New Computer Desk

[Radio Fixer]

Wonderful piece of work Colin.

It demonstrates what can be done by someone who believes he has no apptitude for wood work.

Gary

[Aerodyne]

It seems to me that Mr. Average contents himself with learning the minimum to get through life, it being too much trouble to bother learning more. The WANT to learn is what is lacking, not the innate ability - which to a greater or lesser extent, we all possess. Col has shown us by his example that it IS possible to develop new skills. I believe that someone capable in one skill area should, all things being equal, be capable of becoming skilled in other areas. The main thing is application. True, there is the small matter of aptitude to consider; it isn't for us all to become master craftsmen but most of us can learn the basics of a craft or trade and become reasonably adept, either through want or need.
This computer desk is a beautiful example of Col's ability in woodwork - and individual design completed to a very high standard. Once again, Col, well done. You remain as an example to us all of just what can be achieved when we put our hearts and minds into a task. I view this thread as an inspiration, not a deterrent.
Tony

[Geaney]

Beautiful job Col. Now you get to enjoy it on a regular basis when working on the computer!

I too consider this thread an encouragement and I think we can all see that while 'woodwork' can be considered the superset, there are many subsets - everything from wood carving, wood turning, construction carpentry, cabinetmaking, and of course luthiery which is what got me started working with wood. All involve working with wood but involve different skills.

Like many on this forum I also benefited from a classic apprenticeship where much of the discipline and also the joy of learning began. Those basics learned at a tender age stay with you.

Looking forward to the next project Col

Cheers, John

[Retired]

Hi,

Thank you Gary for such high compliments appreciated all the more coming from such a well respected radio restorer such as you.

Yes Gary that is exactly what I mean when I say anyone could do this type of project not only including an old guy but especially an old guy. Many people enter retirement and look for new hobbies as I did. These people could have quite a bit of disposable income to spend on such hobbies and with care it needn't break the bank to set up for woodworking. They have the time and if interested they will quickly learn.

It's easy to assume everything comes naturally to me Gary when in fact many tasks wind me up and cause me considerable frustration. I could wire an electric motor but my knowledge of radio/TV restoration was absolutely zero in fact I had never seen inside a valve radio/TV cabinet previously as I always considered them to be highly dangerous. I retired aged 53 and wanted a decent hobby that would stretch and challenge me for our 9 month long winters when I couldn't work outside.

Electronics was totally alien to me but to prove the point anyone can learn new skills I'm a good example; my mechanical engineering experiences were of little use as electronics was a whole new area for me to explore but by making many mistakes I slowly began to feel at home and more confident. I'm now approaching 65 years old and look forward to new challenges which bring along more techniques to learn.

It's all in the mind Gary; a child brought up being told he/she will be no good at anything has little encouragement and unfortunately this tends to carry through into their adult life leaving them with little self esteem. I have a great amount of confidence in my own ability but I'm certainly not over confident or I would soon be heading into trouble and possibly injury.

I don't know of anyone trying something new out for the first time ending up with 100% success; the more difficult the hobby chosen the longer it will take to learn the basics. I find once I break through and grasp the basics then I can relax and really start to learn usually by experiment to see what works for me and what doesn't. OK so I blow a big electrolytic up whilst playing with my electric motors or I cut a length of wood too short; its not the end of the world. I must have cut at least half a dozen biscuit slots in the wrong place whilst making this desk but I learn although it won't guarantee I won't make the same mistake again. Why take life so seriously; I'm no longer in active conflict in a job I dislike so I take a lot of time over my projects but enjoy every one gaining as much satisfaction as can whilst work is in progress. If I make a mistake at least I'm actually doing something in order to make the mistake.

I've said before that more and more lasses are leaning towards DIY and many are making a lovely job of what they tackle whilst lazy guys just want to sit around. Each to their own but nothing has come easy to me. I've had very little money for most of our married life but I haven't simply given up; I went out and bought scrap machines and restored them; yes my mechanical training was highly useful but how useful was this once the mechanics had been sorted and I ran into a brick wall because I hadn't a clue how to sort out the motor and starter connections whilst converting from flat belt drive to V belt drive and from 3 phase to single phase; if as you say Gary people are unable to learn new skills without a lot of background training how have I managed to not only sort out motors and starters but to go forward and play around with electronics and even install my own 3 phase which many electricians are unable to do?

