Graduation Gift Gavel

Hi all, this was a commission project for a young lady graduating law school. The client wanted a “girlie” wood, so we chose tulipwood for the pinks and roses. It was a real challenge because all I could get (while very nice stuff) was wet as can be and I had a rather tight deadline. I used Pentacryl on the rough turned parts and prayed for NO CRACKS. Well, the plan worked, and I rather like the results. I borrowed a pre-purchased, unfinished cedar box from another project due to the lack of time, and custom-fitted foam and high-quality white satin to make a nice presentation. We had the box-lid laser-engraved and silver-filled, along with the soundblock. Fortunately, the school posts its logo online as a useable graphic. I outfitted the box-lid with a gold-plated chain and knob. I also added a magnetic catch, adjustable for just the right pull force. The last photo is of a tulipwood pen and pencil set that matches nicely.

The gavel itself incorporates a tapered fox-tenon that goes all the way through the head. The shape of the joint is my own design, and rather a challenge to execute. I wanted the gavel to never come apart or loosen and the handle to never rotate in the joint. The top of the joint is a rounded rectangle, and the bottom perfectly round.

-- patience is a virtue ... in woodworking, cooking, and life in general