Writing Slope Dilema

[Luma]

What about leather with a decorative edge?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1380637651__collage-2.jpg

[my63]

Thanks Fuchsiaprincess

I had not thought about spills and yes writing with a ballpoint shows marks in the suede.

I need to rethink on the suede.

Luma

The skivers that you suggest are a bit thicker than the leather / suede that I have I might have to look into some type of velvet although I do have some cardinal red velvet somewhere.

thanks for the help

Michael

[scrivelry]

Baize, a type of cloth made from wool was used on some early slopes. I am going to use this on mine, my question for myself being whether to full the cloth first by running it through the washer and dryer with the rest of the laundry. Green was the traditional color, but you could use any color you like and there would be a widechoice.

 

I think the cloth on pool tables was originally baize-no idea what they use now.

 

T

[my63]

Baize is an option although I think I prefer leather I need to find some that is thin enough to allow the box to fold into the closed position.

 

In the mean time I have started replacing the missing veneer pieces.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2812/10049578973_790ba78b66_z.jpg
IMG_5075_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/10049468965_abe30b1ac6_z.jpg
IMG_5077_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is not easy the pieces are very small these pieces took over two hours to fit.

I need to find a way to age these new veneers as they do stand out at the moment.

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

The next part of this project is to make the pieces to complete the edging

 

This piece consisted of 1 large piece two small pieces and then two small coloured pieces I have added a Parker n10 nib to give an idea of the size

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/10070512405_f9906a287e_z.jpg
IMG_5086 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I needed to cut three pieces 1 long and two short

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/10070540223_b6905e65ac_z.jpg
IMG_5090_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7429/10070530813_5e0a774226_z.jpg
IMG_5087 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/10070419894_7a78a15a6e_z.jpg
IMG_5093 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks

 

Michael

 

[Luma]

Michael do you mind if I ask you how you're handling the really small pieces? I imagine you're using some sort of surgical tweezers to position all those small bits of wood!

 

Can't wait to see the outcome of all your hard work and patience.

 

Luma

Edited October 3, 2013 by Luma

[my63]

Yes luma scalpel tweezers and a magnifying glass

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/10071166513_3372b039b2_z.jpg
IMG_5094_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have started to clean up the new section some sort of aging process will follow

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/10071041104_32025966b9_z.jpg
IMG_5097_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I think some of the darker areas will be even more tricky

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

I have used a little dark wax to try and age the wood a little

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5329/10072392273_3d889f1d74_z.jpg
IMG_5106_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7453/10072464674_1679273524_z.jpg
IMG_5111_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

It is not perfect but then again it was never meant to be.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[scrivelry]

That's looking very good, Michael. When you take a gander at it, remember that you know exactly where the repair is, but the average onlooker will not. It's excellent in the closeup and probably even better in person. I do think it's coming out to be worth the effort.

 

T

[my63]

I cant believe it was October the last time I posted in this thread I have been unable to work on these projects for some time now although I am hoping to starting work on them again soon.

 

In the mean time I always have an eye out for suitable projects we went for a stroll around our local weekend market this afternoon I was looking at a stall that had three or four Mont Blanc pens you know the "real" ones anyway i got chatting to the stall holder I mentioned writing slopes and he said have you seen that one over there.

 

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/11889745916_bb0f3b634e_o.jpg

IMG_6207 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7418/11889336784_a6acb28079_o.jpg

IMG_6209_1 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/11889334514_836a326491_o.jpg

IMG_6208 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/11889183973_68e7e82375_o.jpg

IMG_6205 by my0771, on Flickr

The slope measures 20 inches x 10 inches x 7 inches a very large box

I have just got back and wanted to show it off I have been looking for one of these for many years all of the brass has been removed however most of it is inside the slope along with the key and all of the secret compartment drawers even the mechanism works.

I knocked him down a little then paid quickly before he could change his mind it was my second bargin of the afternoon as i had already bought a swan marbie todd lever less pen.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[mallymal1]

Congrats on the nice 'finds', Michael.

 

This one looks a beauty, and a great project for you.

[kiavonne]

Michael, that is a spectacular find! I can hardly wait to see what you do with this slope!

[scrivelry]

Micheal, this is gorgeous, and I'm sure when you are done it will look and function better than new!

