Restoring a Drop-Front Desk - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration 

That's a nice desk. I hope if I ever have surgery the surgeon treats my old body with the same respect and skill as you treat these old furniture pieces. Thanks for the video.

Love the shop noises and no music, wonderful work!

I see folks talking about sounds; The one I like is the fingernail tapping along the veneer looking the hollow sound indicating separation (Bingo!). The attention to detail you consistently display is a model for anyone doing anything worthwhile. The parts of the job that you set aside until later are going to get done but are simply re-prioritized by your experienced mental queueing. The desk is beautiful!

I love watching your work - such excellence and reverence for these worn pieces.

In addition to providing the rest of us with enthralling entertainment and insight into a highly skilled craft, it must be even more exciting for the owner of the piece to look over your shoulder as their piece is being reborn.

The fulfillments of a job well done. Lovely.

1st class job and what beautiful piece of furniture.

It's finally happened. I think I've watched all your videos and now I'm down to re-watching. The long ones like this are my favorite.

It never ceases to amaze me how you have a clamp for every occasion. Lol. This came out beautifully. Thank you for sharing!

As always, an excellent video. I know how setting up camera angles and trying to stage shots adds to the project time, sometimes considerably, but I genuinely appreciate you doing so and sharing the results with all of us.

Binge watching Tom's videos gives me an appreciation for the fact early Australian furniture was in the main constructed with solid wood rather than veneer. Those veneer repairs seem never ending.

i digest every vid you make. love watching a craftsman at work. love it when you replace a piece and i sit and think "thats going to stand out a mile" then project finished and repair invisible. love the way you dont make factory NEW restorations. just started restoring and your vids are essential, now if i can become a tenth as good as you i will be happy

I'm sure everyone must enjoy the close-up photography in your video. Wow! It creates a new dimension for the video viewer.

A very peaceful environment you have created in your woodworking. Thank you.

Always a pleasure to watch and learn 😊👍🏼

Beautiful piece. I like your attitude when you make mistakes. It's no big deal. You just stay calm and carry on!

I learn something with every video. Nice work.

What you did on those key holes is absolutely amazing. I have never seen it done with wood. The old furniture from my grandparents had those keyholes too but that part was made of some type of metal, maybe brass. So that problem of this little bit of wood getting broken and worn from constant use was not a problem. On the top fixing the veneer those clamps were lined up like soldiers. To bad they can't give you a proper salute like you deserve for the great work you do.

As much as the superb skills and obvious respect for the pieces, it's the calm and patient approach which impresses me...together with the oh so subtle commentary...Tom I could listen to you for hours...thank you for this and all your ouevres. Dave

Fascinating watching you work. It is eye opening to see how much work goes into making and/or repairing fine furniture.

It's always enjoyable to watch an expert work. Wonderful workmanship and eye for detail!

Tom, I’ve rewatched all ur videos. you are the maestro of color!

Nice work, that you have not overly picked at. I imaging you could find little areas for evermore that would need glue. Thanks once again for posting - really enjoyable.

Having watched a number of these restoration videos, I’m impressed at the extensive use of hide glue and it’s suitability of purpose in veneering and woodwork in general. It is no longer a dark art I thought difficult to use. Thanks for the insight and opportunity to watch a master pursuing his craft.

When I started watching I thought, ooh ok, another veneer job but man, as soon as you started the keyholes ... it became super interesting !! Another great job, thank you for sharing !

Great video! You have such patience, oh my goodness sir. ..amazing. I do love the longer videos! 😊 💕 Keep them coming!

Your program is always so calming.

That’s a lovely little desk and I had a great time following you along in a great repair job. Thanks Thomas.

Knowledge, patience and precision of performance are the final result. Greetings

In no way am I in league with Mr Johnson. However when I’ve gotten compliments on my work, I always say you have to love the work, you have to have patience, but skill and experience are right up there. Mr Johnson has all that. I truly enjoy watching him work and picking up tips. Great channel.

Thank you, Master for teaching me. I like the longer videos, but understand and appreciate the time it takes to put them out for us. Thanks again

I enjoy doing furniture repair too. I learned some thing new that I should try - epoxy putty. Thank you Thomas for sharing yours knowledge and expertise. From one RU-vidr to another, keep the videos coming!

I'm crazy impressed by the number and variety of clamps you have.

I love your channel! I'm learning so much from you, it's like being taught by a master without needing a passport. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I look forward to binge watching more tomorrow bc It will be too cold out in the shop. Thanks again.

Fabulous, just fabulous.

Another great learning experience...always learn something new from each restoration. Thanks

What a wonderful video - enjoyed every minute 👍😊

Another nice job Thomas, have a nice day !!!.

Your property looks beautiful. A piece of paradise 🌺thank you for sharing

This kind of works have many details and you have the patience for doing Great job like always 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

Beautiful job!

Wow!! Another great piece!!!

This project was very interesting and I love the look of that French shellac. Great job 😉

Hi Thomas. First time watching. You have a great skill the patience of a man who loves what he's doing. Wonderful result.

I continue to watch, listen and learn. Thank you!

Looks pretty good Thomas👍

Outstanding. Thanks!

Amazing finish.

It's so beautiful seeing you working on this and the relationship you have with the tools you use . Great work!

