| Project by Gumnut | posted 316 days ago | 2023 views | 10 times favorited | 26 comments |  |
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As with my previous post (Pyramid Box), the same rules for the competition applied to this one as well.
Firstly, I made a mould from pine using an Arbortech Wood Carver to get the general shape, then I used a sanding disc on the angle grinder to smooth off the final shape of the mould.
I coated the mould with dental wax sheets, to prevent the finished Opera house sticking to the mould.
To get the wooden wedges to curve from top to bottom, I cut a kerf in the underside with a 0.2mm blade on a PROXXON saw. (Totalling 1,400 cuts) These were almost cut right through to the surface which allowed for easy bending! As it turned out the cuts made an impresion of tiles on the Opera House.
Each wedge piece was then pasted with two-part resin glue on the underside and wired into place on the mould in stages until full coverage was completed.
A thin jarrah strip was laminated onto the top ridge before sanding of the outside surface was carried out. I then placed the whole lot in the oven (without my wife knowing) to warm up the wax enough to then separate the Opera house from the wax-coated mould.
The inside of the shell was then cleaned and sanded to a point where I painted on an automotive acrylic primer filler, giving a smooth surface for the paint, being 3 coats of Midnight Blue Pearl Metallic automotive paint. 6 coats of acrylic gloss was then applied, with the aid of my wife’s hair dryer (again without her knowledge!) to heat up the paint and the shell surface for a very consistent gloss finish.
The outside of the shell was coated with 8 layers of acrylic gloss which was smoothed down with wet and dry between coats and finally polished with carnuba wax.
The base, the door, handle and the magnetic catch were made up of the left over 5mm planks and finished in satin estapol, then glued into place with the resin glue.
If you are going to try this, buy your wife a new hair dryer first!
It came first place in the competition!
I had intentions of giving it to Oprah (As Oprah’s Opera House), when she came to Australia but missed my opportunity!
It could be used for her remote control in her home theatre :)
The wood is Oak and Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata).
Hope you enjoy the pics.
-- Peter, member of the Fine Woodwork Association http://www.fwwa.org.au/index.htm
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26 comments so far
michelletwo
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1765 posts in 1183 days
#1 posted 316 days ago
clever construction..ssweet
-- We call the destruction of replaceable human made items vandalism, while the destruction of irreplaceable natural resources is called development.
Kookaburra
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744 posts in 392 days
#2 posted 316 days ago
A very impressive box. And the story of the making is greatly appreciated. Congrats on the win!
-- Kay - Just a girl who loves wood.
jaykaypur
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2496 posts in 576 days
#3 posted 316 days ago
W O W !
-- Use it up, Wear it out --------------- Make it do, Or do without!
aviad mishaeli
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85 posts in 576 days
#4 posted 316 days ago
this is a beutifull shape and very intresting , i love it
Arthouse
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178 posts in 818 days
#5 posted 316 days ago
Innovative construction and design. I love it . You could be a model maker for Architects. Have you thought about using foam for you glue forms? A little easier to form. I just love the design of the opera house. If I may take the liberty and add to your thinking and say Instead of cutting to bend core because I think the cut lines detract from the total piece get wood and sand it thru a drum sander then slowly bend the pieces using a steamer until they bend into shape to hold for the wire. Still incredible piece hope you win your competition .
-- "The hand is the cutting edge of the mind but the wind and sun are the healing factors of the heart
Spoontaneous
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1014 posts in 1497 days
#6 posted 316 days ago
Outstanding !!!
-- I just got done cutting three boards and all four of them were too short. (true story)
Roger
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9191 posts in 971 days
#7 posted 316 days ago
Wow! That’s amazing..
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
GrandpaLen
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952 posts in 440 days
#8 posted 316 days ago
Peter,
Congratulations on your First Place Honor with this one (and 2nd place with your Pyramid box).
Your Opera House box is about 10 miles north of Incredible. – Grandpa Len.
-- Mother Nature should be proud of what you've done with her tree. - Len ...just north of a stone's throw from the oHIo, river that is, in So. Indiana.
a1Jim
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87049 posts in 1745 days
#9 posted 316 days ago
Shee Zam that’s and amazing box and fantastic technique, you’ve got a winner there for sure. GREAT JOB!
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
itsmic
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1423 posts in 1286 days
#10 posted 316 days ago
Very Unique Box, Congratulations for the first place, Great job, thanks for sharing
-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing
Gumnut
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91 posts in 325 days
#11 posted 316 days ago
But wait there’s more to come!
Will post some newer boxes soon!
-- Peter, member of the Fine Woodwork Association http://www.fwwa.org.au/index.htm
WRAAdesign
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45 posts in 566 days
#12 posted 316 days ago
Impressive, thanks for sharing your process; it reinforces the appreciation of the project and the time invested.
-- http://www.facebook.com/pages/WRAAdesign/142679579165522
Greg The Cajun Box Sculptor
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3767 posts in 1476 days
#13 posted 316 days ago
Very excellent and unique. I can tell alot of work went into it.
-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com
SPalm
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4108 posts in 2049 days
#14 posted 316 days ago
That is just fantastic. I love it.
And thanks for the step by step. fun to see it develop.
Good job, and congrats.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
majuvla
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1581 posts in 1035 days
#15 posted 316 days ago
Congratulations,wonderfull job
-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted
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