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40K views 138 replies 41 participants last post by  shipwright 
#1 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
 

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#2 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Very cool project…
 

Attachments

#3 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Way cool indeed!

The first thought that came to me is that would be a great graduation gift for a high school or college soccer (or futebol for our overseas brethren!) player!
 

Attachments

#4 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
You are way smarter then I am to figure this out!! This is a great project…

Thanks for sharing!
 

Attachments

#5 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Fascinating!. I admire your precision. An elegant solution. I can't wait to see the, veneered, finished article.

I agree about the discord with the organic shape of cabinetree. Sometimes this 'works' though. In this case the organic Maple leaf form ameliorates this. I find a lot in common with your design process and my own. I love to ramble and this seems to spawn many different projects.

Incidentally the open clam shell looks like it would make an excellent display platform for another project, housed internally.

Veneering is going to be tricky on the inside of the dodecahedron or do you plan another one, pre-veneered (at least on the internal sides)?

ps Could you not combine the pentagon and angle cut into one, with the blade set at 31 3/4° before you start?

pps Sorry to disappoint Dave but the football (Soccer type) is based on a truncated icosahedron
 

Attachments

#6 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Fascinating brain you have there Paul.
This is great to follow along.

Like Martyn, I was wondering about the inside veneer. Is this thing just taped together at this point, so that you can disassemble and veneer all? If you are starting over, maybe put in an internal wooden patch to strengthen hinge attachment before veneering (?).

Love it,
Steve
 

Attachments

#7 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Wild! Here's an idea for a variation on the theme. Leave off the bottom face and extend the adjacent faces to a point, making it look like a diamond shape. Add a suitable base/holder and there you go.
 

Attachments

#8 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
this is sure a simple project
to pass the time

while the glue dries lol

looking good paul
 

Attachments

#9 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.



Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.



At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.



Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.



One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.



And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.



Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.



As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Sheer genius! You see these things in your sleep too, don't you. Can't wait to see it finished!
 

Attachments

#10 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Shipwright has officially left the planet. Paul quite amazing you've got real drive & imagination can't think where you go from here
Best
Trevor
 

Attachments

#11 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Thanks everyone. I apologize, I answered yesterday but apparently didn't click "post".

Martyn, Steve has it right. It's just taped together. I use a lot of packing tape and masking tape for preliminary setups and for glue-ups around my shop. It will be veneered both sides before it gets glue. And yes, the two operations could have been done at once, but I was feeling my way along at that point.

Steve, The hinge is butt glued to the MDF here but there is about 3/4" on each side that is thinned down to MDF thickness and will be veneered over on both sides like a sandwich. It will be very strong.

Big Tiny…. Thanks, good idea….. Just what I need right now …... more ideas. (lol)
 

Attachments

#12 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Yes, masking tape. I need shares in it.
 

Attachments

#13 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
That is really cool. Great looking Blog.
 

Attachments

#14 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! That is gonna be COOL.

I like how you think.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
very cool!!!
 

Attachments

#16 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Great project and great blog Paul. I love the way you did the hinge too. It came our very well. I was late in seeing this and so I'm just trying to catch up now.
 

Attachments

#17 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
AMAZING! Still shaking my head….WOW!
 

Attachments

#18 ·
How hard can it be to make a Dodecahedron?

The next box in the series Oops!, A Llittle Cabinetree, and now Facets is on the build. It had to be started because I've been obsessing too much on the finish of Cabinetree and in order to amuse myself between coats I had been so bored I had started making micro plywood and then micro boxes and banding. It had to stop.
So the other day I started to think about what the next logical step would be keeping the theme and some of the aspects of the others but going a very different direction at the same time. It was obvious. The one thing that stands out as the same in the other two is a "square" box so let's start with something else. So….. how hard can it be to make a dodecahedron?

It turns out it's really easy. After all it is just a dozen identical pentagons and precision tools are all about making identical parts. This is the simple jig I set up to experiment with. Turns out it did the whole job without needing any adjustments. I don't like to count on angles on miter gauges and the like. I prefer to draw the object, pentagon here, full size using simple geometry. and set my saw to fit this large scale angle. To me it seems to leave less margin for error. So, here the miter gauge is set up to run pentagons. Just cut, rotate and cut until they're done.

Wood Flooring Floor Composite material Hardwood


Now that I know that the jig cuts perfect pentagons, I can go ahead and bevel the edges so they fit together. Here I had to trust the tilt scale and as the math told me I should try 31 3/4 degrees, that's where I set the saw and it turned out to make perfect fits. I guess the old Unisaw is OK. Rather than move something that was working I just added a small shim to make the beveled cut a little smaller than the original pentagons.

Wood Automotive exterior Flooring Plywood Rectangle


At this point out came the packing tape to check that everything was close enough to bother going on. If at this point the fits aren't just about perfect the whole thing will eventually go sideways for sure.
Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Sculpture


I decided that a hinge-up top would be fairly dramatic on this box so that meant some of the edges would have to have solid strips added to hide the MDF when it was open. To do that I just increased the size of the shim and cut two sides off square and shorter than the rest. The tricky thing here is that after you cut the first one you must rotate the just cut edge away counter-clockwise to make the next cut. Don't ask me how I figured that out. This is because you are making two sides different from the rest.

Brown Handwriting Rectangle Beige Wood


Just as it was necessary to rotate counter-clockwise when cutting sides different, it is also necessary to rotate clockwise when cutting to make all sides the same. Sounds strange, I know, but think about it. It does make sense after a while.
Netbook Gadget Floor Rectangle Wood


Once I knew that I could make a dodecahedron it was time to figure out what to do with it. This is the plan I sketched up. I like it. I always thought that the square box was "harsh" in the organic flowing lines of the tree in Cabinetree. I'm not sure whether I like or dislike the discord that the contrast introduces. At any rate this is a chance to play the opposing side and have both options covered. This shape will suit the tree more sympathetically and the tree can play more of a visual role than just the "supporting role" that it played in Cabinetree. Sorry about the rambling on but this is how my "design process" works.

Automotive design Gesture Creative arts Art Drawing


One aspect that I did want to carry over from Cabinetree was the dyed marquetry. I'm not finished with that idea yet and when I looked at the surfaces available here it was immediately obvious that they were made for a big maple leaf. Here a blown up photo of a big leaf maple leaf is fitted to a masking paper mock-up of the surfaces.

Brown Plant Leaf Wheel Textile


And in this photo it is wrapped onto the form. I think this will look really nice if I can pull it off.