New vid by Thomas? > gets coffee>sits down>enjoys! As usual, I think, "How on earth...?" And then we see just how to do it. Beautiful!

A huge, big, ginormous thumbs up!

These videos are my Saturday morning meditation! So satisfying to watch. Another great job, Tom! Greetings from Norway.

First, thank you very much for your great videos and thank you for sharing your knowledge and your expertise. I love watching your videos and then go to my workshop and work on my Biedermeier furniture! It is not only a france thing to pull out the drawer by the key. It is also a German and Austrian thing, specially at Biedermeier furniture! Kind regards

Thomas, how good are you on the channel, nature, animals, nice and calm man with golden hands, thanks for the video👍👍👏👏🤝

patience makes perfect well done Thomas

I seen a desk similar to that one, but it was made out of partical board, I like that style of desk. Nice work.

Mr. Johnson, watching your work and everything that you can do, I am reminded of a song called Daddys Hands when I watch you piece and replace each flaw . Very cool. Great work

Another outstanding episode Thomas :-)

Thank you Thomas for sharing again your knowledge thru this excellent video.

Looks like brand new :) Thank You Tom :)

You have some mad skills sir

Just found your channel and I love it.Your patient and methodical work is a real wonder.Thank you from Florida.

Very therapeutic video, nice !

Another amazing tutorial! The time it takes to video and edit each step is an art in itself. It took someone just as much time and patience to build that desk as you take to restore it. Great tips and insight to your world, love watching them. Thanks!

Love your work

Great work Tom.

Great video! I love the level of detail you went into on this one. Thanks!

I admire your work! Beautifully done. Really enjoyable to watch.

Beautiful job as always Tom!

Absolutely stunning.

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing your work.

You have one fine production team doing your filming and editing....must be because your so good !lol

Nice camera work. I really enjoy the closeups. Thank you for sharing. 😊

perfectionist, bravo, master 👏👏👏👍🏆🏆💐

Very nice job on the escutcheons! Well done again!

Great Job. Lovely piece.

Nice work again Tom. Lots of finicky bits, particularly the escutcheons. It seems neurosurgery's loss was antique restoration's gain. Thanks for posting.

love your work.

A new Thomas Johnson video? But, I was planning to get some work done. I wanted to tell you that you and +Lost Mountain Restoration have given me the courage and tools to refresh the finish on my kitchen cabinets. I don't know much but I know more than the bozos are Home Depot! Love your work, as always.

Beautiful attention to detail, thank you.

Wow you have some collection of clamps I am felling jealous

I am so happy I learned a new word: escutcheon!

Great detailed work as usual Young Thomas.

looks great Tom! Thanks for sharing the video.😎👍JP

I'm a huge fan of your work, it's very inspiring i'd say :) Greetings from Brazil

I have so Enjoyed all your Restoration Projects Thomas Johnson. I have been watching your Restoration closely to learn. I have a small round Antique table that had a marble top that belonged to my grandmother. The marble top was broken (not by Me). I noticed that the Table bows in the winter and flattens out during the summer. Over 7 years the Table has completely separated at the joints. If I could inquire What Type of Glue to use? I am interesting in re-gluing it back together. Thank You for Restoring Furniture that was meant to be Treated and Cared for as Precious Belongings.

Greetings and thank you for another installment. I'd like to share a "trick" my grandfather taught me; blow glue further under veneers or into splits with the compressor at semi-low pressure. Would a printed scale photo work as a pattern? Your tapping to check for loose bits also reminds me of good times in the shop. Peace.

Tappy tap tap. Another stunner.

Hi Tom! First time I've messaged you, just want to say that your approach has really inspired me as I start out in furniture restoration myself, after 13 years of site joinery and loft conversions! I have learned so much from watching your videos. Every price has its own problems and potential and character, each project takes what it takes to get it right I guess, you keep going until it's a perfect job every time. Amazing work. P s thanks for the longer video again. The more the better, great stuff

As always, great stuff.

I've come to the conclusion that "looks pretty good" is the same as in Britain we would say "looks bloody marvellous"!

gotta love that die hard with a vengeance t-shirt. looks pretty good!

Another great job! Keep it up and may you and your family have a merry Christmas!

I’ve not dealt with THAT extensive of veneer disaster! I’ve been watching every one of your videos for help dealing with a current piece I have with veneer that is peeling from a shaped surface that curves severely in four directions! P.s. I’ve never used less than 8-12 layers in a French polish consisting of shellac, pumice, walnut oil and sandarac towards the finish, or more stable, surface layers. I know there are new chemicals and shortcuts...and client budgets...but I’m retired now and can pick and choose the jobs I take.

I just found this video, or rather RU-vid did for me, and once again I learn more about the value of patience and persistence. I also liked near the end, when you finish polishing one side of the desk, the glancing light makes it easy to see all the ways that age has affected the piece and how un-flat it now is. It seems to give it a kind of dignity. I am curious about the center "drawer" and why it is not a working drawer. The lock area appears to be filled in, but I can't see (from our camera's eye view) why it couldn't have been a working drawer. If you mentioned this in the video, somehow I missed it.

Brilliant.. Thank you Thomas

Beautiful work! This would be my dream job.

Pretty good, Tom!

Yep!, it looks pretty good. Nice work, great tutorial.

Perfect...thanks Tom.