It all comes down to wanting to do the work and without this it is pointless making a start. I'm widely read on all aspects of woodworking; no one taught me and I've been learning for many years and am still learning and hope to continue learning for a long time to come. Now take the old guy you mention who can't do such work? Of course he/she could and pick up the techniques a lot quicker than me because they can spend full days on projects whereas I always had long hours at work getting in the way so I was forever trying to pick up where I left off and spent as much time tidying up as actually dong any useful work. I had a shed to work in as a child then when I married I had a spare bedroom; I only had hand tools for many years with just a single B&D electric drill. This never stopped me doing my best at every project and I was always working on something whilst others were away on foreign holidays or paying to have jobs done.

I can do plumbing but this is one area I dislike intensely but it doesn't stop me doing plumbing jobs as the jobs crop up.

Unless a person is genuinely unable to do something possibly through some disability or illness then I maintain anyone can pick up new skills but only if they want to. There is a vast amount of information on the Internet and "You tube" is just brilliant for watching others do jobs first; by watching someone perform some task on video it is a great deal easier to pick up the information and techniques than any book will ever describe in text. Start on a small project and make the mistakes; waste some material whilst learning how to use hand and power tools; above all do not injure yourself and there is no excuse for buying a power tool and the first time it is used to end up in A&E. Many power tool suppliers will give free demonstrations on safe use.

I've responded at length Gary because to say I can only do this type of project because of my background training is incorrect; my training has been nothing more than a stepping stone; I have a genuine interest in what I do and once I make a start on a project it quickly turns into an obsession; many of my difficult projects keep me awake at night. The only unusual thing about me is that I'm not scared of having a go at something new; because I'm a mechanical engineer does this mean I can't cause a few blue flashes whilst trying something totally new that I've received absolutely no training in.

If you don't want to take your woodworking Further Gary then that is fine if you are happy where you are but others do want to move up a level or two. I'd love to have a nice warm workshop that is well lit and full of all the desirable machines and tools. What I have is a cold black hole that is dark and the lights installed cast many shadows; my tools feel frozen and most of the year work is carried out with the doors closed so fumes and dust have to be considered. I own compressors and a number of spray guns but cannot use them as the climate is so terrible. I wear bi-focals which I hate and most times work in a coat which I was trained not to do especially whilst running big machinery. Only recently have I been able to afford to go out and buy timber for a project whereas for many years I obtained offcuts.

I can assure you Gary when I make my mind up to do something I won't let go until I succeed. Failure is not an option and I hope all my ramblings encourage at least one other person to have a go because getting off ones backside is the hardest part.

Well said Tony and thank you for your gracious compliments which again come from a very well respected radio restorer. I'm very fortunate to have you as a friend and to see your work in progress via email which is always of the highest calibre. I'm pleased Tony that you regard my work as an inspiration as it is meant to be so and is why I go to a lot of rouble in sharing my experiences. It does upset me when people try to belittle my achievements saying I can do this kind of work easily because I've had training in mechanical engineering. I would much rather these people to be honest and say they have no interest in doing such work rather than offer feeble excuses; I don't ask them to do similar work so why do they feel obliged to excuse themselves. By not spending many hours on forums I could use the time being more productive. I try to put a bit back and encourage others to have a go but I find little encouragement from people who assume everything is so easy for me.

Perhaps the modern guy is going to do his finger nails; apply lipstick and make-up leaving the modern lasses to take over more manual tasks involving work.

Yesterday I awoke to no mains water and it din't come back on for 5 hours; the number of times the water company has dug up the same patch of road beggars belief I think it's time they put a zip around it. In the afternoon I tidied the garage and put lots of small offcuts of timber outside ready to run up to the tip today. The compressor and airline left the garage squeaky clean and it's a shame to mess it up again. Today the offcuts are soaking wet; never mind at least I'm still here able to moan about it.

Kind regards, Col.

[Joe]

If it's too wet to go to the tip I like off-cuts.

