original stuff.
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December 6, 2016 at 1:19 pm #2111
Roger, I neglected to mention that the water based contact cement is not as strong as the one that requires ventilation. It is very explosive so It’s good you’re doing it away from the house. Joe, you’re right, I do love it….As far as the desk loving it, I don’t know but so far, no marks. I guess it helped that I put ten coats of varnish on it!
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