Heavy with fruit -- 2x4 contest entry

Alin, that is utterly stunning. Great work sir!

-- Maplewood, MN

Very cool. A 2×4 turned into a beautiful piece.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Thanks guys. I actually liked working with the pine. I do not think I wold have finished the box if I would have made it from a hard wood (sanding it is just off the charts since everything is crammed).

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Beautiful work of art and engineering, Alin. I don’t know how I could possibly pick one project to vote for in this contest!

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

Good job Alan!
That is just wonderful. I really like it.

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

You have my vote. Excellent design.

-- Zipsss

I really love this. I especially like how the “stems” wrap around the fruit/boxes and gently support them.
Simply stunning!!!
Bravo

(I’m with you Charlie.. I have no idea how I can choose a top 5)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

beautiful and beautifully created

-- Paul, Texas

Thanks guys,

You are too nice, as always.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Very unique and creative design. I really like this piece.

-- Patrick, Chicago, IL www.TenonAndSpline.com

Alin you have a vivid imagination to go along with your talent. When I first looked at the piece I didn’t dream that it was a box. Very clever and beautifully done.

I appreciate the effort that went into this piece. I wouldn’t have the patience to deal with something detailed.

Thanks for sharing.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

That came out pretty cool, Alin! This challenge has certainly brought out some pretty amazing pieces from a 2×4.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Very nice work, Alin.

I’m curious what wood movement you think would cause a problem with gluing the wings to the base. From what I see the grain in the wings is in the same orientation as the grain of the base, which would make gluing the two together perfectly acceptable.

-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com

That is really cool. I really like how graceful it is. What a great job…..

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

Thanks Patrick, sbryan55, tom, cheller and Max.

Cheller, when the wood expands, the distance between the two bases will increase. The grain goes along the base (thus no expansion) and the two branches will split in the middle if constrained by the glue. In any case, I think it is better to be safe than sorry. The screws make disassembly easy in case something needs to be fixed.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Alin your entry is magnificent. Every time I see an entry to the 2×4 contest I think, this is the winner. Your entry caused the same reaction. This is going to be a tough one to pick a winner – but then so is the current box contest. We sure have some talented craftsman here – wish I was one of them :-))

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Alin; How unique and inspired! Very commendable. Simply beautiful and amazing. I can only guess how much time it took to get it all smooth.

neat! great design and on the fly execution.

-- The opposite of war isn't peace. It's creation. -- Wood T's: http://www.printfection.com/snbcreative

Very unique! Fantastic project and execution.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Absolutely amazing Alin. Such imagination! What a wonderful experience this event is turning out to be.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

Great looking 2×4!

-- It's better to have people think you're stupid rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Thanks cajunpen, ratchet, scottb and Garyk.

ratchet, I must have sanded for at least 10-15 hours.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Stewart,

Your chair still blow me away. My decision to go with something “artistic” was mostly based on the fact that I’ll never get to match your chair with a non-artistic piece. Since I designed this piece only about 10 days ago, I had the luxury to see a lot of projects, including yours, already posted.

In any case, it looks like the outcome of the competition is reasonably unpredictable to make it fun to watch.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Alin,

Well done. This work is inspirational.

I’d like to see more of your inspired “artistic” bandsawn boxes, aren’t they fun to make!

Good Health
Tony Ward

-- Bandsaw Box Plans

I am just blown away by the talent here at LJ. Your art in the form of a bandsaw box is excellent. And from a 2×4 to boot.
I wonder what the guys here could do with just a broomstick, or something?

-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/

Tony,

This is the first box I designed (all the other boxes are Louis Keener Ventura’s designs). You encouraged me to come up with my own designs in a comment on my bandsaw box project.

Thanks for the comment and for the encouragement that lead to this project. It takes some guts to come up with your own design and the encouragement helped a lot.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

toyguy, I’m sure Martin is reading these comments and already planning to make the July contest a broom stick challenge.

Thanks for the comment,
Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Very nice job Alin. Looks like a winner to me. I agree, pine has some wonderful characteristics that are sometimes too easy to ignore. Good luck in the contest.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

That is what I call thinking out of the box no pun intended. Nice job how did you get all the curves? Not sanding I hope.

-- Just another day in paradise.

awsome alin ! very creative design . well done

-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes

sandhil, most of the material was removed using a bandsaw. I did have to do considerable sanding for the base since I do not have a draw knife.

mrtrim, thanks for the comment.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

That is way cool Alin.

I must also thank you for your dovetail video . . . It was a great help with Project X.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

zuki, I’m glad my video helped for your project. I made it in the hope that some will use it to get some ideas how to improve their skills. Thanks for the comment.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

this is art…wow…your work always blows me away…and you have done it again…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...SING WITH ME: Ugh...August has arrived...

Hi Alin…...........very cool entry. I love the name. I noticed “Tony the band saw box man” laid an at-a- boy on you, that says quite a bit.

Keep pushing your skill-set Alin…........you’ve got something, your best work is yet to come.

Neil

truely beautiful work. blue ribbon !!

-- ..... art for lifes sake

That’s beautiful, I believe this contest is going to be a close one

-- Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down http://woodworkingtipsfrompop.com

Thanks Napaman, Neil, Dan and Popintraining.

Neil, thanks for the encouragement but now I will not be able to post a normal project again (which reminds me that I still have to finish the drawer chest for my son’s room).

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Very nice and origninal.

-- Marge, Colorado

Alin: A very classy art form. Nicely done. Congratulations on finishing.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Thanks Marge and Karson.

Karson, one of the problems I have with pine it that almost anything yellow it. Putting a very thin finish alleviates the problem (one coat of shellac sanded down with 400 grit paper). Especially “artsy” pieces do not need a lot of protection.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Beautiful creation and great work!

-- Spread love with our work

Thanks herbr.

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

love the idea ,very creative.the best stuff is usually made under pressure.good job

-- eric post, tallahassee FL