Wood Umbrella Tints and shades Twig Art


Open wide and say AHHH. When I saw the way it opens I wanted to change the name to "Tridacna" (giant clam) and substitute branching coral for the tree but the leaf looks too good so maybe that one will be the next box. The hinge is a slight modification on a piece of prototype left lying around after Cabinetree was built. It will be much more strongly attached when it gets veneer on both sides.

Wood Creative arts Automotive design Art Motor vehicle


As for Cabinetree, I should be taking it to the photographer on Monday or Tuesday. I'll post it as soon as I have photos. Thanks for your patience.

That's it for now I'll update this as I move along but as this is a "real time " blog it may not be every day.

Comments, critiques and questions make the world go around so don't be shy.

Thanks for tuning in.

Paul
Can you make me one without the hinge? I would like the edges too be 4 inches. Use wood that is 3/8" thick. Would you charge me?
 

Attachments

#19 ·
Planning the Base

This entry is, as much as anything, a look into my somewhat chaotic design process. I never commit a design to paper other than a concept sketch as I prefer to design as I go based on the feel I'm getting from the piece. The idea here was to mount this "box" on a tree similar to "Cabinetree", so the first challenge became finding the angles of the faces where the mounting points will go and planning a structure that will offer those angles and surfaces to fit this shape.

In boat building you are almost never dealing with straight lines or known angles but rather with curves and constantly changing angles. This background is probably why I don't plan and diagram my parts ahead but rather take angles from the work and then scribe and fit "piece to piece" if that makes any sense to you. Here I am taking "planning angles" from the dodecahedron to help me design the base parts.

Wood Triangle Watch Flooring Art


This is a sketch that I will use to determine rough angles and plan grain orientations on order to make up three support members. The base angles are not equal.

Handwriting Wood Gesture Font Pattern


I found a 1 1/2" Garry Oak board on my pile beside the shop that looked like a candidate. It's not easy to see in this photo but some of the pieces are laid out on it in order to maximize yield while still getting all the grain orientations right.

Wood Output device Flooring Floor Office equipment


The pieces have been cut and are now ready to glue. These fits should be glue-able right off the band saw. The grain orientations are arranged for maximum strength and stepped scarf joints are used.

Wood Office ruler Bumper Wood stain Automotive exterior


Here the pieces are glued up and sanded flat. There is extra wood left on two of the pieces to allow for "character" to be carved in allowing the individual branches to be different. The angle cuts have been made to fit the three pieces together in the center of the trunk.

Wood Automotive design Automotive exterior Rectangle Bumper


Preliminary assembly done and the pieces held together with a few hidden dowels and a small cinch, the box is being scribed and fitted slowly down to it's final position. Care must be taken to assure that the box is perfectly level when the angles are scribed.

Automotive design Wood Floor Flooring Engineering


"A funny thing happened" when I got the box fitted into the base. It started to look like a gem mounted in a ring setting. The tree idea started to fade and a more "elegant" base began to look like a better option. At this point I have made the three pieces a lot more alike and symmetrical but I'm still not sure what the base will look like. It could still become a tree, but I'm leaning toward something more formal at the moment. I think I'll sleep on it.

Wood Automotive design Interior design Art Houseplant


That's it for this time, I hope this wasn't too boring. Next time should involve more interesting stuff.

Thanks for dropping in

Comments, critiques, questions and today only base design suggestions are welcome.

That last line just made me think "Why don't I start a project and build it step by step following your directions rather than mine, you know like the camel, designed by committee?"
I'd be interested to know who's up for that.

Paul
 

Attachments

#20 ·
Planning the Base

This entry is, as much as anything, a look into my somewhat chaotic design process. I never commit a design to paper other than a concept sketch as I prefer to design as I go based on the feel I'm getting from the piece. The idea here was to mount this "box" on a tree similar to "Cabinetree", so the first challenge became finding the angles of the faces where the mounting points will go and planning a structure that will offer those angles and surfaces to fit this shape.

In boat building you are almost never dealing with straight lines or known angles but rather with curves and constantly changing angles. This background is probably why I don't plan and diagram my parts ahead but rather take angles from the work and then scribe and fit "piece to piece" if that makes any sense to you. Here I am taking "planning angles" from the dodecahedron to help me design the base parts.

Wood Triangle Watch Flooring Art


This is a sketch that I will use to determine rough angles and plan grain orientations on order to make up three support members. The base angles are not equal.

Handwriting Wood Gesture Font Pattern


I found a 1 1/2" Garry Oak board on my pile beside the shop that looked like a candidate. It's not easy to see in this photo but some of the pieces are laid out on it in order to maximize yield while still getting all the grain orientations right.

Wood Output device Flooring Floor Office equipment


The pieces have been cut and are now ready to glue. These fits should be glue-able right off the band saw. The grain orientations are arranged for maximum strength and stepped scarf joints are used.

Wood Office ruler Bumper Wood stain Automotive exterior


Here the pieces are glued up and sanded flat. There is extra wood left on two of the pieces to allow for "character" to be carved in allowing the individual branches to be different. The angle cuts have been made to fit the three pieces together in the center of the trunk.

Wood Automotive design Automotive exterior Rectangle Bumper


Preliminary assembly done and the pieces held together with a few hidden dowels and a small cinch, the box is being scribed and fitted slowly down to it's final position. Care must be taken to assure that the box is perfectly level when the angles are scribed.

Automotive design Wood Floor Flooring Engineering


"A funny thing happened" when I got the box fitted into the base. It started to look like a gem mounted in a ring setting. The tree idea started to fade and a more "elegant" base began to look like a better option. At this point I have made the three pieces a lot more alike and symmetrical but I'm still not sure what the base will look like. It could still become a tree, but I'm leaning toward something more formal at the moment. I think I'll sleep on it.

Wood Automotive design Interior design Art Houseplant


That's it for this time, I hope this wasn't too boring. Next time should involve more interesting stuff.

Thanks for dropping in

Comments, critiques, questions and today only base design suggestions are welcome.

That last line just made me think "Why don't I start a project and build it step by step following your directions rather than mine, you know like the camel, designed by committee?"
I'd be interested to know who's up for that.

Paul
Paul, I like your evolution in design very much and can appreciate the scarf jointery of the base components. You're right about boat buiders thinking a little different than flatwork folk. Good luck on the design by committee project. Don't claim to be anywhere near as clever as you, but if there's one thing I have is an opinion or an idea. Press on.
 