I do think that if you've got one mechanical skill it's easier to learn another. In recent years I've had to learn traditionally female skills like cooking and sewing. My attitude was, if I can mix cement I can mix a cake and if I can plaster a wall I can ice it. Sewing isn't far removed from riveting.

As for a child being told they'll never amount to anything and therefore not trying, that may be the case for some but for some of us it brings out our stubbornness and invokes an attitude of "I'll show the b*****s."

- Joe

[Aerodyne]

Well said, Joe. Many of us succeed because of the denigration by others. 'I'll show 'em' became a mantra to me, one I've used throughout life. Anyone saying 'You? You can't do that...' had to be shown how wrong they were. I'll admit that not everything I've turned my hand to has been of the highest quality but I can say with certainty that I've always given things my best shot. Like Col, I believe that people are limited mainly by their attitudes. It is far too easy to just say 'I can't do that' without even making the attempt.
Tony

[pwdrive]

If everything in the world was rational then nothing would get done.

Lawrence.

[Retired]

Hi,

I'm pleased this thread has opened up into a good discussion and generated some interest which after all is what a good forum is about.

Thank you John for your kind words and yes; every time I sit at or see this new desk it gives me such a buzz to think that I could actually make something like it. It's cost a bit of money and a lot of time but the transformation in our hall with the new decorations/ carpet and desk make it all worthwhile and it's a lovely place to be in. The red walls and carpet together with the desk colouring give the hall a very warm feel lifting the spirit. As you rightly say John woodwork is a generic term covering many branches all requiring specific skills and disciplines. Knocking a six inch nail in is a lot different to fine veneering but all are classed as woodwork. I'd love a spacious well lit and warm workshop to play around in because I know deep down I can achieve much better results than I already do but until then I'll still carry on and do my best making the most of what I have.

It's a pity you don't live nearer Joe or you would be welcome to all my offcuts but you would have to be doing jobs in miniature as I throw little useful timber out; I have a decent pile of wood offcuts but they are really only fit for a wood burner; I rang a guy last Sunday leaving him a message saying I had more firewood for his wood burner but to date he hasn't been in touch so I assume him to be away on holiday. I'll wait until next week and if they are still here I'll run them to the tip because they quickly become covered in slugs and look unsightly. Of course you are correct Joe in that anyone having one skill can more likely pick up other skills easier but what about people without skills or even basic training in anything. It is much more difficult for such people to try something new especially of a technical nature but many actually do. Unfortunately there is a new generation where their role models are parents bombed out of their minds under the influence of drink or drugs living in squalor. These kids upon leaving school assuming they actually attend school will find it extremely difficult to cope with life in general and from their background will be unlikely to secure a decent job ending up in low paid unskilled world with no prospects. Some do actually rise above this and it would be interesting to find out the statistics but I think very few will achieve much out of life and many will simply follow their parents example.

Thanks Tony; without the correct positive attitude nothing of value will be achieved whatever the background of the individual. Whatever the task or job if the desire to do it well is not present coupled with a negative attitude why bother doing it at all. I apply myself fully to all my tasks and this includes sweeping and tidying up.

I have been giving a great deal of thought to Gary's posts and his comments which have struck home a great deal with me. Gary has stopped me in my tracks and caused me to have a good look at myself and what I do. All my life I've been in my own little world rather like living on an island. As a child I played out with chums and we were all very much alike; later we all attended the same schools so once again we were all roughly the same. Right up to leaving school we were all taught the same lessons and taught the same morale standards to live by.

After leaving school things changed slightly as I then began meeting my own age group from different back grounds and from different schools so noticed new ways of doing things and new ways of thinking. From playing around with cycles I progressed money allowing onto motorcycles and now had other chums but on the whole we were all very much of the same mind; having similar interests and coming from similar backgrounds.

I've never considered myself special or any different from anyone else even up until now. Always considered everyone to be more or less equal in their outlook on life and life skills. We all had different jobs in order to earn money but even so we all seemed to be going in the same direction.

Gary's comments really struck home. Given the many projects I tackle way outside my basic training I must be different in some way and never even noticed or considered it. I should hate to come across as big headed or a know it all talking down to people as if they are slaves. I detest such people but what I do try to do is to share my new found experiences in the hope they will encourage others to try similar projects; after all it was Gary who inspired me to tackle radio cabinet restoration. I've never even considered I possess any special skills just being like the next guy who could turn his/her hand to anything. I've always thought of me as me if that makes sense but I'm on the inside looking out and perhaps Gary and others see me differently?

I still firmly believe what I do others could do if thy tried; I didn't look at Gary's superb radio restoration in the Bulletin for the first time and say no way could I ever do such wonderful work. I was inspired by it and started off small experimenting as I went along. Believe me I made many mistakes but I never ever failed. Yes I made a right mess of things at first and where others would consider me to have failed I looked upon it differently thinking I've messed up doing it that way so I'll start again but try a different way. To mess up or even ruin something if done without malice or anger can always be corrected with a desire to do so. I don't wish to preach but I do wish to put the point across to any novice that the hardest part of doing anything is to actually make a start.

I hadn't a clue about the workings of a radio and even less of a clue regarding electronics when I first started playing with valve radios a couple of years after retirement. I remember vividly the GEC Bakelite radio where I spent a full three months trying to get the chassis to work; I had messed up the tuning coil connections and could only read the circuit diagram as I would a blueprint. It took a long time before I realized that not only were the coil connections messed up but many other faults were present in the set such as it wanting re-capping (What's a capacitor?). I didn't recognize many of the components but I could make out which were the valves. Many of the smaller caps looked like resistors to me and to make matters worse I'm hopelessly colour blind. I didn't understand how to use a DMM. I started to visit Bardwell's in Sheffield to purchase components and admit I didn't know what to expect going into such a store who's staff had a lifetimes knowledge of electronic components so would I end up red faced being embarrassed due to my ignorance of the subject in front of a store full of customers. Not a bit of it; I took along a wish list and simply handed it over; having done this a number of times I quickly became familiar with the new surroundings and started to talk to the staff who never ever made me feel small.

I would say to a novice wishing to try anything new for the first time please go for it and eventually you will succeed. I still know little of the workings of a radio and have even bought Tony's excellent tutorial book but as yet have not had the time to read it. I know even less of TV but it didn't stop me fully restoring a total wreck including the chassis. I've never considered myself an expert in anything and still don't as the more I learn the more there is to learn. Over the years I've made many friends through forums and the BVWS. What still truly amazes me is how well I've been accepted into this alien world of electronics by everyone; I've received masses of praise and encouragement together with huge amounts of help; perhaps my threads are sufficiently different from a radio restoration to gain attention after all I still know little of the mysteries of electronics.

It came as a surprise to me when I noticed how few people with successful electronics background would actually tackle a woody cabinet restoration. Look on any forum or in the Bulletin and it is usually only a small group who do such work whilst the majority remain with electronics.

I've not found anything to be easy in this hobby in fact had it been easy I would have done something else. Having worked so hard to gain my knowledge and experience I enjoy passing this on as I now what I do works for me and hopefully will save others from making the many mistakes I make. I'm no great shakes at writing and even though I can spell I always run the spelling and grammar check before posting. Given my lack of understanding of electronics how the heck have I managed to submit and have printed over ten articles in such a prestigious electronics publication as The Bulletin? The answer to me is simple and that is I'm not scared to tackle something new and I'm even less scared of looking a fool.

I've now got lots of hand tools; power tools and big machinery but I haven't always had these and a novice can do some top quality work with a small but good tool kit. I know Gary hasn't a huge well equipped workshop but just look at his work and this also applies to a number of my friends some on this forum. Start off on a small project but don't keep your sights small; have top class work as your aim and work towards it. I can always improve what I do but at least I'm doing it.

I wonder if the rain has stopped yet because I wanted to do some work in the garage this morning but woke up to another wet and miserable day hence I'm playing on the computer.

It's an irrational world we now live in Lawrence.

Thanks Gary for giving me a different insight into myself perhaps I am different?

Kind regards, Col.

