We received a request for a custom project from the sister of one of Clay's co-workers.
Here's the original thread for background - http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/showthread.php?p=69506#post69506
I decided to take on the project as it wasn't something I had ever done, I had the stock, and I've have those shop elves and a robot that helps me to get things done quickly :lol: :lol:
I started out with a blank of Walnut 3" thick and a little over 5 x 5" square, cut out the basic heart shape.
And then took to it with an angle grinder with a 60 grit flap sander disk. And a ROS with 80 grit to get the basic shape. I devised a jig to hold the piece in place and allow me access to all edges of it.
The jig evolved along with the piece :-D I had planned to weight it by placing weight in holes bored in the bottom, so I was able to anchor it with screws while shaping.
I added seven ½" lead fishing weights to the bottom secured with epoxy and plugged the holes with sections of dowels. That brought the weight to just over ¾ lbs. The bottom was finally covered in green self-adhesive felt to hide all.
After power shaping, I took chisels and carving tools to refine the shape and finally hand sanded through MM 3200. The final size is just under 2" tall, and my shop is covered in Walnut dust :lol: :lol:
The finish is two coats of spray shellac for a little color, and 5 coats of gloss spray lacquer, with a little paste wax to finish it all off.
I decided to skip the grain filler due to time constrains. I think that it would have looked better with the grain filled, but I had a deadline of shipping tomorrow morning.
Here's the final results:
I really hope that she likes it, and is proud to give it to her friend (who BTW has a thing for Walnut and has Walnut flooring throughout her house, cut and milled by her father 8-O 8-O )
Dave
Here's the original thread for background - http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/showthread.php?p=69506#post69506
I decided to take on the project as it wasn't something I had ever done, I had the stock, and I've have those shop elves and a robot that helps me to get things done quickly :lol: :lol:
I started out with a blank of Walnut 3" thick and a little over 5 x 5" square, cut out the basic heart shape.
And then took to it with an angle grinder with a 60 grit flap sander disk. And a ROS with 80 grit to get the basic shape. I devised a jig to hold the piece in place and allow me access to all edges of it.
The jig evolved along with the piece :-D I had planned to weight it by placing weight in holes bored in the bottom, so I was able to anchor it with screws while shaping.
I added seven ½" lead fishing weights to the bottom secured with epoxy and plugged the holes with sections of dowels. That brought the weight to just over ¾ lbs. The bottom was finally covered in green self-adhesive felt to hide all.
After power shaping, I took chisels and carving tools to refine the shape and finally hand sanded through MM 3200. The final size is just under 2" tall, and my shop is covered in Walnut dust :lol: :lol:
The finish is two coats of spray shellac for a little color, and 5 coats of gloss spray lacquer, with a little paste wax to finish it all off.
I decided to skip the grain filler due to time constrains. I think that it would have looked better with the grain filled, but I had a deadline of shipping tomorrow morning.
Here's the final results:
I really hope that she likes it, and is proud to give it to her friend (who BTW has a thing for Walnut and has Walnut flooring throughout her house, cut and milled by her father 8-O 8-O )
Dave
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