Attachments

#33 ·
Veneering and Marquetry, (What was I thinking?)

OK, so we have a box and we have a base. The easy bit is over. On to the scary as hell bit. As I started to contemplate the possible pitfalls in these next steps I really started to wonder if I could carry it off at all without glaring errors that I would be unable to live with. As of this writing that feeling has abated only a little. Oh well if it wasn't a challenge it wouldn't be worth the time, would it.

Before Starting on the outside the inside veveering has to be done so, matching grain as well as the material allowed, I glued up the spalted maple interior. This is the back panel and as you can see the veneer here covers a good part of the hinge, adding considerably to it's strength.

Wood Rectangle Fixture Hardwood Composite material


Gluing up the twelve pentagons uses up almost half of my larger bag.

Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring Gas


Here, the top half veneers are laid out in their final arrangement. The background will be bubinga veneer with a little dye to bring out it's full glory. The center pentagon will need very little bubinga so it has had the appropriate pieces added to a "sacrificial" piece.
Brown Wood Art Flooring Hardwood


I made a check here to be sure things were still laying out well and then cut the pieces of the photo into their respective sections for cutting of the individual pieces.
Brown Wood Art Creative arts Flooring


This is the leaf marquetry, all glued up. Any miscuts on this piece from here on in will be quite a problem to fix.
Brown Wood Flooring Floor Tile flooring


This photo shows the central concept of double bevel marquetry. The inlay piece, here the bubinga, is double sided taped on top of the field piece, here the maple, and the cut is made at an angle that will allow the top cutout to fit perfectly into the space cut in the bottom layer.
Wood Flooring Gas Tints and shades Rectangle


Now, with the center pentagon cut close to final size, the radial components are given a final check against the actual box parts to make sure that, when aligned with the now immovable center parts, they still fit on the backgrounds. This is where it starts to get scary.
Wood Art Creative arts Origami paper Flooring


The bubinga veneers are still oversize and the maple leaf is an amorphous thing so I'm thinking that I still have room for error. Not so much when you think about it. Once the inlay pieces are cut to index with the center piece You are pretty much tied into a zero tolerance for error situation through final assembly. This will include location of the veneers on the box pieces exactly, with no slip in glue-up. This is about where the "What was I thinking?" thing came up. It's a lot tricker than a box.

Brown Wood Textile Beige Sleeve


I decided that I was asking too much here so I thought that I would to try to install a small escape route. If something were to go off a little in glue up (and it probably will) I could save it if the leaf edges all crossed the pentagon margins at close to 90 degree angles. Then I could shrink all the pieces the same amount but take a little more off one side than the other to re-align them…..maybe. Not much room for error but it may be enough. Here I'm indexing a side panel to the center before tracing the outline (with the above alterations).

Wood Finger Beige Flooring Nail


One hurdle behind me now. The pieces are all cut and they align nicely (now). I'm really thanking my lucky stars for having dropped the idea of running the tip of one or two leaves over a side or the bottom of it's panel and onto the next.
Brown Leaf Wood Flooring Tile flooring


All sanded up and ready for dying. The fits are acceptable but I have the hugest respect for the great scrollers on this site. Make no mistake, this only looks good because the maple leaf is not a rigid shape that must be accurately replicated. I find sharp turns to be particularly challenging.
Wood Flooring Table Floor Art


Next up will be a segment on the dying of the leaf. I'm trying to expand on what I did in "Cabinetree" and develop some solutions (no pun intended) to some of the "dye as watercolor" challenges. The leaf will be all one color, green this time, but I am trying to use subtle shadings to make it more realistic than the "fall leaves" on the other box.

Thanks for checking in.

I'm still having fun and I hope it's still interesting some of you and I still hope that it's encouraging some of you to help develop this dying technique. I've only scratched the surface here.
Help!!

Thanks again, please comment, question, suggest or whatever.

Paul
 

Attachments

#34 ·
Veneering and Marquetry, (What was I thinking?)

OK, so we have a box and we have a base. The easy bit is over. On to the scary as hell bit. As I started to contemplate the possible pitfalls in these next steps I really started to wonder if I could carry it off at all without glaring errors that I would be unable to live with. As of this writing that feeling has abated only a little. Oh well if it wasn't a challenge it wouldn't be worth the time, would it.

Before Starting on the outside the inside veveering has to be done so, matching grain as well as the material allowed, I glued up the spalted maple interior. This is the back panel and as you can see the veneer here covers a good part of the hinge, adding considerably to it's strength.

Wood Rectangle Fixture Hardwood Composite material


Gluing up the twelve pentagons uses up almost half of my larger bag.

Wood Rectangle Floor Flooring Gas


Here, the top half veneers are laid out in their final arrangement. The background will be bubinga veneer with a little dye to bring out it's full glory. The center pentagon will need very little bubinga so it has had the appropriate pieces added to a "sacrificial" piece.
Brown Wood Art Flooring Hardwood


I made a check here to be sure things were still laying out well and then cut the pieces of the photo into their respective sections for cutting of the individual pieces.
Brown Wood Art Creative arts Flooring


This is the leaf marquetry, all glued up. Any miscuts on this piece from here on in will be quite a problem to fix.
Brown Wood Flooring Floor Tile flooring


This photo shows the central concept of double bevel marquetry. The inlay piece, here the bubinga, is double sided taped on top of the field piece, here the maple, and the cut is made at an angle that will allow the top cutout to fit perfectly into the space cut in the bottom layer.
Wood Flooring Gas Tints and shades Rectangle


Now, with the center pentagon cut close to final size, the radial components are given a final check against the actual box parts to make sure that, when aligned with the now immovable center parts, they still fit on the backgrounds. This is where it starts to get scary.
Wood Art Creative arts Origami paper Flooring


The bubinga veneers are still oversize and the maple leaf is an amorphous thing so I'm thinking that I still have room for error. Not so much when you think about it. Once the inlay pieces are cut to index with the center piece You are pretty much tied into a zero tolerance for error situation through final assembly. This will include location of the veneers on the box pieces exactly, with no slip in glue-up. This is about where the "What was I thinking?" thing came up. It's a lot tricker than a box.

Brown Wood Textile Beige Sleeve


I decided that I was asking too much here so I thought that I would to try to install a small escape route. If something were to go off a little in glue up (and it probably will) I could save it if the leaf edges all crossed the pentagon margins at close to 90 degree angles. Then I could shrink all the pieces the same amount but take a little more off one side than the other to re-align them…..maybe. Not much room for error but it may be enough. Here I'm indexing a side panel to the center before tracing the outline (with the above alterations).

