Fun with the letter opener MPC

[myshop1044]

Thanks Morton for posting the letter opener MPC. I had some fun with it, it is a very good item. Just a note make sure your material is no larger than .750, if it is ,like I found out later, it will carve the blade too thick and you will have to do some work to get a edge on it.
Take a look at these.

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Those are really nice ... they would make great gifts.

[fwharris]

Perry,

They look very nice! I like the added personalization, great idea!

[rcdages]

Nice work Perry,

Were did you get the MPC?
Could you share that with me?

Did you try the material yet that I gave you?

[myshop1044]

Robert do a search on "letter opener", it was just a few dys ago.

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Here is the MPC file

45835

[rcdages]

Thank you,
I'll down load the letter_opener this evening.

[mwhatch]

My Shop,

Wow, you have been busy. I am honored that you and the others like my project.
I think I saw some red oak. Did I also see some purpleheart? What other materials did you use?
I am really glad to give something back to the good people on this forum.

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Morton ... Thank you for a great project.

[myshop1044]

I used some red oak, cypress ,red cedar, popular, and some finish grade pine. I used just wood I had in the shop that fit the size needed.
I have about 6 more to go with different guy ptns on them, then I have to come up with some ptns for the ladies too. This is going to big in the fall showes.

[lynnfrwd]

Those are great!

[dougmsbbs]

Different look to it. Made from 1/2" Corian.

Sweet pattern! Carves great. Thanks for sharing the pattern!

[Kenm810]

Quote: -- "Different look to it."
How about, Made from something like Laminated PenTurning Stock

[dougmsbbs]

Nice! Love it.

[myshop1044]

dougmsbbs ,yours and Kens version looks great and it give me some good ideas, one question about the 1/2" Corian, what was your setting(carve depth) for the 1/2" and does letter opener have some meat(thickness) to it? will it break if used?
Based on the first settings .370 on each side on a .750 thick wood, I was thinking .245/side for .5" Corian what do think?
I found 2 pieces of Corian 13 1/2 x 11 3/4, so I could do 5 letter openers on each. One is a rose with gold metal flake and other is black with silver specks. Is give me some good color options for the rose and the black.
This is getting better all the time.
Perry

[dougmsbbs]

The Corian one was done at .245 and a height of 130. It has enough enough meat on it to make it usable. As a matter of fact, I did use it already. I wouldn't go any thinner, though. I had a bit of a problem getting the handle end cut free, but the blade end was real nice. Sharp, as a matter of fact. I even managed to cut myself on the point before I had the gold painted on.

Working on one now in wood that I intend to laser etch a design on. I love it when I can combine both machines in one project! Life is good. :)

[rcdages]

Say Guys,

The letter openers are looking GREAT !!!!

[Dan-Woodman]

I did one in Purpleheart. Overall it turned out great but because of the open grain ( much like Oak ) the sharpend blade had rough places that cought as you ran your finger across it.
later Daniel

[rcdages]

Daniel,

Did you carve it in 3/4" and if so what was your dept setting?

I am going to carve one or more this weekend. I am going to carve them out of 3/4" Poplar.

Any thoughts on that?

[Chay]

Looking good!

I believe I read somewhere that if you treat the edge with cycloacrylate (crazy glue) before sanding it holds its edge better.
Caution I haven't tried it.

Chay

[Kenm810]

How about a Zebra Wood one with a Corian insert

[gregsolano]

How about a Zebra Wood one with a Corian insert

That is really nice.

[AllThingsWood]

Perry:
Where can I get the original mpc file for the letter opener? I would appreciate your help.
Thanks
Gene Young
supersales@q.com

[Kenm810]

This is the Original letter_opener_lily.mpc (http://forum.carvewright.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=45738&d=1310161631) posted "Letter Opener (http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?18658-Letter-Opener&highlight=letter)" Last week

[DaveN]

Made from solid Bamboo

459184591945920

[Kenm810]

NICE!! ---- Looks Great with the Shield

[rcdages]

Question

When you guys are carving the Letter_Opener are you carving it at 0.370 on both sides which would be 0.74 which would leave a small amount of material in between to hold it in place or are you carving it at a depth of 0.375
on both side which in that case it would be 0.75, one would need to place Manual Tabs to hold carving in place.

