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    Old Sarge2's Avatar
    Old Sarge2 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 13, 2009, 05:46 AM
    Restoring Roll Top Desk
    Have an old roll top desk, that belonged to my grandparents. It's been sitting in storage for over 55 years. Coming apart; glue joints have let go, etc. Keys have been lost. Canvas on roll top is rotten. What kind of glue to restore? Hide glue, or a more modern glue?
    Clough's Avatar
    Clough Posts: 26,677, Reputation: 1649
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    #2

    Mar 16, 2009, 03:06 AM

    Hi, Old Sarge2!

    If it's really, really old, then most likely it was hide glue that was used. If the joints that you need to do are cleaned, then the modern wood glues will work just fine. I usually only use hide glue for small wooden projects, leather and fabric.

    If you could post an image of the desk here, I could further describe some of the things that you could do to restore it. One of the things that I do for a living is that I refinish and restore furniture.

    Thanks!
    Clough's Avatar
    Clough Posts: 26,677, Reputation: 1649
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    #3

    Mar 20, 2009, 01:05 AM

    Hi again, Old Sarge2!

    My offer still stands and I hope that you return to here!

    Thanks!
    Old Sarge2's Avatar
    Old Sarge2 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Mar 20, 2009, 05:18 AM
    Clough; Thanks for the offer, but I do not have the "expertise" to get pics onto the Internet. I'm ashamed to say, the desk is just collecting dust, and I'm getting older every day. Afraid if I don't get it restored, our sons will have "no clue" on how it goes together. It has a "stick" with a spring on one end, that when the rolltop is open, the spring is compressed, and unlocks the drawers. Pretty neat. Also, some of the tambours are
    Broken, missing. I have looked through Van Dykes catalog, and the ones they sell are not same profile as mine. I have a planer/molder, if push comes to shove, can have custom knives made to re-create the shape, and then cut them from scratch. But this seems to be an expensive way of doing it, should someone have a better idea? Do you have a solution? Do you have a source for missing keys?
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