Wood Finger Beige Flooring Nail


One hurdle behind me now. The pieces are all cut and they align nicely (now). I'm really thanking my lucky stars for having dropped the idea of running the tip of one or two leaves over a side or the bottom of it's panel and onto the next.
Brown Leaf Wood Flooring Tile flooring


All sanded up and ready for dying. The fits are acceptable but I have the hugest respect for the great scrollers on this site. Make no mistake, this only looks good because the maple leaf is not a rigid shape that must be accurately replicated. I find sharp turns to be particularly challenging.
Wood Flooring Table Floor Art


Next up will be a segment on the dying of the leaf. I'm trying to expand on what I did in "Cabinetree" and develop some solutions (no pun intended) to some of the "dye as watercolor" challenges. The leaf will be all one color, green this time, but I am trying to use subtle shadings to make it more realistic than the "fall leaves" on the other box.

Thanks for checking in.

I'm still having fun and I hope it's still interesting some of you and I still hope that it's encouraging some of you to help develop this dying technique. I've only scratched the surface here.
Help!!

Thanks again, please comment, question, suggest or whatever.

Paul
That is great … can't wait to see the finished item although I am enjoying the journey as well..
 

Attachments

#53 ·
Dying, Part 1: I don't believe what just happened!

This is a "special segment" that I just had to post because I had an amazing emotional roller coaster day in the shop today. After spending my life in woodworking I had something happen in front of my eyes today that I'm still not sure I believe. My task for the day was to have been dying the leaf segments and top pentagon parts and getting the center segment glued up so that tomorrow I could accurately align the other segments to it and get them glued up also.
Things were progressing along nicely and I had the leaf looking really good with subtly changing tones and little details like veins and such appearing very "natural". I won't get into showing you that just yet because that's all gone now and will have to be redone later.

Soooooo, here's the story, When I "watercolor" dye these things it is necessary to get them quite wet. That's been OK in the past (one project with smaller pieces) because when dried with a hairdryer, they returned to size and shape nicely. These pieces were bigger and maybe got wetter and certainly got dried dryer because when I went to fit the leaf segments into the pentagon pieces, where they had been perfect fits, I found them to be not only about 1/8" too small but way out of shape due to the multi-directional grain orientations. I was almost physically sick.They appeared to be miles beyond repair in any way I could think of. Since at this point there was nothing to lose I decided to spray them down with water on both sides (hence the necessity to re-do the dye details) and see what happened.

This is what happened. They rolled up in little balls and came apart at several joints.



When I got the moisture balanced out so that they were sort of flat, unbelievably (to me anyway) they were over 1/4" too big!


Still nothing to lose and an opportunity to learn something at hand, I thought I would see if I could finese them back down to size with the hairdryer. This photo was taken one minute after the last one. About 1/2 of that time was hairdryer time.



Encouraged by this I repeated the process, again about 30 seconds of heat. What had been over a quarter inch two minutes ago was only a sixteenth now!



I was on a roll and went for another half minute with the following results. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I flat out would not believe it. There will certainly be a lot more sleeping going on around here than there would have been if I had left it where I told myself I should, sprayed down. (But I just can't seem to leave things alone)


The Bottom line is that no matter how long you've been around there will always be something new you can learn about wood that will amaze you.

Thanks for coming along on the ride. Next time I hope I will be able to give you the dying segment I meant to be doing today.

Paul
 

Attachments

#54 ·
Dying, Part 1: I don't believe what just happened!

This is a "special segment" that I just had to post because I had an amazing emotional roller coaster day in the shop today. After spending my life in woodworking I had something happen in front of my eyes today that I'm still not sure I believe. My task for the day was to have been dying the leaf segments and top pentagon parts and getting the center segment glued up so that tomorrow I could accurately align the other segments to it and get them glued up also.
Things were progressing along nicely and I had the leaf looking really good with subtly changing tones and little details like veins and such appearing very "natural". I won't get into showing you that just yet because that's all gone now and will have to be redone later.

Soooooo, here's the story, When I "watercolor" dye these things it is necessary to get them quite wet. That's been OK in the past (one project with smaller pieces) because when dried with a hairdryer, they returned to size and shape nicely. These pieces were bigger and maybe got wetter and certainly got dried dryer because when I went to fit the leaf segments into the pentagon pieces, where they had been perfect fits, I found them to be not only about 1/8" too small but way out of shape due to the multi-directional grain orientations. I was almost physically sick.They appeared to be miles beyond repair in any way I could think of. Since at this point there was nothing to lose I decided to spray them down with water on both sides (hence the necessity to re-do the dye details) and see what happened.

This is what happened. They rolled up in little balls and came apart at several joints.

Table Wood Creative arts Desk Flooring


When I got the moisture balanced out so that they were sort of flat, unbelievably (to me anyway) they were over 1/4" too big!
Wood Art Tree Construction paper Circle


Still nothing to lose and an opportunity to learn something at hand, I thought I would see if I could finese them back down to size with the hairdryer. This photo was taken one minute after the last one. About 1/2 of that time was hairdryer time.

Textile Wood Tree Gesture Art


Encouraged by this I repeated the process, again about 30 seconds of heat. What had been over a quarter inch two minutes ago was only a sixteenth now!

Plant Leaf Wood Tree Paint


I was on a roll and went for another half minute with the following results. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I flat out would not believe it. There will certainly be a lot more sleeping going on around here than there would have been if I had left it where I told myself I should, sprayed down. (But I just can't seem to leave things alone)
Plant Leaf Wood Tree Tints and shades


The Bottom line is that no matter how long you've been around there will always be something new you can learn about wood that will amaze you.

Thanks for coming along on the ride. Next time I hope I will be able to give you the dying segment I meant to be doing today.

Paul
That ended up being a great save on the leaves. Ingenuity (or however it is spelled) and experimentation have saved the day many times. Looking really good so far.
 

Attachments

#68 ·
Alignment and Trimming the Marquetry

The dying has been postponed.. As of the events discussed in my last entry, the gluing bacame the priority and the dying will have to be done afterwards, maybe even after assembly. The colors seen here are not necessarily representative of the final look as the green has been "washed out" somewhat and in the case of the center, it has been sanded. This can all be fixed later (I hope).