I hope later today to get one carved and I wanted the input from the PRO'S

[TerryT]

The bamboo looks great in the photos. I agree with Ken, the shield is very nice.

[mwhatch]

I did cut the original on at .37. It was the first time I used red oak. It left a thin layer around the blade and a little thicker around the handle. You should be able to cut at .375 as long as your material is not less than .75. If you go to deep you will lose thickness and width on the blade, but still leaves enough around the handle where you don't need tabs.

I am glad everyone is haveing a good time with this pattern.

[AllThingsWood]

Ken
Thanks for the original letter opener mpc file. I look forward to carving these out of several different woods.
Gene

[Kenm810]

Hi Gene,

All thanks should go to "mwhatch (http://forum.carvewright.com/member.php?9899-mwhatch)" Morton for the Letter Opener File we're all having fun and playing around with.

[rcdages]

I did cut the original on at .37. It was the first time I used red oak. It left a thin layer around the blade and a little thicker around the handle. You should be able to cut at .375 as long as your material is not less than .75. If you go to deep you will lose thickness and width on the blade, but still leaves enough around the handle where you don't need tabs.

I am glad everyone is haveing a good time with this pattern.

I carved one late last night at .370 and it left a bit of material around the blade and handle. I cut it out with my scroll saw, no problem just follow the carve. I am going to carve one tonight at .375 in the Poplar. You don't feel one would need manual tabs as long as the board is a true .75 which my board is.
This is the first time I have done a double side carving, I love it. Just want to be correct in the next step. Have enjoyed doing the double sided signs.
Have done a number of them for Carolyn to put in the barn yard.

[mwhatch]

I did one at .375 in poplar. There was enough material around the handle to hold it in place. I did several test cuts and did not have to use tabs. The important thing to remember is to maker sure your depth is not more that half the thickness of the material, or you will lose thickness and width of the pattern and support while cutting. I have a few more I want to carve, but it is sooooo hot here in NE Oklahoma and my CW is in the garage, 105 degrees out there.

[rcdages]

Hello Morton,
I carved one on Sunday night in Poplar and carved it at 0.370 and it came out well, left a good amount of material around the blade and handle. I put it on the Scroll Saw and cut it out and did some sanding and it looks good. I took it to work just as it is. Cindy who works in the office with me wants one with a rose on the handle. So tonight I used one of Michael T. small rose ptns and placed it on the Front then did the Copy and Paste with the Flip/Flip Vertically to the back side of handle.

So Tuesday night I'll put the Poplar in my jig and carve it. Since you did a test carve at 0.375 with out tabs I'll go that routeno tabs. I'll take some photo's and you can see how they have turned out.

105 degrees is hot out side let a lone in one's shop.

I was building fence on Sunday and it was around 101 here and I got to much heat.

Thank you for all your help and advice I really do appreciate it.


Thank you for sharing the MPC with all of us, it is great.

Take care,

Robert

[rcdages]

I carved an other letter opener last night in Poplar with a rose on the handle.

No stain yet just off the machine. I carved it at .375 and did have enough wood to hold it in palce as Morton stated would be.

Love this MPC.45971

[myshop1044]

Robert you stated that you cut out the letter opener with you scroll saw, I have been using cutpath and I have come out
with a small flat edge on the blade. Has anybody used cutpath to cut them out.
My next one in corian will have a max offset distance to try an leave no flat edge on the blade edge.
Does any body have any comments as to the best way to cut them out.

Perry

[rcdages]

Hello Perry,

Good point I did not ever think about cut path.
I carved this one at 0.375 and I still had a little wood in between the two carving areas as Morton stated would be.
I'll have to try the cut path with the off set unless one of our fellow carves has abetter way.

Hope your doing well Perry.

Looking forward to more in put.