Hello again. I printed out a plan and side elevation 1:1 so
The first thing to do is make a simple jig for cutting circles (arcs) in wood veneer. For this I will be using; an offcut of 18mm MDF, four pieces of 3mm Hardboard (Masonite) and a 6mm dowel.
First drill a 6mm hole 15mm in from two adjacent edges in all the Hardboard pieces.
and a 6mm hole near one end and central in the MDF
Glue the dowel into the hole in the MDF and using a suitable jig, route (with a straight sided bit) the four Hardboard pieces to the required radii; 42, 50, 58 and 66mm.
That’s the jig!
Now to cut some veneer. This is done using a knife. Personally I use a scalpel. When cutting the arcs tape the veneer to the MDF base and cut the lesser of the radii first
The veneer is taped in place so that the same arc centre is used for both arcs to be cut, giving a uniform width over the whole of the piece. Second cut
Do this for all three colours; yellow, orange and red. Four times for each colour. Now the purple segment would have its lowermost tip (side elevation) where the centre of the dowel pin in the jig is so I used the 42mm template freehand to provide some pattern overlap (this will be covered by the black sides, later)
Using a piece of masking tape on the underside I put the pattern together to check the fit.
This looks good so I taped the face side of the three arcs (yellow, orange, red) using veneer tape. This was done for all four sides. I placed an arc on the paper pattern and placed the 66mm radius template over it to perform the cutout in the arc.
This was done for all four arcs, They were taped together, with the purple segments as well and a white (sycamore) centre piece cut (using the edges of the yellow strips as a guide) and taped in. A quick look at the reverse of the pattern shows a fairly good overall fit.
The colours are not uniform on the back as dye penetration through the veneer varied. Using plain veneer the rest of the layer was built out and the result glued to it’s 3mm ply base layer. Its in the clamp drying at present so no picture yet.
Thats all for now
Be seeing you
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
14 comments so far
Sheila Landry (scrollgirl)
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5927 posts in 1087 days
#1 posted 176 days ago
Boy, you are good. I know we all say it all the time, but “you make it look so easy!” That, to me, indicates a true master of the process. Thanks for the insight!
Sheila
-- Contributing Editor, Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Sheila Landry Designs http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com "Knowledge is Power"
BritBoxmaker
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#2 posted 176 days ago
Thanks, Sheila.
You can, of course use the same method for cutting full circles, just extend the jig and templates around for the full 360 degrees.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
jaykaypur
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2495 posts in 575 days
#3 posted 176 days ago
Good job on this and way outta my league but I do know what you are doing and how you are doing it, so my mind is still somewhat working!! This is going to be a really nice looking piece once finished.
-- Use it up, Wear it out --------------- Make it do, Or do without!
SPalm
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#4 posted 176 days ago
Hey Martyn, Looking good.
And wow, are those colors brilliant. What a neat idea.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Roger Gaborski
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95 posts in 1916 days
#5 posted 176 days ago
Martyn,
Very nice results and I will try this soon. Nice extension to the rectangular geometric shapes I have been working with.
Roger
-- Roger Gaborski, http://www.gaborski.com, http://www.etsy.com/shop/RogerGaborski
Sodabowski
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1805 posts in 1000 days
#6 posted 176 days ago
What Sheila said.
-- Thomas - There is no such thing as a problem, there only are solutions.
BritBoxmaker
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#7 posted 176 days ago
Fresh out of the veneer clamp
Well that looks OK. So now to start cutting the black, outer, layer.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
patron
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12051 posts in 1508 days
#8 posted 176 days ago
well aren’t you somebody
and isn’t this something
great process
good lesson
only first sip of morning coffee
so far
so i will hold off commenting
till it makes my fingers move again
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
sras
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3239 posts in 1296 days
#9 posted 176 days ago
Looking good!!
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
oldnovice
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#10 posted 176 days ago
Sheila said it all!
I don’t know if this has ever been asked but what the veneer wood?
-- "I never met a board I didn't like!"
BritBoxmaker
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4006 posts in 1204 days
#11 posted 176 days ago
The veneer is Sycamore, the English variety, as is the solid wood that will be used for the outer, black, skin of the box. This wood is a creamy white in colour. Its a very cheap hardwood and is considered in some parts to be like a weed in the way it grows, almost everywhere. All the wood is dyed with Chestnut, spirit stain. The finish will be spray Acrylic.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
BertFlores58
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1528 posts in 1089 days
#12 posted 175 days ago
An extraordinary technique on this project. The design arc-pillars is extremely difficult to cut. Martyn, you make it very easy. A new way again… I like most is the arc was cut.
Cheers.
-- Bert
Roger
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#13 posted 175 days ago
Wowza!
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
BritBoxmaker
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4006 posts in 1204 days
#14 posted 173 days ago
Thank you all. Onwards and upwards or as Churchill used to say, KBO.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
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