Any carpenters out there?

[Eireann]

I just bought a desk. I was really excited to buy it, because it's big and antique, and I got it for a VERY low price. I arranged to have a couple of guys move it, they did, and all was well.

Okay, not quite. All WOULD be well if the desk fit through one crucial doorway.

It can be brought into the building. I know it will fit through the doorway into my apartment. However, another doorway between the front door and my place is just too damned narrow.

We measured. I measured the width. I measured the height. Too tall to fit sideways. And this is an antique, not an IKEA piece.

At one point, I thought we were going to do it, because my bedroom window is a reasonable height above ground level. The guys looked at it and said that, yes, it could be done, but two more guys would be needed to help. As we were discussing it, I remembered - even if we got it through the bedroom window, we would still have to get it out of the bedroom, through another narrow doorway.

The upshot of it is, the desk is sitting in the enclosed area in front of the building, covered with a sheet of plastic, while I try to figure out what to do with it. I'd like to keep it, if possible, and I'm wondering if it can be taken apart and reassembled inside. It needs to be refinished anyway, so if I can find a carpenter who does this sort of work, maybe the whole thing could be done at once.

Or - is it at all possible that I could take it apart and reassemble it? How difficult is it to take apart a desk held together with glue?

[wolfie]

Depends on the type of glue. Fortunately, a genuine antique would be made using hide glue or fish glue, both of which tend to get brittle with age (re-gluing is a major part of restoration). Modern glues tend to be more durable.

Bear in mind that you will (eventually) be moving, so it will be necessary to get the desk OUT of your apartment. Might be an idea when re-assembling it to do a slight modification, with the major sub-assemblies held together by screws only.

Could you post a pic and give dimensions (both desk and doorway) so people could have a better idea of what needs to come apart?

[EricKei]

Take a look at the underside -- especially if it is a large piece, it may have removable leaves, or some other mechanism that allows for it to be safely taken apart and reassembled. If not, maybe consult with the people you bought it from (if they're antique specialists or a shop), or with a local antique dealer for their advice on the best way to safely handle this.

[Eireann]

Yeah, that's true; I'd have to account for that eventuality (moving again, I mean). I've taken a good look at it, and I didn't see anything removable. I had hoped that the top would come off, since I've heard of old desks with that feature, but nope, it's glued on there.

A friend is sending over a guy he knows tomorrow. He said this guy can do anything. I just hope the desk survives.

[csquared]

If i could see it, I could probably tell you how to dismantle it. Typically they are smaller components that are then screwed together. The manufacturers understood this problem, and built accordingly.

Find a furniture restorer. They should be able to help.

[It's me]

What is the exact shape? Can you drop it on its back so it forms a "u" and then swing one side through the door and then the other? And just how much extra space to you need? If you only need an inch or two: Doors are easy to remove, as are the door stops around the inside of the door frame. (Removing and replacing the stops needs to be done carefully to avoid damage, but is not all that hard).

[Eireann]

Yes, it did occur to me later that if we could get it in the bedroom window, we could take the bedroom door off its hinges - but if we did, and the desk still didn't fit through the doorway, we'd have to go to all the trouble of taking it outside again.

The guy had to cancel, so I'm waiting to hear from carpenters I sent queries to; I just hope somebody answers soon.

Here are pictures. As you'll see, it's not a "u" shape (or we would have been able to move it).

[Blue Ginger]

This is a long shot, but if you tip it on its back or side carefully, are there any screws or dowel pieces holding the 'legs' part onto the main base part of the desk.

Or you may be able to remove the top and take it all apart by taking the drawers out and checking into the top of the desk. Again, you will be looking for either screws or dowel pieces.

To pull out dowel that hasn't been glued, you can carefully turn a smaller screw into it and then slowly pull the dowel out with pliers on the screw. If it's glued, it won't move at all.

Most furniture, that isn't a easy kit piece, will have screws and dowel well hidden. I had mostly success pulling things apart by being slow and careful. Only occasionally have they been damaged and I've been able to fix the damage. Most of my experience has been with items from the 20's to 70's.

[wolfie]

Definitely take out the drawers and have a look inside for hidden hardware. In the photo "Desk2.jpg", note the cleats in the corners between the pedestals and the underside of the middle drawer - I would not be surprised if they were permanently attached along one edge, but had screws coming from inside holding them along the other edge. The pedestals are more likely to be the screw side - more room to get at them with a screwdriver than from inside where the middle drawer goes.

BTW, a carpenter probably wouldn't be much help - a cabinetmaker would be the person to talk to.

[csquared]

Pull the drawers from the pedestal. Look inside. The top will probably be attached with 6-8 screws on each pedestal.

Center drawer is probably attached to the top. No need to remove it.

Biggest question is how the modesty panel is attached.

[Aria]

Okay! I asked my dad, he's a woodworker.

He says if it's a real antique, it's hard to disassemble. He would first remove the door, then if that doesn't give you enough room, remove the door jams. That will give you more room. If none of that is enough, disassembly is the only option. He says that could be tricky though.

[Eireann]

Right now, disassembly is my only option, unless I can find someone who is willing to store it until I move, whenever that is. A guy is coming tomorrow to take a look at it, and another guy might also be coming for the same reason.

At the moment, the weather decided to throw a shitfit, and it's cloudy and rainy, so not the best time to take a look for the attachments. I only hope the clouds blow off. And that I don't have to keep the desk outside more than one more night.

[Aria]

Oh, dad did mention one other thing... he said that if it's a real antique they'll use hide glue. Other people mentioned that but he added that whatever you do, don't put it back together with modern glue or you'll never take it apart again.

He also mentioned a final option... tearing out the wall. I told him that sounded like the nuclear option...

[wolfie]

Genuine antiques were made when hide/fish glue was the only kind available, nails were expensive (people tearing down an old barn would burn 12x12 timbers to salvage the nails), and screws were ridiculously expensive (threads had to be filed by hand).

When you have it apart, you might want to consider adding a few blocks inside the pedestals (modern glue is fine for attaching them to ONE surface) so that you can fasten the parts together using only screws - would make it FAR easier to take apart in future.

[Eireann]

One thing that occurred to me is, once the desk is disassembled and brought in, it can probably just be stacked together without glue, making it that much easier to move later. Two sides and a top - the feet can be set aside for the time being.