Mango Wood Desk

3/9/08 This past week after shipping out the big 'Walnut Slab Table' shown in one of the February posts bleow, we started work on another, smaller, slab top table/desk. This client selected a mango wood plank for the top of the desk from two that I had on hand left over from a previous project. The process pictures below are shown in reverse order through the concept and construction process. This week, after final sanding and prepping, we will restain and finish the wood to the color in the picture of the original planks at the bottom of the post. After arriving in this country from somewhere in Southeast Asia, and in Vermont via New York City, the mango wood and steel desk will, as of the 24th, be overlooking the harbor from an office window in downtown Boston. Click on the photos to enlarge.

When this project was finished, the client sent me the nicest email, which I have copied and pasted below ...

"Dan – just a quick note to say THANK YOU for the beautiful job you and your team did on my desk. Every day I get at least half a dozen compliments on it. It truly is a work of art. Thank you for your creative vision, craftsmanship and attention to detail. I will cherish this desk while I’m here, and if I leave, it’s coming with me!

Lesley Bielby
Chief Strategy Officer

The information contained in this message and any attachment may be proprietary, confidential, and privileged or subject to the work product doctrine and thus protected from disclosure. Any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. "

3/17/08





All in .. all done ... ships out Tuesday for Boston .....


With the steel in place and the live edges on the base

the plank repairs completed

After rough planing and flattening, some bark pockets and cracks appeared under the finish that was applied to planks in Southeast asia. This often happens and the necessary repairs add to the interest in the final piece. It's often impossible to anticipate what you may have to deal with when using lumber like this, but that's part of the excitement and interest that comes from using it.

We started by making an mdf mockup of the imagined shapes for the base before cutting the planks to final length and size.

Mocking up the steel and determining its final position.

The original inspiration piece from my website , 'Wood and Metal' section
http://www.dorsetcustomfurniture.com/ItemDetails.aspx?iId=264&mId=-7&pcId=

The two planks ... the client selected the one on the left for the desk top
and we used the other for the base. We originally left the live edges on the base supports, but after some consideration, we used the curve of the steel to assymetrically shape the verticals to give the piece a less rustic look. The curved 3/4 " solid steel was fabricated in our custom metal shop.