The most critical job left to be done is the alignment and trimming of the veneers, specifically the top ones with the marquetry carried from one face over to another. This will be tricky but I have a plan. The first thing that must be done is to glue up the veneer set on the center piece. It must be absolutely centered on the substrate piece and aligned with the sides. Here it has been assembled in glue, taped to prevent movement, and is ready to press.

Rectangle Art Creative arts Paint Aqua


It was necessary to glue up the center first because it couldn't be locked in perfect position with the other segments attached. Now, however with the center solid, the others can be assembled around it and taped in perfect alignment with packing tape. The "rosewood" color I'm looking for here is more like what you see on the center piece above than in the side pieces. they were just starting to be colored when the priorities changed.

Wood Creative arts Petal Art Flooring


With the veneer segments aligned and taped, the whole assembly is turned over and with the structural sides carefully positioned, it can be glued up. This is a critical point. I pulled this whole platen full of pieces out of the bag once to realign one piece and crawled in there with it once to align another one.

Triangle Wood Rectangle Font Art


To make a long story short, It worked. Nothing moved and I was ready to go on to the next scary step, trimming the delicate veneer edges. In a previous blog entry there was some discussion about the best way to do this and I had said that I wanted to use my old ShopSmith 10ER. My feeling was that a sanding approach presented less risk of damaging the fragile veneer edge than any kind of blade or bit. The old 1950 10ER is perfectly suited to perform that sanding operation. Here's the setup I used.
Office equipment Automotive design Office supplies Machine Desktop computer


With the table set at 31 3/4 degrees, I set a quick and dirty jig against the fence to hold the pentagons. Then the sanding disc could be advanced into the veneer edge under control by advancing the quill of the SS.
Gas Machine Titanium Metal Automotive exterior


The jig was made wtih a square edge to fit on the pieces in mid bevel so that protruding veneers wouldn't interfere with the alignment.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Table Flooring


Here's the setup all ready to advance the disc into the piece. My hand is on the quill advance lever. When actually performing the operation, my other hand would be firmly on the piece.

Automotive tire Bumper Automotive design Vehicle Fender


And here it is at the finished position. The ShopSmith has a positive stop that can be set to limit the quill travel so as the piece is rotated and sanded, all the edges come out exactly the same. The stop mechanism is the two knurled nuts that can be seen in both of these photos on the opposite side of the headstock from the lever.This is a bottom piece, without marquetry.
Wood Gas Machine tool Drill Engineering


This is how the bottom fits came out. The tape is not perfect, the fits are better than they look here.
Wood Rectangle Material property Stool Hardwood


This is how the top alignment came out. There are some minor misalignments but overall I'm very pleased to get this far without bigger problems than these.
Plant Art Tree Creative arts Paint


Last photo for today. This is the tape-up of the piece as of this point. I'm very happy with it (except for colors) and very relieved to have made it this far. I have to say there is a certain pressure to these real time blogs. It's easier if it's all done and dusted before you make it public.
Wood Art Flooring Creative arts Glass


That's all for now folks. Thanks for checking in and please feel free to forward any kind of feedback you like.

Maybe we'll get back to the dying next time. Who knows?

Paul
 

Attachments

#69 ·
Alignment and Trimming the Marquetry

The dying has been postponed.. As of the events discussed in my last entry, the gluing bacame the priority and the dying will have to be done afterwards, maybe even after assembly. The colors seen here are not necessarily representative of the final look as the green has been "washed out" somewhat and in the case of the center, it has been sanded. This can all be fixed later (I hope).

The most critical job left to be done is the alignment and trimming of the veneers, specifically the top ones with the marquetry carried from one face over to another. This will be tricky but I have a plan. The first thing that must be done is to glue up the veneer set on the center piece. It must be absolutely centered on the substrate piece and aligned with the sides. Here it has been assembled in glue, taped to prevent movement, and is ready to press.

Rectangle Art Creative arts Paint Aqua


It was necessary to glue up the center first because it couldn't be locked in perfect position with the other segments attached. Now, however with the center solid, the others can be assembled around it and taped in perfect alignment with packing tape. The "rosewood" color I'm looking for here is more like what you see on the center piece above than in the side pieces. they were just starting to be colored when the priorities changed.

Wood Creative arts Petal Art Flooring


With the veneer segments aligned and taped, the whole assembly is turned over and with the structural sides carefully positioned, it can be glued up. This is a critical point. I pulled this whole platen full of pieces out of the bag once to realign one piece and crawled in there with it once to align another one.

Triangle Wood Rectangle Font Art


To make a long story short, It worked. Nothing moved and I was ready to go on to the next scary step, trimming the delicate veneer edges. In a previous blog entry there was some discussion about the best way to do this and I had said that I wanted to use my old ShopSmith 10ER. My feeling was that a sanding approach presented less risk of damaging the fragile veneer edge than any kind of blade or bit. The old 1950 10ER is perfectly suited to perform that sanding operation. Here's the setup I used.
Office equipment Automotive design Office supplies Machine Desktop computer


With the table set at 31 3/4 degrees, I set a quick and dirty jig against the fence to hold the pentagons. Then the sanding disc could be advanced into the veneer edge under control by advancing the quill of the SS.
Gas Machine Titanium Metal Automotive exterior


The jig was made wtih a square edge to fit on the pieces in mid bevel so that protruding veneers wouldn't interfere with the alignment.
Wood Rectangle Wood stain Table Flooring


Here's the setup all ready to advance the disc into the piece. My hand is on the quill advance lever. When actually performing the operation, my other hand would be firmly on the piece.

Automotive tire Bumper Automotive design Vehicle Fender


And here it is at the finished position. The ShopSmith has a positive stop that can be set to limit the quill travel so as the piece is rotated and sanded, all the edges come out exactly the same. The stop mechanism is the two knurled nuts that can be seen in both of these photos on the opposite side of the headstock from the lever.This is a bottom piece, without marquetry.
Wood Gas Machine tool Drill Engineering


This is how the bottom fits came out. The tape is not perfect, the fits are better than they look here.
Wood Rectangle Material property Stool Hardwood


This is how the top alignment came out. There are some minor misalignments but overall I'm very pleased to get this far without bigger problems than these.
Plant Art Tree Creative arts Paint


Last photo for today. This is the tape-up of the piece as of this point. I'm very happy with it (except for colors) and very relieved to have made it this far. I have to say there is a certain pressure to these real time blogs. It's easier if it's all done and dusted before you make it public.
Wood Art Flooring Creative arts Glass


That's all for now folks. Thanks for checking in and please feel free to forward any kind of feedback you like.

