desk help!!!

[us4davis]

Not for sure what forum to put this on but here goes !!!!
I picked up a rolltop desk from our church yardsale yesterday that did not sale and they were going to throw away.FREE :baby04: It was in the box and had never been put together. It says on the box that it is made of northern hardwood. What would be the best way to finish this project? I would like it to be natural looking and not painted. Should I put the finish on the pieces of wood before we put it together or after?? I was kind of thinking maybe an oil finish of some sort. ANY help will be GREAT. It may end up a project that my daughters and I attempt :banana02: without hubby's help.
chris

[Alice In TX/MO]

Hubby took apart, cleaned, refinished a roll top desk years ago.

He refinished each piece before assembling the desk.

Someone else will have to advise you on varnish, etc. That's not in my memory banks.

[agmantoo]

Tung oil hand rubbed will slightly darken over time but the finish will only improve with age and can be touched up anytime by rubbing an additional coating of the tung oil. The surface that is coated will be water mark resistant. This is a natural product and should be bought as a pure item, not an altered one. A small amount goes a long way. 6 ounces will more than do the task. The level of sheen can be controlled but the number of applications/coatings. These cabinets are hickory with an approximately 16 year old finish.

[daytrader]

Myself. I would stain each peice BEFORE i put it together. I would also seal it. This will add about two days to your prodject, BUT all surfaces would be protected.

NOW I AM NOT PRO OR ANYTHING. I just collect things and try the best I can. I am sure others can give you a better way. I try to do the best I can.

[Wolf mom]

What a great find! Congrats!

I'd finish it before you put it together as it's harder to finish corners & places where 2 pieces meet smoothly without possibly getting more finish there. ALso if you're going to sand corners, etc. & put then on another coating, doing it before putting it together makes the sanding easier.

[us4davis]

Thanks guys!!! I knew I should ask here first . We would like to surprise hubby with this project so...... I was thinking tung oil.
I love the look of those cabinets!! Great job!!!
chris

[MoonShine]

Definitely finish it before you put it back together. It will just be so much easier. Congrats on a great find!

Agmantoo..those cabinets are gorgeous. I'm going to see about getting some of that oil.

[haypoint]

From what you wrote, this is a new desk, never assembled and the box says it is made of northern hardwood. What brand is it? Souder? I suspect that most of this desk is partical wood, sawdust glued together to form sheets. Then either a wood grain is painted on or a thin veneer is aplied to the outside. When it only says Northern Hardwood, without listing the specise, I wonder. Could the sawdust that is used to make the particle board be a mix of hardwood? What you use to finish this desk depends on what it is that you have. What do the assembly instructions suggest? If the instructions are gone, you'l want to contact the manufacture for a new set of instructions, generally no charge. Applying a finish to a prefab desk might make the pieces harder to assemble. A photo and more information on the wood would allow us to offer more accurate information. Good luck.

[us4davis]

Sorry about the delay in saying Thank You to all that replied!!!! We are getting ready to go to Louisville, Kentucky next week and a church youth group trip this weekend and things are very hectic around here!!!!

Good points Haypoint!!
Thanks. The desk is made by Khoury, Inc. they have a PO
Box in Michigan. All of the desk parts are solid wood except for the back and the rolltop which is pressed wood. The box was taped together with duct tape so some of the wording is hard to read. The person who bought this years ago and never had the chance to put it together and it stayed in the garage and then decided to donate it to church.

chris