Jewlery box and more projects by Doc Wheeler

[mikemi]

Very nice Ken. I am sure the good Dr. will appreciate it very much.

Mike

[DocWheeler]

It is getting more difficult for me to do some things the way I use to do them. I didn't want to set up my router table to
make the picture frames. So I tried something different; I cut the pieces and put them together with dowels and glue as usual,
but had the CW do everything else - except the finishing of course.



I made three mpc's, one was simply a 1/16" deep carve region a little bigger than the actual frame to smooth/level the surface, the second mpc was for all of the cut-outs and recesses (from the back), and the third was the front lettering. It works great as long as the wood is in the sled correctly - my first one was off a little, but it is usable.

The wood is 7/8" Satinwood/Yellowheart and the board was twisted - thus the need for "surfacing".



The second frame is 9"X11"X7/8" Wenge and it is still a work-in-progress.



I made the frame before reading up on how to finish Wenge, wrong order! I should have carved the lettering after filling the pores in the front so that I could fill or highlight the letters without getting it in the pores. I'm not sure how I'm going to proceed at this point.

I used a 3/16" stainless steel rod for the support on the smaller (7"X9") frame, but the Wenge does not seem strong enough to do the same on it.

[oscarl48]

Those are all wonderful pieces. I am sure they will be treasured.

Good luck on the Wenge. I am sure in the end it will be beautiful like the rest.

[DocWheeler]

Thanks Oscar,

Just getting this gift ready to send. I did some experimenting and learned some things.
I had never collected wenge splinters before, it is easy to do! Nor had I ever tried to put a finish on it.
Here is a series of shots showing raw wood and finished frame. The second picture used flash to bring out the grain.


I used Daly's Profin oil for the finish - very nice to work with.

On the previous litho-frame I bent some 3/16" stainless rod to form a support that fit into holes in that satinwood. I had never worked with wenge before and this frame was bigger so I was worried about whether or not that kind of support would work, so I built a stand for the wenge frame.
I had planned to fill in the lettering on the frame with sawdust from a lighter colored wood but was afraid of ruining the wenge and chickened-out.

Since this was just a scrap of oak from another project I decided to try using wenge sawdust in the lettering. Kind of mixed feelings about the results as the CA glue did not hold some of the sawdust well and it was not smooth, but otherwise I liked it.



I am not impressed with the outcome of the multi-picture litho, but it will suffice and I think my mother-in-law will like it. Man that feels weird to speak of having a mother-in-law at my age!

[mtylerfl]

Wow, Ken! That's a great project! First time I saw it was today. Don't know how I missed your previous posts.

[DocWheeler]

Thanks Michael,

My projects are getting fewer and further in between.

I'm still learning about finishing, with that Daly's Profin, it is best to use a very thin coat. Possibly used more on the stir-stick than the project.
Maybe used a couple of teaspoons full - anyone want to buy an almost-full quart of Profin?

[DocWheeler]

Late Christmas eve and trying to get pictures of a project that I put a coat of finish on 5 hours ago.
I'm not sure that I will get the frame back to apply another needed coat or not so I took the photos.
OK, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

The frame about 8" X 10" in 3/4" oak for my step-daughter who lost her father this year.


A couple of things about this - the lettering is filled with wenge sawdust and the backlight is from Candlestone.
I had attempted using sawdust in Centerline text on a previous project and got better on this one.
I think it was MyShop that first introduced this back-lighting; this frame uses the smaller version of the two available.


The filling of the Centerline text with sawdust is fairly easy, overfill the recesses with as fine a dust as possible and drip on the CA glue. I then used a fairly course file to knock down the high spots and make added fine sawdust. Fill in any low areas with added sawdust and re-glue. I used the flat end of an old carving bit to move the wet dust around a little and to press it into smaller areas. Sorry about the fuzzy picture!


I was originally concerned about getting the contrasting sawdust in the open grain and having a mess, but it worked out pretty good.

I also have been using 1/16" clear plastic in front of the litho to keep it from gathering dust and dirt; from eBey for a little over a dollar a (8 X 10) sheet.

[SharonB]

I really like the way the filled centerline turned out. Will have to try that on a future project.

[dbemus]

Thanks for mentioning the clear plastic over the litho. I just finished my first litho and was debating adding a cover to protect it from dust. I will check out ebay. You have completed some beautiful projects. I like the sawdust application on the lettering.


dbemus

[DocWheeler]

The Mocks from up-state have created Plaques I admire, so much so that I wanted to create some myself.
Unfortunately I don't do the painting as well as they seem to do, so I thought of another method.
I glued 1/8" maple and walnut into a pocket cut in oak to get three colors and carved that area.