| Project by James | posted 169 days ago | 424 views | 6 times favorited | 5 comments |  |
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Here is a poplar mosaic box I just finished making. The light color is sapwood, the dark colors are heartwoods from different boards.
This one is a first for me on a few things:
First, this time I paid attention to grain orientation when constructing the sides, trying to align the grains up around the corners. What a difference that made to the appearance of the poplar grain.
Second, this is a first time attempt at mosaic work for me. It was pretty tedious with all the little pieces but for a first try i think it turned out ok.
Third, I used splines in the corners this time and I really like them. They add a little touch of detail without much work. Thanks to you LJs for your jig hints and tips on this one.
Overall I am quite pleased, althought I dont know if I will do the mosaic thing again. Pretty time consuming. I haven’t put a finish on this one yet, was wondering what you guys think. Everytime I finish a softwood I get results that look blotchy and uneven. Perhaps no stain at all since there is so much color variation already?
Please feel free to post good/bad comments. I like to hear what others think as I learn!
-- James, Bluffton, IN
5 comments so far
CharlieM1958
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7615 posts in 1112 days
posted 169 days ago
Neat concept! I would definitely stick with a clear finish of some sort.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
RobH
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460 posts in 943 days
posted 169 days ago
Great looking box. You are 100% correct about lining up the grain and the keys in the corners. Now, is this a three or four corner grain match. I am not sure I can tell from looking at the pictures. If it is only a three corner, go for a four corner next time. I have done a few of them, and when people ask me how it is done, I tell them it is a closely guarded secret. Of course, it is not.
Thanks for sharing,
-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA
a1Jim
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16695 posts in 470 days
posted 169 days ago
super box well done
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Splinterman
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4826 posts in 255 days
posted 169 days ago
A lot of time, thought and effort with a very good result…..well done.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
James
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161 posts in 174 days
posted 169 days ago
thanks all
robh-
its about a 3.5 corner match, the 4th corner matches real close, and if your secret is to saw the board so that you get that 4th corner then i figured it out on my own. Or maybe i just got lucky with a straight enough heart/sap line to have it work?
-- James, Bluffton, IN