Letter Box

very nice … beautiful work … I would use shellac to impart a amber appearance.. Maybe three coats and then follow with a couple coats of brown paste wax to fill and darken giving it an antique feel.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

A beautiful example of early 20th century fretwork! Your addition matches very nicely. Color matching with old pieces is always a challenge.

I agree with Dan on the shellac. An amber or garnet would give a dark, rich color, and hand-rubbing would allow better control over color with fewer runs over the edges of the open areas than brushing would allow.

Your book was actually published in 1895. Not surprisingly, many excellent books on different aspects of manual woodworking date from this period. Paul N. Hasluck in particular wrote several excellent works on manual crafts. If you’re interested in learning more in this area, his books are a very good place to start. As I get older, I find myself tending more and more towards hand tool techniques, rather than power tools. <chuckle> Maybe I’m just getting more patient.

By the way, see if your book mentions a “bird’s mouth”. This simple fixture will make it MUCH easier to saw with better control. These turn-of-the-century craftsmen did this kind of work for a living, and had generally figured out the best techniques as a matter of necessity.

-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle

A terrific job on the fretwork. You’re very ambitious, not too many people do this by hand anymore.

I also like the way the pieces join together.

Thegravedigger mentioned birds mouth, so I looked it up. It is in this book.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

What and intriguing design!
Sharad, you did a spledid job of restoring this piece.
I especially like the way the parts link into each other requiring a great level of skill.

I look forward to more of your projects.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Sharad, beautifully done. You’ve done an excellent job repairing a piece of family history, and in doing so have added your own story to the piece. Very nicely done.

-- If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? - John Wooden

TheGravedigger, thank you for giving the date of publication. My guess was correct. I did make a V-table for doing the fret cutting. I did not know it is also called birds mouth.
Dick, & Barb Cain, Bob and Devin, I felt so encouraged by your remarks thank u so much.
Sharad

-- patanjali

Nicely done, Sharad!! You’re a braver man than me, using a fret saw! That’s why I got a scroll saw in the first place, because I couldn’t do this very well… :)
A wonderful story regarding your family history, too! Thank you for sharing it!

-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.

Wow! When I first saw this I thought “cool” another scroll saw project. Then I find out you did it with a Fret saw and it is even more impressive. You did a fantastic job of matching the original design. Thanks for the story also.

-- Paul, North Dakota, USAF Ret.

Sharad, Very impressive! You did a great job on such a unique family piece. Can’t wait to see what you have coming.

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

very nice work Yours and your uncles

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I have no words to express my gratitude towards all of you for your positive comments on this project. I wish all of you should try using hand tools once in a while to sharpen your sense of judgement, test your patience and improve your skills.
I am leaving for Myanmar tomorrow for a week. I will try to post one more piece of fretwork before I leave.
Sharad

-- patanjali

What a wonderful family heirloom!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

At first glance I assumed this was done on a scroll saw, but after reading the description I was amazed to learn that you actually did this by hand with your old fret saw! Wow…It’s amazing to me that you can saw such delicate details and not have chip outs or break pieces off by mistake. I know I most definately would!! Great job!

-- Life isn't about waiting for the woodchips to pass...it's about learning to dance in the sawdust : )

Hi Sharad;

A fine job. I’m glad you took the time to repair this.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

The indian nation are like many old nations very extremely clever and well gifted artistically you are an extension of proving that Sharad well done beautiful work Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease