I’ve had a decent two week block in the workshop since the last update. Tom and I have started to get to grips with the chimney piece design and I’ve been able to work on some other jobs along the way.
First up is a sign I made for my sister’s business. This was a scrap piece of Ash (a shelf that did not get used) that I sanded, sealed and covered in sign makers vinyl masking material. I then carved the letters through this as you can see in the first image below and applied a couple of coats of enamel spray paint (second image). Finally the mask was removed to leave just the letters painted as shown in the third photo and a couple of coats of oil applied to finish.
For another family member I have been prototyping some learning toys they are hoping to start marketing. Shown in the first image below, these will be tested and modified accordingly. These were finished in mineral oil as it is non-toxic and suitable for children to handle, I was pleasantly surprised how nice a sheen this left on the parts.
The second and third photos below shows some parts I cut to make 4 wooden circles that were required to surround a circular lift shaft at a clients house. In total I cut 48 straight pieces with the appropriate angle on each end, sets of 12 were then glued (with biscuit joints) to make a dodecagon. This was then re-machined on the large CNC to cut inner and outer circles, 1m across the internal diameter.
Finally two parts that show the diversity of what I make. Firstly a familiar motif to readers of this blog, cherub blocks. These can be seen in the first image below being roughed and then the finished version in the second. I am pleased to be cutting these as they are the first components for the chimney piece project that has now been months in gestation. I have 18 of these to make before I move onto some non-cherubic carving for the same project. Then as a total contrast I had a different customer who wanted me to make him a wooden AK-47 to go on his wall. You can see that being cut in the third image below…
Moving forward we should start to make real progress on the chimney pieces before the end of this month and I’ll hopefully have images of that work in progress. I’ve also got another AK-47 based project too, to create a standing lamp… Onward and Upward.