Maybe we'll get back to the dying next time. Who knows?

Paul
That is so cool. I want a ShopSmith.

When you (re)dye the leaves, won't they react a bit to water again? It will be interesting to watch for sure. This is so new to me.

Fantastic as usual, Paul.
Thanks for letting us watch.
Steve
 

Attachments

#86 ·
Dying the Veneer...... (Again??)

God hates a coward, I've always said so with only a little experimentation , I decided to dive in and try out a few techniques to dye the assembled glue-up. The worst that could happen, I figured, would be that I'd screw up badly and I could still sand it out…... maybe. Or I suppose it could turn into a potato chip and never return to shape. The latter calamity I have new reason to believe is controllable with the hairdryer, so let's get to it.

I got a late Christmas present right off the bat. It turns out that the urea-formaldehyde glue lines will stop dye from bleeding to the adjacent piece. When I had tried to dye assembled marquetry before, the dye had readily bled across CA and PVA glue lines. It may also be that this time the marquetry was only taped together when vacuum bagged to the substrate. That may have allowed a better glue line than the old method of gluing up the marquetry first. Anyway have a look at this photo. I'm intensifying the "rosewood" simulation and the glue line is holding perfectly, as long as my hand is steady enough not to cross it.
Sleeve Wood T-shirt Paint Table tennis racket


I was having so much fun with this today that I didn't take many pictures. Just two actually. There isn't much to show anyway. It's just sort of watercolor painting except with aniline dyes and bits of wood, not that I'm any kind of watercolorist or anything but it was relatively simple and trouble free. If there's interest I will do a set of the techniques I'm developing to do this at another time (when I figure out what these techniques are). The other big problem I was worried about was wood expansion from the dye making serious warps in the pieces. I used a lot less water and a lot more isopropyl alcohol this time and dried after each application and it was never an issue. Here's the finished set. I may darken the center piece in a few places where it seems different from the side piece it abuts, but I may not . It looks quite natural when the angle is formed….. like the top is light and the side shadow. I think I'll tape up and look at it one more tiome before I decide. Before you ask, the little caterpillar is inserted to cover a little "opportunity" I created at an earlier stage.
Leaf Plant Textile Art Creative arts


All in all not nearly as eventful as I thought it would be but interesting none the less. There's sure a lot to learn here.

Thanks for looking in. Comments, critiques, advice or whatever …. all welcome

Keep smilin'

Paul
 

Attachments

#87 ·
Dying the Veneer...... (Again??)

God hates a coward, I've always said so with only a little experimentation , I decided to dive in and try out a few techniques to dye the assembled glue-up. The worst that could happen, I figured, would be that I'd screw up badly and I could still sand it out…... maybe. Or I suppose it could turn into a potato chip and never return to shape. The latter calamity I have new reason to believe is controllable with the hairdryer, so let's get to it.

I got a late Christmas present right off the bat. It turns out that the urea-formaldehyde glue lines will stop dye from bleeding to the adjacent piece. When I had tried to dye assembled marquetry before, the dye had readily bled across CA and PVA glue lines. It may also be that this time the marquetry was only taped together when vacuum bagged to the substrate. That may have allowed a better glue line than the old method of gluing up the marquetry first. Anyway have a look at this photo. I'm intensifying the "rosewood" simulation and the glue line is holding perfectly, as long as my hand is steady enough not to cross it.
Sleeve Wood T-shirt Paint Table tennis racket


I was having so much fun with this today that I didn't take many pictures. Just two actually. There isn't much to show anyway. It's just sort of watercolor painting except with aniline dyes and bits of wood, not that I'm any kind of watercolorist or anything but it was relatively simple and trouble free. If there's interest I will do a set of the techniques I'm developing to do this at another time (when I figure out what these techniques are). The other big problem I was worried about was wood expansion from the dye making serious warps in the pieces. I used a lot less water and a lot more isopropyl alcohol this time and dried after each application and it was never an issue. Here's the finished set. I may darken the center piece in a few places where it seems different from the side piece it abuts, but I may not . It looks quite natural when the angle is formed….. like the top is light and the side shadow. I think I'll tape up and look at it one more tiome before I decide. Before you ask, the little caterpillar is inserted to cover a little "opportunity" I created at an earlier stage.
Leaf Plant Textile Art Creative arts


All in all not nearly as eventful as I thought it would be but interesting none the less. There's sure a lot to learn here.

Thanks for looking in. Comments, critiques, advice or whatever …. all welcome

Keep smilin'

Paul
Thanks, Paul.
My knees quit shaking for you.
The center pieces do seem lighter.
Great discovery tip about the urea-formaldehyde glue.
Aside: Was watching Marc S. (Wood Whisperer) do a leaf inlay where his only coloration was sand toasting. He found the same shrinkage you did. Great minds!
An unqualified YES to your offer of a tutorial!!
 

Attachments

#96 ·
Gluing Up the Dodecahedron

The original segment here asked "How hard can it be to make a dodecahedron? Well the answer seems to be pretty easy….. but there are lots of ways to make it harder. When I first assembled the MDF pieces off the saw I thought that the fitting part was going to be the easy bit and that the dying and marquetry would be the sticky parts. That remained my belief until the final assembly time arrived and I realized that with the allowable tolerances it was going to be an interesting fitting job after all. It turns out that all the little operations associated with veneering, trimming, wetting, drying, warping and unwarping had each taken a small toll on the initial accuracy. The sum of these little discrepancies was enough to require a certain amount of "fitting".

This is the setup I used to "fine tune" the fits. It wasn't the angles that were out as much as the dimensions. Nothing was out much but any small mismatch in length on adjacent pieces would show as a gap in one of the joints, so the fine tuning began. The sanding disc now stays put and the jig slides the piece across it. It allowed me to take off very small amounts and by applying more pressure to one or the other end, I could take a little more off one end if I wished.

"
Wood Table Flooring Hardwood Gas


This photo shows the two critical areas that had to match perfectly for length, the joints between the sides and the bottom and the joints between sides. Here they're getting pretty close to good.

Brown Wood Rectangle Flooring Beige


At last it's time to summon up some courage and glue up the bottom. The bottom was done first for the obvious reason, to practice before gluing up the top. The pieces have been assembled outside up, taped to exactly match at the corners, turned over and glue has been applied to the mating faces. The stick was a piece of scrap I had that approximated the open angle well enough to make a good glue spreader. In the background you can see the clamping system parts I came up with.

Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Wood stain


And here are the parts in the photo above in service clamping the sides of the bottom together. The pieces of cloroplast have vee notches cut in them that hook on the pentagons' tops to keep the wedges from slipping down under pressure. It worked really well.

Wood Creative arts Flooring Art Hardwood


The fact that all the angles are the same should guarantee a symetrical glue up but I didn't trust what could easily be uneven pressure exerted by the bungee cord so just to be sure, I made a fitted pentagon to check the inside. It actually did need a little persuasion but once it was right it stayed that way nicely. The corners of the pentagon were removed to avoid getting it stuck in there.

Wood Dishware Table Headgear Beige


When the sides were glued up I did a last fine tuning of the bottom and glued it in with masking tape. After a quick sand up to remove unwanted glue this was the resulting bottom all glued up. I must have gone through half a roll of packing tape assembling, disassembling, tuning and reassembling and then repeating. Between the top and the bottom I'll bet I pre-assembled these things twenty times or more before finally gluing them.

Wood Flooring Wood stain Hardwood Tableware


Here's the top glued up. For reasons that would take too long to explain I couldn't use the same tape up / glue up sequence with it and as a result the top was glued up with the sides all at once. This was of course the scary one because of the marquetry.

Wood Creative arts Art Natural material Event


With most of the panic over and the glue ups successful this is pretty much where it stands today. This part has taken a lot more time than I expected but I've learned lots of interesting things about the various processes involved.

Sleeve Art Creative arts Umbrella Wood


Thanks for dropping in. I hope you're still enjoying this as much as I am.
As always comments, critiques and questions will all be acceped and appreciated.

Thanks again

Paul
 

Attachments

#97 ·
Gluing Up the Dodecahedron

The original segment here asked "How hard can it be to make a dodecahedron? Well the answer seems to be pretty easy….. but there are lots of ways to make it harder. When I first assembled the MDF pieces off the saw I thought that the fitting part was going to be the easy bit and that the dying and marquetry would be the sticky parts. That remained my belief until the final assembly time arrived and I realized that with the allowable tolerances it was going to be an interesting fitting job after all. It turns out that all the little operations associated with veneering, trimming, wetting, drying, warping and unwarping had each taken a small toll on the initial accuracy. The sum of these little discrepancies was enough to require a certain amount of "fitting".

This is the setup I used to "fine tune" the fits. It wasn't the angles that were out as much as the dimensions. Nothing was out much but any small mismatch in length on adjacent pieces would show as a gap in one of the joints, so the fine tuning began. The sanding disc now stays put and the jig slides the piece across it. It allowed me to take off very small amounts and by applying more pressure to one or the other end, I could take a little more off one end if I wished.

"
Wood Table Flooring Hardwood Gas


This photo shows the two critical areas that had to match perfectly for length, the joints between the sides and the bottom and the joints between sides. Here they're getting pretty close to good.

Brown Wood Rectangle Flooring Beige


At last it's time to summon up some courage and glue up the bottom. The bottom was done first for the obvious reason, to practice before gluing up the top. The pieces have been assembled outside up, taped to exactly match at the corners, turned over and glue has been applied to the mating faces. The stick was a piece of scrap I had that approximated the open angle well enough to make a good glue spreader. In the background you can see the clamping system parts I came up with.

Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Wood stain


And here are the parts in the photo above in service clamping the sides of the bottom together. The pieces of cloroplast have vee notches cut in them that hook on the pentagons' tops to keep the wedges from slipping down under pressure. It worked really well.

Wood Creative arts Flooring Art Hardwood


The fact that all the angles are the same should guarantee a symetrical glue up but I didn't trust what could easily be uneven pressure exerted by the bungee cord so just to be sure, I made a fitted pentagon to check the inside. It actually did need a little persuasion but once it was right it stayed that way nicely. The corners of the pentagon were removed to avoid getting it stuck in there.

Wood Dishware Table Headgear Beige


When the sides were glued up I did a last fine tuning of the bottom and glued it in with masking tape. After a quick sand up to remove unwanted glue this was the resulting bottom all glued up. I must have gone through half a roll of packing tape assembling, disassembling, tuning and reassembling and then repeating. Between the top and the bottom I'll bet I pre-assembled these things twenty times or more before finally gluing them.

Wood Flooring Wood stain Hardwood Tableware


Here's the top glued up. For reasons that would take too long to explain I couldn't use the same tape up / glue up sequence with it and as a result the top was glued up with the sides all at once. This was of course the scary one because of the marquetry.

Wood Creative arts Art Natural material Event


With most of the panic over and the glue ups successful this is pretty much where it stands today. This part has taken a lot more time than I expected but I've learned lots of interesting things about the various processes involved.

Sleeve Art Creative arts Umbrella Wood


Thanks for dropping in. I hope you're still enjoying this as much as I am.
As always comments, critiques and questions will all be acceped and appreciated.

Thanks again

Paul
It looks like your seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
It must be a relief to get it glued up after the various challenges you've encountered.
Keep up the unbelievable work!
 

Attachments

#111 ·
Hinge Assembly and a Little Detail.

It's been a while but the project is moving along. I don't want to spill the near finished photos just yet because the project post should be along soon but here's an update on some recent fun in the shop.

Last entry I had just glued up the halves of the dodecahedron but was having a tad of a challenge getting all the faces to line up before gluing the hinge in place. Well, to make a very long story very short, I finally accomplished that and got to the next scary bit…. actually gluing the hinge. Here's the box assembled with double sided tape to keep it lined up and with thickened epoxy liberally applied to the mating surface of the hinge. I chose epoxy because clamping pressure was out of the question.

Wood Material property Wood stain Hardwood Rectangle


Here it is pushed into place with a bit of tape to hold it as the epoxy cures.

Wood Creative arts Art Tints and shades Craft


Both of my previous boxes had on-theme handles that were sort of afterthoughts when the time came that a handle was required so it seemed appropriate to do the same here. I thought a butterfly might make a
nice handle. I found this one in free clipart. In this shot I'm cutting out two wings at once.

Pollinator Wood Insect Kitchen utensil Art


After cutting out the wings I stacked them and sanded a bevel on the body-sides so that they would glue together in a vee. Here the initial dye (yellow R) has been applied.
Pollinator Insect Tableware Butterfly Arthropod


Then, using a finer brush and very little dye I added the black.

