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
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?
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How can I remove the top of a desk?
maybe you could try a hair dryer to warm the glue, then gently use putty knife or painters 5-in-1 tool to start separating the two pieces. Depending on the age of the desk, look on the underside of the top, sometimes they (the top roll part) are screwed in from the bottom. Have fun & enjoy!
How to replace the drawer rollers on an old desk?
Side-Mount
- Remove one of the drawers from the cabinet. Measure the length. ...
- Place the drawer on a worktable. There are two slides on the side of each drawer: one on the left and right.
- Open the package containing the new slides. ...
- Select the slides marked "CL" and "CR." Place the one marked "CL" on the left side of the cabinet opening.
How do you fix the roll top on a roll top desk?
Brush glue over the lift bar and wrap the end of the tambour cloth around it. Nail and clamp the cloth in place. Then apply a thin layer of glue over the lift bar and the slats using a foam brush, or by squirting lines of glue randomly over the bar and slats, rolling it smooth with a paint roller.
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 repair a tambour door?
0:1010:32Tambour Door Gets a New Canvas Backing - Thomas Johnson Antique ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is a late 18th century English cabinet and it's in pretty good shape I need to take it apartMoreThis is a late 18th century English cabinet and it's in pretty good shape I need to take it apart and reglue it all the joints are coming apart it has this Tambor door and the tambour door has
Are roll top desks worth anything?
Vintage roll top desks can be found in many price ranges. It is possible to find a vintage roll top desk at a thrift store for fewer than a hundred dollars; while at the same time a very high quality desk may be found at auction for well over ten thousand.
How much does it cost to refinish a roll top desk?
Stripping and Refinishing Price GuideCHAIRSStrip Low EndRefinish High EndKneehole (6 Drawer)200.002,200.00Partners Desk400.006,500.00Roll Top (Child's)85.001,000.00Roll Top (Large)300.005,600.0084 more rows•Aug 19, 2019
How can I make my roll top desk slide easier?
Try reducing any high spots, using a chisel for the grooves, a wood rasp for the slats and a low-angled block plane for trimming end grain. Try another fitting, and if the tambour now moves more comfortably, rub paraffin along the edges to make for a smoother run. While the tambour is out, inspect its backing.
How do you use Tambour glue?
1:059:47Gluing Tambour Slats to Canvass Backing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow this is the canvas it's a linen cotton mixture kind of heavy. And i need to center this about aMoreNow this is the canvas it's a linen cotton mixture kind of heavy. And i need to center this about a half an inch off the top and a half an inch off the bottom. And and glue it to all these slats.
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 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.
How can I tell how old my roll top desk is?
Double-check the knee-hole, both sides of the bottom of the main drawer and the back of both the desk and its top. Finding a label lets you confirm age from a commercial history.
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.
Are roll top desks out of style?
A roll top desk will never go out of style. Even if they are not the most popular concept right now, there are still plenty of people that love the look and functionality of this terrific desk idea.
When were roll top desks popular?
19th centuryThe rolltop desk was the mainstay of the small or medium-sized office at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Because it was produced in vast numbers and at varying levels of quality, the rolltop desk is popular in the antique market.
When were Oak Crest roll top desks made?
This is an antique early 20th century, Edwardian era, Arts & Crafts/Mission style, single 3-drawer pedestal and single off-center drawer, oak wood desk with s-curved tambour roll front that was produced by Ramsey-Alton Manufacturing Co of Portland, Michigan between 1905 - 1915 in their Oak Craft line.
How do I identify an antique?
An antique is a piece of furniture with special value due its age, especially one with fine artistry or craftmanship. Many antique stores will say that items 50 years or older are considered antique, while antique dealers might define it as 150 years or older.
How much does a roll top desk weigh?
350.00 lbsRoll Top Desk - Red OakWeight350.00 lbsShipping Weight350.00 lbsStock #OFLRT3060RMRP0Builder1096Dimensions46H x 60W x 30D6 more rows
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.
Clean up & Arrange
The tambour was sealed shut when I bought the desk. It took a lot of pulling and wiggling to get it out. The glue had dissolved and the fabric strips were falling apart so the wood slats that make up the tambour were in multiple pieces. I pulled the old fabric off and chipped away any last glue bits.
Fabric
The fabric! I used duck cloth which is basically a lightweight canvas. I had leftovers from a project I did YEARS ago and it finally came in handy. You can purchase this at any fabric store I had bought mine at Hobby Lobby. Whichever you prefer will work! With the slats positioned properly, I measured and cut my fabric into three equal sections.
Gluing
Next, I applied a thin strip of wood glue on each wood slat the width of the canvas. You do NOT want the glue spreading in between the slats. The slats need to move independently to work properly so do not glue them together. Place your fabric over the top and smush the glue and fabric together.
Finishing Touches
Once it has properly dried take the spray silicone spray and spray a tiny bit along the grooves of the desk that the tambour will slide in too. Wipe up any product that ran down the side or pooled down at the bottom. Grab your newly assembled tambour and wiggle it back up through the grooves.
What is a roll top desk?
Roll-top desks feature a flexible "door" or tambour made from several wooden slats which, when pushed or pulled, glide along side tracks to open or close the desk. These door slats adhere to a backing material such as canvas, which keeps the slats moving along together rather than wiggling free from the door track assembly. Over time, the backing material may tear, decay or come unglued from the slats, resulting in a roll-top door that doesn't function properly. A new backing cloth can be glued onto the slats after removing the assembly from the desk.
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 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.
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.
Can you use too much glue on roll top track?
Applying too much glue hinders the roll-top track assembly; use only enough so that it won't squirt out when you press the cloth down onto the slats.