[pwdrive]

Lawrence wrote "If everything in the world was rational the nothing would get done"

Our local council put out tenders for the household waste collection service (a rational decision)
They accepted a competitive tender thinking it would save the council tax payers some money (another rational decision)
A couple of months has gone by and we have not yet received the new recycling bags from the new waste collection company, maybe I should 'phone them to see what's going on (a rational thought)
Hang on a minute if I phone them then that means I have to pay for the phone call (another rational thought)
I won't phone them I will just wait and see what happens (Hmm I'm not sure if that's rational or irational as I'm not a particularly educated man)
The weeks go by, still no recycling bags, me thinks I need to do something about this (rational thought)
Me thinks again.
Me thinks of a solution (another rational thought)
The solution is to give all the cans to the lads at the end of our lane and they can weigh them in when they do their scrap run on Saturdays ( a very rational thought and action, as the end result means I am still saving the planet by being a model citizen)
But what about the glass bottles?
I will dispose of them myself ( a rational thought from a truly model citizen)
But where?....Me thinks ( a rational process in itself)
Got it....a solution that is.
Smash up the glass bottles wrap the broken glass up in several layers of newspaperand put them in the ordinary household waste bags for collection (Hmm my model citizen rating has just taken a dive)
Hang on a minute...arn't I suppose to recycle the newspaper in order to save all the trees? (my model citizen rating has now turned into a ne'r do well.
Me thinks b****cks to it I'm past caring anymore besides I feed the birdies and the squirells every day so that should make up for it (i'm now getting irate and irational)
Hang on there's a knock at the door...it's the council police wagging there moral fingers, they say I'm a very very naughty boy and accused me of irational behavior
To which I replied ..Listen mate, if everything in the world was rational.........................

I guess that is what I was meaning.

Lawrence.

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Lawrence. Your story sounds rational enough to me and why can't the weather behave rationally.

As it keeps pouring with rain I might as well settle down and add the details of how I made the set of knobs for the desk.

I'm sure David will agree that these small turning jobs give a great deal of personal satisfaction. They are not up to David's gallery standard but pleasing enough to grace the desk with.

Working with lots of small bits of timber can become tiresome so the best way if possible is to do the job in stages performing one operation at a time. An off-cut of oak was selected it being 1.250” thick and just large enough to yield the seven blanks required. I didn't expect to make a mistake so didn't cut extra blanks.

The oak was accurately marked in pencil to give the cutting lines and drilling points. 50mm x 6mm countersunk set screws were to be used. First job was to through drill at tapping size; I don't know the size because I find it easy to select a drill bit by using a nut; 6mm nut in this case as a guide; a drill bit that goes through the nut without play is OK. Counter-boring followed giving a recess to accept the screw head. The oak was then mounted in the big engineering vice and a 6mm second (intermediate) tap run through each hole.

       
Counter boring and tapping.

The blanks were then cut out on the Startrite band saw and a screw run into each using my Bosch drill but leaving the screw head protruding with some thread showing; a touch of wood glue was added then the screw was run home. Screwing in seven 2” long set screws using a screwdriver would take forever but by using the drill the job was completed quickly.

   
Screw glued in.

The Jacobs chuck was knocked out of the big drill and then knocked into the Record Power DML 24” headstock this being a 1 Morse taper. I had previously made a new short tool rest but never used it so now was the chance to try it out and it was fitted and adjusted to the blank; the blank was nipped into the chuck by its screw and the blank was hand turned to ensure it didn't foul. I've owned this lathe for over 20 years but don't know it's speed range. Normally I never bother adjusting speed just leaving it at middle.

   
Blanks ready to turn.

With everything set up and secured the lathe was set in motion but not for long. The lathe is near the garage doors away from the strip lights and as I constantly work in a black hole I couldn't see what I was poking the gouge at so not wanting to lose my front teeth I thought it prudent to improve the lighting. Ideally I would have liked to do this by moving to the Bahamas but had to settle with rigging up a test lamp leaving a trailing cable.

   
Method of chucking.

I've seldom turned oak and this oak was very tough splintering as it was turned. A trip to the grinder improved things a great deal and by dinner time I had produced a single knob. Most of the time had been spent setting everything up as I don't use the lathe often and it had become buried in junk; the buckets and compressor also needed moving from beneath it. It would appear an easy task to turn a wooden knob but with the blank revolving at speed what design do I want as I hadn't settled on anything special only that it must have a matching Formica disc to its front so I played around with various shapes until it looked right. Adding burnt ring decoration is extremely easy but highly dangerous as a novice turner could lose a finger or two in less than a blink of an eye so I'd better explain how to do the job safely.

Please have a look at the picture of the wire in place over the knob. Observe one end is secured around the lathe bed bar but allowed to slide for positioning. The other end is firmly secured into a short wooden handle. At no point and I stress this at no point must the wire ever be wrapped around fingers or it will be sooner rather than later the fingers are neatly and quickly removed. If accurately spaced rings are to be burned then a touch with the point of a skew chisel will help the wire settle. It only takes a shallow nick with the skew so no fear of a monstrous dig in. The lathe is set in motion and the wire brought up and over the revolving work carefully bringing it into contact ensuring it is aligned or a pretty screw thread will appear as the wire runs to one side or the other. Practice on a bit of scrap first to get the hang of the technique. Once contact is made keep pulling the wire downwards to engage more length around the work this will set up more friction resulting in a lot of smoke and one very hot wire. I find the smell of wire burning to be most pleasant and it lingers for a while. Once the burnt ring has been added then very carefully park the wire where it cannot be caught and turn the lathe off. I simply drop the wire and handle behind the headstock out of harms way but be careful as the wire glows red hot whilst burning and can inflict a similar burn onto skin. It is important that the wire is not allowed to become caught up by anything revolving such as a chuck or face plate as it could inflict serious injury. Once the technique is grasped the burnt rings look very effective and add a nice bit of decoration at no cost. Don't overdo the number of rings or the effect will be lessened. I'm happy to add details of wire burning but don't want anyone to get injured.

   
Wire burning.

After adding the burnt rings then the knob was sanded to 240 grit and burnished with a wooden stick whilst in motion. Sanding sealer was added by cloth and followed shortly with wax with the lathe in motion.

   
Nice knob fully finished.

One decision I found difficult to make was how many knobs to make; one knob centrally mounted per drawer or two? I wondered if a row of six drawer knobs would make the desk top resemble an organ but then a single knob per drawer might look a bit odd? I'm now happy I decided to go two knobs per drawer as they appear more balanced.

In the afternoon the other six knobs were turned with great care and patience; they are not perfect but in a way this adds to their charm as they are each hand turned and not spit out by an automatic lathe. I did try to get them pretty near to each other but it wasn't easy as the style chosen was not the best for rapid cloning by hand.

   
Near enough alike.

Cutting out the Formica discs was a test of my patience. The recesses in the knobs were quite near regarding diameter to each other but a digital vernier calliper was used in conjunction with a pair of compasses to accurately determine the disc size for each knob. Masking tape was added to the Formica face and the first circle was drawn. I wasn't at all happy having my fingers so near a big band saw blade whilst cutting to the line. A zero clearance throat plate had been added to the saw. With the rough disc cut out then it was brought to size on the grinder. After doing two such discs I decided I wasn't happy using the band saw. After a bit of thought I ended up using the big tin snips which cut the Formica very cleanly leaving little tidying up on the grindstone. These discs are not perfect but once again the doom and gloom made the work difficult. Had my engineering lathe been running I could have made a single point fly cutter to produce perfectly accurate discs but I had to make do and compromise which goes against the grain with me.

Evostik impact adhesive was used to secure the discs; I thought positioning might be a major problem because this adhesive grabs and doesn't let go but the discs dropped into place with no trouble whatsoever being pressed home with thumb pressure.

   
Knob in place.

The knobs are 1.250” deep and 1.250” maximum diameter. At first I thought they appeared a bit too deep but now I'm happy with them. The knobs cost nothing other than my time and they were turned for this desk rather than buying in a set of mass produced knobs. A small finishing touch but well worth it and I gained a lot of satisfaction out of turning them. If I spent as much time as David on the lathe then I would add better lighting and buy decent chucks; the length of the Jacobs chuck combined with the length of the blank gave rise to chattering with a bit of chipping out; this chipping out isn't serious but to me could have been prevented by better mounting. After turning the first three knobs I adjusted the drive belt to give top speed something in the region of 3,000 revs; this gave a cleaner cut and heated up the burning wire more hence the slightly darker rings on some knobs. It's all trial and error but most enjoyable.

Roll on summer.

Kind regards, Col.