Tanker desk rehab..

[BellyUpFish]

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.

 

[shawnspeed]

I have a similar desk..maybee a little older, and mine has a drafting board attached to the front...and the top slides to the rear. These were used in large companies when they had fleets of manual draftsmen...your board would be on the guy's desk behind you. I replaced the green drafting mat on the desk with 12" floor tiles...you know, the black & white ones...has worked great so far...Shawn

 

[motorscot]

I have 3 of them in my garage. 2 will restore and 1 will stay as mobile work station. Where are you in AL?

 

[BellyUpFish]

Florence, Al.

 

[FJ 432]

I wish you luck on your project.

Just a comment....with all due respect. That is not a tanker.

edit: Well maybe it is. It seems my definition differs from others. Time to shut up!

 

[383 240z]

I've got on that the top is pretty beat up, from when you could smoke in your office! How did you get that top off? I was considering removing it, however it looks like a major PITA. Any hints? Looks like a decent winter project. Keith

 

[BellyUpFish]

Just a comment....with all due respect. That is not a tanker.

I love how people attempt to de-rude a comment with "with all due respect.." and other cliche phrases. No worries though.

That said, I'd love to see your definition of tanker desk..

I've got on that the top is pretty beat up, from when you could smoke in your office! How did you get that top off? I was considering removing it, however it looks like a major PITA. Any hints? Looks like a decent winter project. Keith

Took me an hour or so with a chisel and a hammer. Not too bad. Doing something with it afterward is going to be the hard part. I'm going to be sand blasting mine..

 

[egnorant]

http://texarkana.craigslist.org/fuo/3890724363.html

Just wish I were closer!

Bruce

 

[bluebolt]

http://texarkana.craigslist.org/fuo/3890724363.html

Just wish I were closer!

Bruce

But I am closer! Just emailed him, should I get you one too LOL?

 

[Kevin54]

I wish you luck on your project.

Just a comment....with all due respect. That is not a tanker.

edit: Well maybe it is. It seems my definition differs from others. Time to shut up!

I love how people attempt to de-rude a comment with "with all due respect.." and other cliche phrases. No worries though.

That said, I'd love to see your definition of tanker desk..



Took me an hour or so with a chisel and a hammer. Not too bad. Doing something with it afterward is going to be the hard part. I'm going to be sand blasting mine..

It's a "tanker desk" is just a newer version. The older versions didn't have the legs as shown one Belly's desk, but were more rounded off.

 

[FJ 432]

It's a "tanker desk" is just a newer version. The older versions didn't have the legs as shown one Belly's desk, but were more rounded off.

Thank you that was my point.

To me a tanker desk actually goes one step further. Their legs number two and they're one solid piece running across the entire bottom of the drawers on each side.

I know I'm old and it seems like every steel desk built like a tank is now commonly referred as a tanker. Since the OP wanted my opinion there is mine.

Back to the restoration.

 

[bluebolt]

But I am closer! Just emailed him, should I get you one too LOL?

Heading to Hope Arkansas for some tanker desks!

 

[Kevin54]

Thank you that was my point.

To me a tanker desk actually goes one step further. Their legs number two and they're one solid piece running across the entire bottom of the drawers on each side.

I know I'm old and it seems like every steel desk built like a tank is now commonly referred as a tanker. Since the OP wanted my opinion there is mine.

Back to the restoration.

A few years ago, people had a hell of a time trying to GIVE them away, then when people started scrapping metal, it made it easier to get rid of them. Today, they are now collectible. Who'd a thunk it?

 

[zkling]

A few years ago, people had a hell of a time trying to GIVE them away

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.

I love how people attempt to de-rude a comment with "with all due respect.." and other cliche phrases. No worries though.

It's because people these days are so dang sensitive, especially when they are incorrect.

 

[egnorant]

Heading to Hope Arkansas for some tanker desks!

Gotta pass! No money, no space, too many projects ahead of it!

Bruce

 

[nine4gmc]

Heading to Hope Arkansas for some tanker desks!

Should have said you needed one. I am about to swap out my old tanker for that Sears Tower brand I just picked up, you could have had one Sunday

zkling, I see those with the typewriter table drawer often at the state auction but have passed on them. I could not think of a good enough purpose and that spring mech would end up putting my eye out since I can not leave things alone.

 

[Jere]

Cool desk, I am going to have to keep an eye out for one. I actually like the bare steel it would be cool with some anti rust polish and glass over that.

