I want to build a secretary's desk to look like the chest of drawers in my
daughtor's room. Basically, the chest has 5 drawers; on the desk I will
have a fold down writing surface in place of the top two drawers.

All the Secretary's desks I have seen fold back about 30 degrees past
vertical. Is that just tradition, or is there a compelling reason for it?
Obviously it will stay closed better that way than vertical, but a simple
catch should be adequate for that.

Oh, if you know of any on-line plans for Secretary's desk I would appreciate
the link. I have found two, but they are not particularly close to what I
am try to do.

Thanks.

Sat, Feb 21, 2004, 6:54pm (EST+5) (Toller) says:
I want to build snip All the Secretary's desks I have seen fold back
about 30 degrees past vertical. snip Oh, if you know of any on-line
plans for Secretary's desk I would appreciate the link. I have found
two, but they are not particularly close to what I am try to do.

I would think they were made that way, because they do stay closed,
with no fuss, no catch. A good answer to a problem.

I've seen some made similar to what you want. They weren't called
secretary's desks tho, maybe because they didn't look like the
traditional ones. Personally, I liked their looks, but I wouldn't put
fake drawers on one.

Should be simple enough to make up your own plans. I doubt
seriously you're going to find plans for just what you want. Remember,
real woodworkers don' need no steenkin' plans.

JOAT
Georges Clemenceau supposedly said, "War is too important a matter to be
left to the military". If this is so, it is then obvious that peace is
too precious to be left to politicians.

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 28 Feb 2004.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofal...ESILIKEVOCALS/

I would opine that it is tradition and you can build one anyway that gives
you the warm and fuzzies.

However, in most cases, you will find that tradition in furniture is based
on practicality and looks that were found pleasing to the eye IE golden
rectangle etc,

If I were to really stretch for a practical reason I could say that putting
the fold down past the vertical gives you a slightly larger writing surface.
If I were to give a reason based on esthetics I'd say, in my opinion only of
course, the past vertical fold down is more pleasing to the eye and has a
more finished look then the boxy look of a vertical fold down. Not to
mention not requiring a latch to spoil the lines.

But, again, your the artist and only have to please yourself. Well, maybe
yourself and your daughter.

Good luck.

--
Mike G.

Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Toller" wrote in message
...
I want to build a secretary's desk to look like the chest of drawers in my
daughtor's room. Basically, the chest has 5 drawers; on the desk I will
have a fold down writing surface in place of the top two drawers.

All the Secretary's desks I have seen fold back about 30 degrees past
vertical. Is that just tradition, or is there a compelling reason for it?
Obviously it will stay closed better that way than vertical, but a simple
catch should be adequate for that.

Oh, if you know of any on-line plans for Secretary's desk I would
appreciate
the link. I have found two, but they are not particularly close to what I
am try to do.

Thanks.

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:54:30 GMT, "Toller" wrote:

I want to build a secretary's desk to look like the chest of drawers in my
daughtor's room. Basically, the chest has 5 drawers; on the desk I will
have a fold down writing surface in place of the top two drawers.

All the Secretary's desks I have seen fold back about 30 degrees past
vertical. Is that just tradition, or is there a compelling reason for it?
Obviously it will stay closed better that way than vertical, but a simple
catch should be adequate for that.

Oh, if you know of any on-line plans for Secretary's desk I would appreciate
the link. I have found two, but they are not particularly close to what I
am try to do.

Thanks.


Try this. Will get you started
http://www.jeffgreefwoodworking.com/...ary/index.html

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 03:21:10 GMT, brought forth
from the murky depths:

Try this. Will get you started
http://www.jeffgreefwoodworking.com/...ary/index.html

D'you suppose that DHS has picked him up for producing a bombe
yet?


-----------------------------------------
Jack Kevorkian for Congressional physician!
http://www.diversify.com Wondrous Website Design
=================================================

In article ,
says...
If I were to really stretch for a practical reason I could say that putting
the fold down past the vertical gives you a slightly larger writing surface.
If I were to give a reason based on esthetics I'd say, in my opinion only of
course, the past vertical fold down is more pleasing to the eye and has a
more finished look then the boxy look of a vertical fold down.

I wound up designing mine to go just past the vertical because
the traditional angle would not have left enough room for my
computer monitor. It doesn't look as good, but it serves its
purpose. At least it doesn't look as good on paper, I haven't
finished it yet :-).

--
Where ARE those Iraqi WMDs?

Let me know if you still need help with your desk design.

All our low-stress computer designs are now Free!


Thanks,

Tom Riley


Woodware Designs
http://www.charm.net/~jriley/woodware.html

Check out our new Book:

"Look the Future Straight in the Eye"
http://www.charm.net/~jriley/jeremiad/book.html




On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:54:30 GMT, "Toller" wrote:

I want to build a secretary's desk to look like the chest of drawers in my
daughtor's room. Basically, the chest has 5 drawers; on the desk I will
have a fold down writing surface in place of the top two drawers.

All the Secretary's desks I have seen fold back about 30 degrees past
vertical. Is that just tradition, or is there a compelling reason for it?
Obviously it will stay closed better that way than vertical, but a simple
catch should be adequate for that.

Oh, if you know of any on-line plans for Secretary's desk I would appreciate
the link. I have found two, but they are not particularly close to what I
am try to do.

Thanks.

We have plans for about 50 low-stress computer desks (URL
below). All our desk designs are now free.

At present we do not have a secretay desk, but I would be
happy to design one if you are serious about building it. I do about
three new desk designs a year.


Thanks,

Tom Riley


Woodware Designs
http://www.charm.net/~jriley/woodware.html

Check out our new Book:

"Look the Future Straight in the Eye"
http://www.charm.net/~jriley/jeremiad/book.html


On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 18:54:30 GMT, "Toller" wrote:

I want to build a secretary's desk to look like the chest of drawers in my
daughtor's room. Basically, the chest has 5 drawers; on the desk I will
have a fold down writing surface in place of the top two drawers.

All the Secretary's desks I have seen fold back about 30 degrees past
vertical. Is that just tradition, or is there a compelling reason for it?
Obviously it will stay closed better that way than vertical, but a simple
catch should be adequate for that.

Oh, if you know of any on-line plans for Secretary's desk I would appreciate
the link. I have found two, but they are not particularly close to what I
am try to do.

Thanks.