View Full Version : Writing slopes
MY63
October 19th, 2014, 02:14 PM
Like many here I collect fountain pens but my sickness has spread to other writing paraphernalia as you may have guessed from the title writing slopes hold a great interest for me.
A friend asked me to obtain a writing slope for her and to make some trays to hold her fountain pen collection I thought I would share this process with you.
I thought I had posted this here before but I cannot find it so please forgive me if I repeat anything.
I started with two strips of oak 1.2 m in length I cut this up into 200 mm strips and mitred the ends these were then laid end to end and fastened with masking tape.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8744410311_bb44fcc80a_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ejHox2)IMG_3582 (https://flic.kr/p/ejHox2) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
This is an older picture as the camera battery is flat the next step is to add some glue and fold all four pieces up together and a final piece of tape was used to hold everything in place.
After repeating the process four times I have four frames 200 mm square that fit inside the drawer of the writing slope these pictures show the four frames inside the writing slope drawer
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/14954550713_2718b2dac7_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oMtYVg)IMG_8825 (https://flic.kr/p/oMtYVg) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15551010976_8eb176a873_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pGbZLU)IMG_8826 (https://flic.kr/p/pGbZLU) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Once fully dry I will cut a rebate into the bottom of these frames to accommodate the oak plywood base.
Thanks for looking
Michael
Crazyorange
October 19th, 2014, 03:21 PM
Are you sure you're not James Bond???? You can do anything. Do you fight world crime??? ;)
MY63
October 20th, 2014, 12:40 PM
I leave the crime fighting to the younger ones these days although I may need some super hero powers to repair the bag that arrived today :)
Today I have cut and shaped the bases they are currently clamped in the frames I have started making the inserts for the trays.
A piece of card which I marked for each frame before I glued the bottom pieces in place,
I also cut 9 pieces of dowel to size and glued them to the base card
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/15396992079_7c2219a199_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pszBjF)IMG_8846_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pszBjF) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Once fixed in place I did a trial fit into one of the trays
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15397498638_47987eb09e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/psCcUs)IMG_8848_1 (https://flic.kr/p/psCcUs) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Thanks for looking
Michael
MY63
October 21st, 2014, 03:45 PM
There are four trays in total these are the lower two I have left some space so the wood has room to expand and contract without cuausing damage or jamming the drawer.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/15400856250_757e138163_z.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/15400856250/)
IMG_8852_1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/15400856250/) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
These are the upper trays again with a little room to move
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/15570152066_f5e7f807ae_z.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/15570152066/)
IMG_8857_1 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/15570152066/) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
I have made a set of similar trays before and found if there was only two trays then the drawer would need to be removed to access all of the pens
Thanks for looking
Michael
MY63
October 26th, 2014, 11:51 AM
The trays have now dried without warping too much.
The next stage is to start forming the backing card for the suede.
Step one is to measure and cut the card to the correct width.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15013930533_328eff1c6c_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oSJjtg)IMG_8889_1 (https://flic.kr/p/oSJjtg) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Step two
Rub a damp sponge over the card and place it into the tray on top of the card and dowels I used the two larger dowels to make the card form to the desired shape
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15634113225_6fa42247f0_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pPwVbi)IMG_8891_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pPwVbi) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Step three
Allow to dry before trimming
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/15610401666_b8295bc864_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pMroyj)IMG_8894_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pMroyj) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
I wont trim the length until the suede is fitted
Repeat 4 times
Thanks for looking
Michael
MY63
October 27th, 2014, 09:59 AM
I have started applying the suede to the card
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5611/15642617075_7f6e8af9ed_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pQhv5p)IMG_8897_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pQhv5p) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
There are a few more steps before the trays are complete
chojo
October 27th, 2014, 10:12 AM
Looking good so far, can't wait to see it finished! I have an old writing slope in the shed waiting to be refurbished along with the million and one other things I'm supposed to be doing!
MY63
October 27th, 2014, 02:55 PM
I wanted to share the process I use to make the inserts for my pen trays.
The suede has been cut to size (that sounds like I have a team of helpers) Just me and the three four dogs Holly our foster dog is still here neither of them is much help though.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/15642054681_11db93e394_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pQeBTX)IMG_8901_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pQeBTX) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Here the suede is placed on top of the card the suede is then rolled up on the dowel glue is then applied to the card and the suede is then rolled over the card and pressed into place.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/15458107849_9a97afc9cb_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pxYQUR)IMG_8908_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pxYQUR) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
The next step is to join the two insert pieces together
Thanks for looking
Michael
MY63
November 2nd, 2014, 10:41 AM
Elle's writing slope is a beautiful thing however there are one or two things I asked if I could put right before sending it on to its new home.
It will also give you an idea of my sickness
For some reason two pieces of light wood have been glued into the bottom of the ink wells, those who are observant will also notice that the grain of the wood is also in the wrong direction.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7516/15499063377_519cba9930_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pBAKyD)IMG_8914_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pBAKyD) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
The ideal solution is to replace the incorrect wood with more appropriate wood however this is not possible as it is glued in place.
My solution was to take two small pieces of wood of the correct type for this slope it is Cedar I stained it the correct colour and cut it to the correct size.
I have not glued them down they are a push fit so they may be removed if required.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/15064329844_8af8083681_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oXbCqU)IMG_8917_1 (https://flic.kr/p/oXbCqU) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Most writing slopes have a pen tray in the centre of the ink well area it rests on two strips fixed to the inside which creates a semi secret area,
This slope has a nice piece of mahogany instead of its pen tray I have been searching for a pen tray long enough for this slope without success so I decided to make one.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/15498407249_7b3004ee80_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pBxow6)IMG_8918_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pBxow6) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Pen trays are always very light I cut a piece of oak to the correct size and found it was way too heavy so I took a pen tray from another slope and had a close look at it.
It is made from a soft wood and stained to look like oak I am not too good with stain so I will veneer my version.This is the halfway point most of the shaping is complete
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/15498892238_dd1e8f4ede_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pBzSFY)IMG_8924_1 (https://flic.kr/p/pBzSFY) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
I will include the mahogany piece with my replacement so the owner has a choice
Thanks for looking
Michael
MY63
November 5th, 2014, 06:38 AM
I have to admit I used a power sander to shape the curve,
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/15096827864_85a7c80366_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p14bXA)IMG_8937_1 (https://flic.kr/p/p14bXA) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
Having shaped the curve I added some nice light cherry veneer
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/15096828654_81cba96dec_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p14ccd)IMG_8938_1 (https://flic.kr/p/p14ccd) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/people/47080473@N07/), on Flickr
it just needs some wax
Thanks for looking
Michael
sparkinflint
November 5th, 2014, 07:19 PM
neat!
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