Pollinator Butterfly Table Arthropod Tableware


I turned the body on the lathe. It was interesting with full size tools but it came out just fine.

Pollinator Butterfly Insect Arthropod Moths and butterflies


Voila! the finished handle, ready to install. (after a few more coats of finish c/w sanding)

Pollinator Insect Butterfly Arthropod Moths and butterflies


Thanks for dropping in. Shouldn't be too long now. I may do one more entry when I do the gold leaf on the base, we'll see.

Comments, critiques, jokes, funny stories or whatever…. all welcome

'Til next time

Paul
 

Attachments

#112 ·
Hinge Assembly and a Little Detail.

It's been a while but the project is moving along. I don't want to spill the near finished photos just yet because the project post should be along soon but here's an update on some recent fun in the shop.

Last entry I had just glued up the halves of the dodecahedron but was having a tad of a challenge getting all the faces to line up before gluing the hinge in place. Well, to make a very long story very short, I finally accomplished that and got to the next scary bit…. actually gluing the hinge. Here's the box assembled with double sided tape to keep it lined up and with thickened epoxy liberally applied to the mating surface of the hinge. I chose epoxy because clamping pressure was out of the question.

Wood Material property Wood stain Hardwood Rectangle


Here it is pushed into place with a bit of tape to hold it as the epoxy cures.

Wood Creative arts Art Tints and shades Craft


Both of my previous boxes had on-theme handles that were sort of afterthoughts when the time came that a handle was required so it seemed appropriate to do the same here. I thought a butterfly might make a
nice handle. I found this one in free clipart. In this shot I'm cutting out two wings at once.

Pollinator Wood Insect Kitchen utensil Art


After cutting out the wings I stacked them and sanded a bevel on the body-sides so that they would glue together in a vee. Here the initial dye (yellow R) has been applied.
Pollinator Insect Tableware Butterfly Arthropod


Then, using a finer brush and very little dye I added the black.

Pollinator Butterfly Table Arthropod Tableware


I turned the body on the lathe. It was interesting with full size tools but it came out just fine.

Pollinator Butterfly Insect Arthropod Moths and butterflies


Voila! the finished handle, ready to install. (after a few more coats of finish c/w sanding)

Pollinator Insect Butterfly Arthropod Moths and butterflies


Thanks for dropping in. Shouldn't be too long now. I may do one more entry when I do the gold leaf on the base, we'll see.

Comments, critiques, jokes, funny stories or whatever…. all welcome

'Til next time

Paul
As we stand by with baited breathe….......
The butterfly will be a fabulous touch.
Nice, nice, nice…...
 

Attachments

#120 ·
Gold Leaf Accents

Back in the entry about planning the base I had decided, after some discussion, to finish the base in black dye accented with gold leaf. I have had this imitation gold leaf kit for about three years now having originally bought it to experiment with when I was carving the name board for my boat. At that time I had applied it to a sign on our gate and left it out in the weather as a test, but never got around to using it on my boat.

The areas planned for the gold accent were the fleurs de lis at the tops of the arms of the base and the bands on the feet. (They must be feet. They have toes.) This is one of the fleurs de lis. It has about four coats of water based poly on it at this point.

Hair Footwear Head Arm Helmet


The first step is to apply the adhesive carefully to the areas where the gold is to adhere. This may not be the most difficult part but it's important that it is done with care. Any leaf that adheres where you don't want it will be a pain to remove.

Wood Automotive tire Bicycle part Automotive exterior Bumper


If you pass an artist's brush over your hair a few times you will get enough static electricity to pick up the delicate leaf bits.

Wood Material property Hand tool Art Paper


Then you gingerly position the leaf over your piece to line it up with the intended landing spot and gently let it come into contact. Smooth it down with the brush as you spread it.

Hood Finger Nail Automotive design Wrist


Continue smoothing as you go along to securely attach the leaf to the piece.

Insect Safety glove Pest Beetle Metal


I'm a complete amateur at this and I don't expect to fool anyone but it does give an interesting appearance that can't be accomplished any other way that I know of. It's purpose here is simply to add some interest and contrast to the base, which after all is not the main attraction.

Natural material Electric blue Metal Fashion accessory Personal protective equipment


All in all I think it looks OK. (There are those toes I mentioned.)

Wood Hardwood Audio equipment Microphone stand Tints and shades


That's it for now. The project should get posted fairly soon and then I'll add some finished photos here.

Thanks to everyone who came along for the ride. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

Paul
 

Attachments

#121 ·
Gold Leaf Accents

Back in the entry about planning the base I had decided, after some discussion, to finish the base in black dye accented with gold leaf. I have had this imitation gold leaf kit for about three years now having originally bought it to experiment with when I was carving the name board for my boat. At that time I had applied it to a sign on our gate and left it out in the weather as a test, but never got around to using it on my boat.

The areas planned for the gold accent were the fleurs de lis at the tops of the arms of the base and the bands on the feet. (They must be feet. They have toes.) This is one of the fleurs de lis. It has about four coats of water based poly on it at this point.

Hair Footwear Head Arm Helmet


The first step is to apply the adhesive carefully to the areas where the gold is to adhere. This may not be the most difficult part but it's important that it is done with care. Any leaf that adheres where you don't want it will be a pain to remove.

Wood Automotive tire Bicycle part Automotive exterior Bumper


If you pass an artist's brush over your hair a few times you will get enough static electricity to pick up the delicate leaf bits.

Wood Material property Hand tool Art Paper


Then you gingerly position the leaf over your piece to line it up with the intended landing spot and gently let it come into contact. Smooth it down with the brush as you spread it.

Hood Finger Nail Automotive design Wrist


Continue smoothing as you go along to securely attach the leaf to the piece.

Insect Safety glove Pest Beetle Metal


I'm a complete amateur at this and I don't expect to fool anyone but it does give an interesting appearance that can't be accomplished any other way that I know of. It's purpose here is simply to add some interest and contrast to the base, which after all is not the main attraction.

Natural material Electric blue Metal Fashion accessory Personal protective equipment


All in all I think it looks OK. (There are those toes I mentioned.)

Wood Hardwood Audio equipment Microphone stand Tints and shades


That's it for now. The project should get posted fairly soon and then I'll add some finished photos here.

Thanks to everyone who came along for the ride. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

Paul
Really beautiful work Paul. I like the attention to detail in your work
Cheers
Trevor
 

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