 

[zkling]

zkling, I see those with the typewriter table drawer often at the state auction but have passed on them. I could not think of a good enough purpose and that spring mech would end up putting my eye out since I can not leave things alone.

Agree, I now keep a small surface plate in there, helps to tame it down a bit. When I first got the desk and didn't have nearly as many tools, I kept my bench grinder in there. If you pulled the shelf out and let go, the grinder would gain ~6" of air before resettling back down on the table.

The other side is 3 or 4 drawers . But the left has that typewriter deal. I wish it didn't, and I had the same reservations as you about taking it out. That ain't no pen spring in there.

 

[bluebolt]

Should have said you needed one. I am about to swap out my old tanker for that Sears Tower brand I just picked up, you could have had one Sunday

I don't think my friend would like it strapped to the top of her V12 Mercedes!

 

[taumac]

Thats a cool old desk...... nicly done.

 

[bluebolt]

Well I picked up 3 tankers desks today, I will post pics in the 2013 garage sale thread when I get them unloaded tomorrow. One of them is the gray one in the fourth pic in the Craigslist ad.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I made a little headway on mine today..

Getting it all stripped..

Top..



Sides..



Grabbed some Penetrol tonight at Lowe's and I've got a belt sander and some 400 grit rolls headed this way..

Getting there..

 

[Kevin54]

Belly......Check out E.Rodz thread where it shows all of the things he has done to his garage. He had a desk almost like that, that he refinished.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Belly......Check out E.Rodz thread where it shows all of the things he has done to his garage. He had a desk almost like that, that he refinished.

I'll have to check it out.

I found some time to tinker on the desk today.

I think I may repaint the drawers a shade darker. Wife wants them to be "polished" like the rest of the desk.

 

[Kevin54]

Here is e.rodz thread and the desk is posting #46

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48204&showall=1

 

[Outlander]

Fun project.

My first office job (May 1981 but who's counting) put me at such a desk. When I bought my first house in the early 90's the seller released it 'as is' with the condition I take the "tanker" and an old filing cabinet. Yes, she gave it away and I lost it with the house in my divorce!

 

[nine4gmc]

Here is e.rodz thread and the desk is posting #46

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48204&showall=1

Kevin, he made that desk from a two drawer file cabinet and some desk drawers, not really a refurb, more of a custom build.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I've been pretty busy with other projects, but I have had a little time to work on this.

With the bare steel and Penetrol, I've found the best way is to work in sections, or I get some pretty decent surface rust.

The Penetrol is awesome and super easy to apply. I'm just wiping several coats on.

I tried to get a picture to show how the Penetrol "cleans up" the work area, but my iPhone was having a tough time, so I had to shoot at some odd angles and finally got this one..

The band around the top of the desk has been Penetrol'd. The green in the lower left is an odd reflection of grass.

 

[MarkG]

I'll have to check it out.

I found some time to tinker on the desk today.

So that would be 'tinker on the tanker'?

 

[BellyUpFish]

Tanker tinkerin'.

 

[arkansasram]

I have 3 of them I will give away if somebody is interested.

 

[nine4gmc]

I have 3 of them I will give away if somebody is interested.

Post your general area, I'm sure there is someone around you that will take them!

 

[arkansasram]

They ar in Mi. but I can bring them to NW Arkansas anytime.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Well, it's getting there..

I've been back and forth trying to decide how I really want to finish this thing.. Paint.. Rust patina.. Etc.

I think I've got it. The top has 2 layers of Penetrol. Hope to get the rest done this week..

 

[BellyUpFish]

Well.. I'm finished..

 

[nine4gmc]

So the top is just polished? It looks reddish in the pic, amazing job on that desk, major props!!

 

[BellyUpFish]

So the top is just polished? It looks reddish in the pic, amazing job on that desk, major props!!

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.

 

[stylee]

That looks incredible! I'm happy you stripped the drawers too.

 

[Hotrod Addiction]

Really cool. I just picked up one of those at the local salvation army. An older one with the solid one piece legs. They had it marked $5.00 and all furniture was 50% off!!! I almost crapped my pants at the deal. It's impossible to find a desk that well built nowadays for under a couple hundred bucks.

 

[CaminoKlng71]

Hey BellyUp,
I'm just starting on a Tanker Desk restoration, starting with a desk in a similar condition to yours. I'm going for a similar finish but, what did you do with the inside of the drawers?