| Project by Eric | posted 107 days ago | 134 views | 0 times favorited | 5 comments | ![]() |
Yesterday I decided that each year I’d make a cross on Good Friday. Not only would this result in something meaningful each year, but it would also give me a gauge as to my progress as a woodworker.
So this my first year, I thought I’d go as simple as you could get: a cross cut from a single block of wood. Sounds easy, but I still managed to take a few hours doing it. But still, I’ve never had a “weekend project” that didn’t take weeks (or months) to complete, so I felt quite a sense of accomplishment at having gone from rough lumber to finished product (except for 2 more coats of finish) in a day.
I got to try out some new skills doing this, like chamfering (which I’ve never done before). I did an initial chamfering with the chisel, but later found that sandpaper does a pretty good job too. I did have to tinker with my chamfers on several occasions when I accidentally went a bit far with chisel or sandpaper. I really like the way inside chamfers meet, but I’m not sure what the outside chamfers should look like when they intersect – mine are all over the place.
This is also my first time trying the BLO-varnish-mineral spirits mixture for finishing. It’s what I plan to use on my wife’s box, so this is a good test run. I’ve already applied one coat (which was dry enough for me to handle for these pics) and will add two more tomorrow (AM and PM). Being unsure how to handle the piece while it dries, I had it resting on four nails which were pushed through a piece of cardboard. Oh, and I’m not sure what kind of wood this is. I got it from what used to be part of a drawer. I’m guessing it’s meranti, since that wood is so plentiful here.
Not the greatest piece of workmanship, but a good place to start, I think. Happy Easter!
-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com
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5 comments so far
Dooley
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37 posts in 111 days
posted 107 days ago
Great start I think! , Can I submit next years design?
-- Dooley, North Palm Beach, Florida www.myspace.com/smokey4bandit20
Scott Bryan
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7771 posts in 211 days
posted 107 days ago
Hi Eric,
This is a nice piece. Sometimes we need to step back and do something relatively easy just to put a completed project on the table. Doing this does wonders for recharging our batteries during an involved project that seems to be taking forever to finish.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
rikkor
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6465 posts in 263 days
posted 107 days ago
Thanks for the post, and I might just borrow your idea to do this annually.
-- Maplewood, MN
teenagewoodworker
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1682 posts in 157 days
posted 107 days ago
thats a great idea. i’ve wanted to make something for my grandmother for easter and she’s very religious. i think i might try to make something along the lines of a cross like that. thanks for the post.
Eric
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494 posts in 172 days
posted 107 days ago
Dooley – go for it – though I can’t guarantee that I’d be able to build it! I think I’ll just take a look at my skill set at that time and figure out what to do. Possibilities for next year – half lap joints, inlay, carving?
Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com