Open the roll-top portion of the desk, looking inside for straps or screws which hold the top onto the rest of the desk. Remove the screws with a slotted screwdriver. Lift the roll-top portion of the desk and slide out the tambour, or slatted door, setting it cloth-side up on top of the replacement cloth.
How do you fix a rolling desk?
How to Repair a Roll-Top Desk
- Open the roll-top portion of the desk to expose screws that hold the top to the base of the desk.
- Lift the roll-top lid off the desk.
- Spread a new piece of canvas or tambour cloth over the work surface, if needed, and set the old tambour atop it.
How does roll top desk work?
The rolltop desk is simply a “pedestal desk”–a top set on two columns of drawers–with a top case added. All rolltop desks have a three-sided cabinet that has tracks routed along the top and front edges of each side, lined with metal or plastic so that the roll part, or “tambour,” will slide easily.
Can you spray paint a roll top desk?
Use spray paint. Because I wanted to give the desk a distressed look with some “layers,” I used black spray paint (satin finish) on all the edges and corners of the desk before painting it all white with the chalk paint. So when I distressed the desk, you can see some great added dimension with the black layer.
How do you fix a rolltop desk top?
Take a long stick or something and put it in the cut-out and lift. As it is lifted, open the other drawers. Repeat this step on the top drawer on each side to unlock all the drawers. In my particular case, there is a plastic tube that fits in a hole on the underneath side of the desktop.
Why does my rolltop desk not open all the way?
My rolltop’s tambour would not open all the way. It was like it was jammed from being able to be pushed up all the way to the top, in the totally open position. This meant the drawers were locked. Fortunately, not all of the drawers were shut.
Where are the hooks on a rolltop desk?
In order to keep the drawers from locking again if the tambour gets jammed, I removed all the drawers and unscrewed the metal hooks. These hooks are actually what is inserted into the wooden shafts cutouts to lock them in place. They are located the back of the drawer and easy to remove with a screwdriver.
Can a tambour be removed from a roll top desk?
Remove the tambour’s handle if it fits inside the top instead of a well in the lower section of the desk. Ensure that you have the loose slats properly aligned when you apply the new backing.
