Tanker desk rehab..

[BellyUpFish]

I was torn about what finish to go with on the whole desk.. I really wanted a weathered/worn look and while I stripped the paint off the drawers, I sort of got that on the remaining paint, so I stripped a little and just used Penetrol over them and pretty much left them the way they were..

 

[dittle fart around]

So true. I picked mine up ~7-9 years ago. Saw a free ad in the paper, yea the actual paper . Begged the neighbors to take me and get it as I was too young to drive at the time. It was so worth the effort. Does anyone else have one with a spring loaded typewriter table on it? I would rather have drawers on both sides, but for the price I can't complain.

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This is made by Art Metal for the government. It has the spring activated typewriter stand on one side. My printer fits perfectly.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

It got the same treatment as the rest of the desk..

Just stripped the Velvoleum off, hit it with a DA with 80 then 220 grit, sealed with Penetrol.

I have 3 of these to strip this weekend. How bad was it stripping the top off?

Thanks

Capt. Chrysler

 

[BellyUpFish]

I have 3 of these to strip this weekend. How bad was it stripping the top off?

Thanks

Capt. Chrysler

It wasn't bad at all. It went fairly quick. You can peel it in huge strips if you use a thick putty knife/blade..

 

[BellyUpFish]

Well, I've been eyeing this cabinet for a couple weeks and ran by my ReStore today with trailer in tow.. If it was there, I was bringing it home..

So.. Here it is..

First things first, rip the top off and start cleaning it up.

I also picked up this chair and it'll be getting the same treatment.

 

[BellyUpFish]

It's getting there..

 

[Dad364]

How do you change the center drawer lock on one of these tanker desks ?

 

[Erampu]

I spend 30 years behind one of those desks, in offices filled with them. With all due respect to the great job the OP did on his, I HATE THOSE DAMN THINGS. Rant over. As you were.

 

[nine4gmc]

How do you change the center drawer lock on one of these tanker desks ?

Pull out the change tray in the front of the drawer, the clip that holds the key tumbler is behind it. Slide the clip off with a flat blade screwdriver.

 

[zowie]

I was wondering how the desk held up with the use of the penetrol? I am doing one now and would like to use penetrol. Cant find anything else to seal and prevent oxidation of the bare metal. Thank you!

 

[BellyUpFish]

I was wondering how the desk held up with the use of the penetrol? I am doing one now and would like to use penetrol. Cant find anything else to seal and prevent oxidation of the bare metal. Thank you!

I haven't had any issues for the most part.

I had a small issue where one of my kids spilled some water on my desk that no one told me about, it slowly started to get some surface rust under the glass layer that sits on my desk.

I also scuffed the Penetrol layer with said glass top after I had pulled it off once to clean a finger print I had underneath it that was driving me nuts.

I'm going to pull the top off and throw the DA on it and hit it with some more Penetrol and call it good as soon as I move..

 

[zowie]

Thank you. what do you think about using a top coat, clear coat, on top of the penetrol? I don't want to use glass but I want to try to prevent the fingerprints.

 

[Rodinia]

Just thought I'd post this project. It's going to be a quasi slow project, as I have other things to accomplish before it, but I found some time to work on it and thought I'd start a thread.

These things have started to sell for inordinate prices and I figured I should get one before it was too late. LOL

I went to pick up the desk and found out the top was damaged, after I drove 2 hours to get it. We worked out an agreeable price and I still brought it home.

As I found it. You can see the damage in the top right corner. I think the seller tried to get something off it and wound up ruining the top, as he told me there was "paper stuck" to the top.



Dirty?



So I started thinking about how to fix it. The desk is obviously steel under the "Velvoleum" top, so I figured I could peel the old top off and work with the steel top.

Started peeling the top.

Got the top all peeled.




I'm planning on, and this may change:

Blasting the entire desk
Repainting the drawers their original grey color.
Clear coating the desk in the bare blasted steel state.
Painting the top of the desk crimson and having a piece of glass cut to fit.

If I don't paint the top crimson, I may do a slightly darker gray than the drawers or just leave it blasted and clear coat.

Just thought I'd post this project. It's going to be a quasi slow project, as I have other things to accomplish before it, but I found some time to work on it and thought I'd start a thread.

These things have started to sell for inordinate prices and I figured I should get one before it was too late. LOL

I went to pick up the desk and found out the top was damaged, after I drove 2 hours to get it. We worked out an agreeable price and I still brought it home.

As I found it. You can see the damage in the top right corner. I think the seller tried to get something off it and wound up ruining the top, as he told me there was "paper stuck" to the top.



Dirty?



So I started thinking about how to fix it. The desk is obviously steel under the "Velvoleum" top, so I figured I could peel the old top off and work with the steel top.

Started peeling the top.



Got the top all peeled.




I'm planning on, and this may change:

Blasting the entire desk
Repainting the drawers their original grey color.
Clear coating the desk in the bare blasted steel state.
Painting the top of the desk crimson and having a piece of glass cut to fit.

If I don't paint the top crimson, I may do a slightly darker gray than the drawers or just leave it blasted and clear coat.

 

[Rodinia]

Hi, I know its been quite some time since you posted this thread, but I just picked up this little chunky Betty yesterday as a project. The surface is velvoleum and it is peeling and cracking all over. I was unsure how to proceed and I found this thread. So, you successfully rehabed the top of yours by chiseling and blasting? Thank you.

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

I had no idea that there was a following for these types of desks. When my father's business closed down, I filled a 40-yard dumpster with desks, chairs and file cabinets from that era.

 

[Rodinia]

I had no idea that there was a following for these types of desks. When my father's business closed down, I filled a 40-yard dumpster with desks, chairs and file cabinets from that era.

Hindsite can be a bummer!

 

[andyvh1959]

Hmm,..get a tanker metal desk, weld in framing in the center for two shelves, mount the desk on heavy duty casters to raise it up and to make it mobile, add a 3/4" lumber core top covered by sheet metal, and it makes a solid work table with storage drawers and shelves.