| Project by Blake | posted 1990 days ago | 3524 views | 6 times favorited | 30 comments |  |
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I have to admit, this project was inspired by Roger’s beautiful Hand Mirrors. But I had always wanted to make one and I thought it would be the perfect gift for my Tattoo Artist. Next week he will be expanding on a tattoo he gave me earlier this year. My tattoo will be a complete half-back (right side) when he is done. What you see in that third picture represents about ten hours of work. I am probably about about half way done.
He is an amazing artist, as you can see, specializing in traditional Japanese tattoo art. He doesn’t advertise, has a tiny sign which barely catches your eye from the street, and yet he is in so much demand that I was on a waiting list for more than a year before I could get an appointment. His shop is not like most tattoo parlors, it looks and feels more like an art gallery. Framed artwork by the artists lines the walls.
When he last worked on my tattoo I noticed that he had a very small, cheap, plastic hand mirror (along with a full floor to ceiling wall mirror). Not only was it difficult to see my back in the small hand mirror, but I thought he needed something with a little more character for his shop.
It is made from bird’s eye maple and purple heart laminated together. The maple has a subtle difference between the sapwood and heartwood. It was cut to shape on a band saw and scroll saw, as well as a lot of “whittling” with a knife and sanding on the edges. It is fairly large, about 16 1/2” long with an 8” round mirror. I spent a lot of time on the 6” belt sander shaping the profile. If you look at if from the side you would notice a gentle slope down to about 1/4” thick near the top and sides behind the mirror. This cut down considerably on weight and gave it a much better balance.
The edges/sides are airbrushed with red transparent paint. Finished with boiled linseed oil and three coats of General Finish oil & Polyurethane.
By the way, yes, it hurt.
-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us
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30 comments so far
RobS
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1331 posts in 2479 days
#1 posted 1990 days ago
Nice work and thoughtful, he will be impressed and appreciative I’m sure.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Chip
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1904 posts in 2265 days
#2 posted 1990 days ago
A piece like this ought to cut down on your waiting time for the next appointment. Great stuff as always Blake
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt!
Muzhik
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156 posts in 2311 days
#3 posted 1990 days ago
That’s a pretty cool-looking mirror, Blake. Nice ink, too. I can see why this guy has a year-long waiting list.
CharlieM1958
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14866 posts in 2391 days
#4 posted 1989 days ago
A gift befitting such a talented artist! Nice work, Blake.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Daren Nelson
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767 posts in 2078 days
#5 posted 1989 days ago
Nice work (by you and your tattoo guy). That is a very thoughtful gift. I am sure he will use it/display it with pride.
-- http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
mrtrim
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1696 posts in 2053 days
#6 posted 1989 days ago
wow ! very sweet. you definately go to the front of the line with this . great work blake
RobG
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71 posts in 1994 days
#7 posted 1989 days ago
Very nice!! Great job on the finish I would have never thought of mixing a little paint in like that.
-- Woodworking is Life. Anything before or after is just waiting.--S. McQueen sort of
Douglas Bordner
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3907 posts in 2236 days
#8 posted 1989 days ago
Quote: He is an amazing artist, as you can see
Guess what, Blake. You are too.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Dan'um Style
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10811 posts in 2155 days
#9 posted 1989 days ago
nice work Blake. Exotic mirror, both design and material,
-- keeping myself entertained
dennis mitchell
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3994 posts in 2487 days
#10 posted 1989 days ago
Looks Good! I’ve always liked Rogers designs.
Thos. Angle
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4400 posts in 2135 days
#11 posted 1989 days ago
A great piece of work, Blake. I really like it. I hope your wife likes the tattoo since she can see it and you can’t. LOL It’s very artistic as well.
-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon
miles125
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2177 posts in 2178 days
#12 posted 1989 days ago
The mirror was a wonderful idea Blake…Great job!
-- "The way to make a small fortune in woodworking- start with a large one"
Blake
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3421 posts in 2047 days
#13 posted 1989 days ago
Wow, thank you all for the nice comments. This was a fun one to make. Different than anything I had ever done before.
Thos.: my wife got one from the same artist at the same time I got mine (floral, color, on her foot/ankle/lower leg). She says she likes mine better but hers is just as well done.
I will post a picture of the finished product when he finishes it.
-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us
cajunpen
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11677 posts in 2238 days
#14 posted 1989 days ago
Beautiful mirror Blake – I think it is very artistic and great finish. As for the tattoo I got one in 1964, not nearly that big, and realized that it hurt. Have not had a desire to do that again :-)).
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2333 days
#15 posted 1989 days ago
yah, “ouch”.
the mirror is very beautiful .. and I can imagine a few tears of joy being choked back over receiving this!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
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