How to Repair a Roll-Top Desk
- 1.. Open the roll-top portion of the desk to expose screws that hold the top to the base of the desk. If there are...
- 2.. Lift the roll-top lid off the desk. Remove the sliding slatted door, called a tambour. Inspect the tambour cloth,...
- 3.. Spread a new piece of canvas or tambour cloth over the work surface, if needed, and set the old...
Full Answer
How to unlock a roll top desk?
- Inspect the Wood. Take a good look at the type of wood the roll-top desk is made of to help you determine its age.
- Examine the Joints. Remove a drawer from the roll-top desk to see how it was put together.
- Study the Clues.
- Look to Professional Resources.
What to do with an old roll top desk?
How to Determine the Age of an Antique Roll-top Desk
- Things You Will Need
- Tip. Antique collector magazines and newspapers sometimes offer question columns. ...
- Warning. Like other kinds of furniture, desks were sometimes stained to fit into a decor scheme or to make plain wood appear more elegant.
How to protect the top of a new desk?
We've put together a definitive list of our best Desk Pad brands and their top rated products below:
- SUM and 2 available products
- Staples and 3 available products
- Martha Stewart and 2 available products
- Dacasso and 5 available products
- House of Doolittle and 1 available products
How do you repair a tambour roll top desk?
how to repair a roll top desk tambour How do I install tambour panels? Cut all panels prior to installation and “dry fit” to ensure proper fit. Apply a ¼” bead within ½” of all edges of panel and continuous bead across the panel every 4”. Apply panel to wall, pull loose and reapply. Press and knead repeatedly to insure contact.
How do you restore an old roll top desk?
6:468:22Restoration - Antique Oak Roll Top Desk Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFelt the better to split it up cause for quite a long video. And the intention with this is we needMoreFelt the better to split it up cause for quite a long video. And the intention with this is we need to strip all this. Down. Put in two separate elements. And then clean it all up.
How do you fix a sagging roll top desk?
Open the roll-top portion of the desk, looking inside for straps or screws which hold the top onto the rest of the desk. Remove the screws with a slotted screwdriver. Lift the roll-top portion of the desk and slide out the tambour, or slatted door, setting it cloth-side up on top of the replacement cloth.
How do you repair a tambour door?
0:496:16Need to repair your tambour kitchen unit- here's how. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDoor the 3m tape i'll put a link below the 3m tape which is the extreme sealant tape. That's goingMoreDoor the 3m tape i'll put a link below the 3m tape which is the extreme sealant tape. That's going to be the tape to use as it looks like. It's had no movement in it whatsoever.
When did they stop making roll top desks?
The roll top desk fell out of favor in the early 1900s with the introduction of sleek glass and steel desks. Larger quantities of documents also made the small stacked drawers and mini-shelves impractical.
How do you use Tambour glue?
3:3610:32Tambour Door Gets a New Canvas Backing - Thomas Johnson Antique ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is the front first piece with the handle. So it goes like that the fabric actually glues to theMoreThis is the front first piece with the handle. So it goes like that the fabric actually glues to the back of this. And then takes a ninety degree turn here and then it gets glued on to the tambour.
How do you use Tambour cloth?
1:059:46Gluing Tambour Slats to Canvass Backing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere's a veneer hammer here that i'll use to help fasten that down i'm leaving some extra materialMoreThere's a veneer hammer here that i'll use to help fasten that down i'm leaving some extra material at the ends i need a little bit of extra to attach to the handle that goes on the tambour.
How do you put a tambour door back on track?
0:061:58C3 Tambour Door: Foiled Face Track - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe track by lining up the notched portion with the c3 system and fastened with screws snap shut theMoreThe track by lining up the notched portion with the c3 system and fastened with screws snap shut the track to conceal the screws turn the cabinet right-side up connect the top end caps.
How do you take a roll top desk apart?
0:4915:01Disassembling Grandpa's roll top desk - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll the panels on the bottom use inch and a half screws. The top panel has one inch screws i'll tryMoreAll the panels on the bottom use inch and a half screws. The top panel has one inch screws i'll try to mark those on the insides.
How do you lubricate a tambour door?
0:478:39Small Secretary With Tambour Door – Applying an Oil and Shellac FinishYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is about 50/50 naphtha boiled linseed oil like using a flick as it dries. Helps it dry fasterMoreThis is about 50/50 naphtha boiled linseed oil like using a flick as it dries. Helps it dry faster tuskys a foam brush. Put it on fairly literally.
Why are roll top desks so expensive?
Because it was produced in vast numbers and at varying levels of quality, the rolltop desk is popular in the antique market. It is usually expensive especially if the wood used is expensive.
What are roll top desks called?
rolltop desk, desk with a sliding roll top, or tambour, that encloses the working surface of the upper part and can be locked.
Are roll top desks still popular?
Like many pieces of furniture, the roll top has waxed and waned in popularity. Early on the amount of paper used in conducting personal and public business was limited but along came the typewriter and changed all that. Now we find we are using less paper due to the computer age and the desk is gaining in popularity.
How to access a wood desk cover?
In order to access the wood desk cover, you'll need to first take the back panel off of the desk. It should be held on with small nails. Once the back is off, you should be able to pull the roll top right out of the track. After taking it out of the desk, I realized that a roll top is constructed of wood slats attached to a fabric backing.
Can you paint over a roll top?
Painting a rolltop is a lot easier if it is done before putting it back in the desk. If you are interested in painting over the fabric to make it "disappear," it helps to thin the paint out a little with some water. Allow the paint to dry and then insert the roll top back into the track.
How to replace a backing cloth on a desk?
1. Set a piece of canvas or tambour replacement cloth atop your work surface. Open the roll-top portion of the desk, looking inside for straps or screws which hold the top onto the rest of the desk. Remove the screws with a slotted screwdriver.
How to remove glue from old desk?
Pull the old cloth off the slats. If it doesn't come up easily, apply water to the cloth with a sponge; the water loosens hide glue, which is typically used for roll-top desk cloth, especially on antique desks. Wait a few moments, then lift the cloth again. Once removed, wipe down the slats with a damp sponge to remove the rest of the glue. Allow them to dry completely.
How to cut a cloth?
Line up a straightedge implement along the top and bottom markings for the old cloth, then draw a pencil line connecting them as your guide for cutting the new cloth. Do the same for the sides of the cloth. Cut the cloth along the lines using scissors. Set the cloth back on your work table.
How to glue a slat on a table?
Set the cloth back on your work table. Squeeze a bit of glue or adhesive into a disposable container. Dip a cotton swab or small paintbrush into it, then apply the glue to the previously-glued surface of each slat, but not all the way to the edges.
What is an antique roll top desk?
An antique roll-top desk is worth repairing and preserving. When restored and polished, they give an office a rich and comforting feel. Often times, the tambour of the desk is in bad shape and needs to be re-glued and restored. The proper tambour and cloth must be used to repair the back of the tambour. Human hands cannot tear the natural cotton ...
Can you replace a roll top desk with a new backing?
Luckily, replacing a roll-top desk cloth with a new backing is possible and it can be glued onto the slats after removing the assembly from the desk.
