Secretary's Desk with vertical writing surface?

[Toller]

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.

[J T]

Sat, Feb 21, 2004, 6:54pm (EST+5) [e-mail] (Toller) says: I want to build All the Secretary's desks I have seen fold back about 30 degrees past vertical. 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.

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[Mike G]

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.

[frichett]

Try this. Will get you started

[Larry Jaques]

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 03:21:10 GMT, [e-mail] brought forth from the murky depths:

yet?

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[Larry Blanchard]

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 :-).

[Riley]

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

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Thanks,

Tom Riley [e-mail]

Woodware Designs

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"Look the Future Straight >I want to build a secretary's desk to look like the chest of drawers in my