 

T

[my63]

I have been asked by TinJapan to make a pair of trays for a drawer in an old writing slope I have the outside diemnsions and the maximum height.

I made the trays a few weeks ago but have been unable to finish them until now.

 

This is the smaller of the two trays this tray has had lots of with warping I think it is because the pieces of oak are so small in order to combat this I mixed up a weak pva solution spread around with a brush and allowed to dry over night while under clamps.

It is very flat now so I will apply some wax to prevent any moisture getting into the wood.

 

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/11993768384_f0b1e40ded_o.jpg

IMG_6303_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I was aiming for 10mm maximum height with this tray

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/11993700843_efd3a230da_o.jpg

IMG_6311_1 by my0771, on Flickr

All joints are mitred if you look closely you can see a little excess glue on the inside which although it is on the inside and will not be seen it will be removed before the interior is fitted.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/11993698013_39460cd745_o.jpg

IMG_6305_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[kiavonne]

Trays inside a writing slope sounds a bit challenging. You always seem to come up with ingenious solutions without a second thought when problems fly in. I'm watching.

[my63]

The next stages

First colour change I applied a dark brown wax

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3782/11998129635_fc5ef18840_o.jpg

IMG_6317_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I then started to make the inserts for the trays I have a piece of board with a straight edge attached to it, the card was placed on this edge and the first piece of dowel glued to the card.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/11998492264_22e1bb24b7_o.jpg

IMG_6325 by my0771, on Flickr

All glued in place

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/12000695746_a1184a819e_o.jpg

IMG_6327 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The small tray is fighting me all the way there is not quite enough room to get dowel card and suede there is no smaller dowel available local and I did not want to wait so I used a micro plane to pane each dowel down to give a little clearence. now i just need to stick them together.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I thought I would have finished these trays today ready to be posted next week but I am still working on them I actually managed to glue one of the small inserts the wrong way around.

So I took a break and started again.

Here are the two trays with the four inserts in place

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2892/12019276853_d5d9b8e1c9_o.jpg

IMG_6329 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/12018728045_c80ca08c40_o.jpg

IMG_6333 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I still need to trim all of the dowels back from the edges to allow for the edges of the suede to be turned over.

Hopefully I will get the suede fitted tomorrow or Tuesday.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited January 18, 2014 by my63

[my63]

I forget which step I am up to but the next one is to start adding suede

 

I have cut strips of card to fit the inside of the tray edge less a little bit for the thickness of the suede.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7436/12032508344_453aca870f_o.jpg

IMG_6352 by my0771, on Flickr

I added some glue to the card and placed it on the suede then glued the top of the card and folded the suede over.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/12032976906_58b6397429_o.jpg

IMG_6353 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Finally the completed edgeing strip

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/12032517764_eb884c78a9_o.jpg

IMG_6354 by my0771, on Flickr

Bare wood

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/12032521624_c68ef87a58_o.jpg

IMG_6355 by my0771, on Flickr

Edging strip in place

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3696/12032990106_fb69ebf059_o.jpg

IMG_6356 by my0771, on Flickr

 

One finished insert with edging strips

 

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/12032930184_1ed9d2df77_o.jpg

IMG_6346 by my0771, on Flickr

Only three more to do

Thanks for looking

Michael

[my63]

Final stages for this tray

Dry fit the suede is placed over the dowels and card with out glue this is just a final check for fit.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/12035889426_340733e484_o.jpg

IMG_6357 by my0771, on Flickr

I left the dowel in place from the picture above and folded the suede back over it.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/12035341723_0d3746d4d5_o.jpg

IMG_6358 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I applied glue with a brush and spread it carefully

 

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/12035080035_51f81be06e_o.jpg

IMG_6359 by my0771, on Flickr

Using the dowel and a soft paint brush I pushed the suede into placemoving to the end of the piece

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7453/12035900396_2291d7a266_o.jpg

IMG_6360 by my0771, on Flickr

The finished tray the camera does not do justice to the colour of this suede it is a lovely dark burgondy

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/12035087085_b932bc40e2_o.jpg

IMG_6361 by my0771, on Flickr

One to go

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[kiavonne]

Oh, those are lovely, and the color is a great match up to the tray.