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Art Box


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Going back to my days of custom box building and furniture building. I am making an Art box.

I got some leftover walnut for the sides, and a thin piece of quilted maple,for the top. I am still thinking what carving to put on the top.

The sides will be hand cut finger joints since I don't have the power tools to do the work for me. It's been a long time since I made such a box.

From the pictures, does anyone have any ideas as to what carving would go with the box. All the colors will be natural and waxed.

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any figured maple like quilted it always make think of water. here is a artist who makes alot of turnings and carvings using inlay. one of my favorites not only for his artwork but also for his generousity. he does alot of trainings and he supplies all his information free on his web site.

 

dont know if you have ever worked with quilted maple but it can be difficult grain wise. perhaps practice on scrap if you havent.

 

if you decide to do inlay let me know ill walk you through it, and i can also send you some stone of what i have alot of.

 

http://stephenhatcher.com/index.php?n=6a1 platter with water scean

 

http://stephenhatcher.com/index.php?n=7a10 water image with plants

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Yes, Stephen Hatcher does a beautiful job. We have been in shows together, and I have seen his turned and inlaid pieces.

 

That is a sidetracking of the topic though. Ed, are you thinking about something that will be attached to the top board, perhaps to function also as a handle or knob? You have done dragonflies in this past year? Maybe a dragonfly on a somewhat flat, arched reed that is attached to the "water" at either end with a dragonfly perched on part of it?

 

Janel

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That's right Janel I am planning a carving on top attached to the Maple. So far ideas are butterfly,moth, dragonfly or a fall leaf all dried and twisted. I have a couple of dried leaves that I have used for patterns for some necklaces. Looking at colors and grain of wood that I have ,,, looking for that right piece.

A couple of pics for where I am. The finger joints were laid out with pencil and then with the little knife, then I cut them close to the line with a pull cut saw, finished with knife and chisel,to fit.

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My mixture to glue the box. Some walnut sand dust, wood glue, and a little water. Mix a little water with the glue ,, thin just enough to brush on, ,, ad some walnut dust to the color you want,,, brush on all the joints,,, clamp let dry,, I leave it for the night,, to cure. The other pictures are of Walnut Burl sliced to get book matched wings. Now they are ready for carving and final shaping, they may make a nice brown Moth. Please any comments are welcome ,,, and any questions...

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I just had to go and carve the leaf. Cut some with the jeweler's saw and the finished with knives and small chisels. Still have some finishing to do on it.

I also sanded and put the first coat of finish on the Box. Used min wax , wood sheen ,natural,,, it highlights the grain on both the maple and the walnut. Will do a second coat and will apply it to the leaf.

Still thinking about the Walnut Burl Moth, will work on it later.

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Hi Ed,

 

You have chosen the woods well for the subjects. I am especially interested in how the moth will turn out with the book-matched pattern in the walnut wings. The leaf is a fresh and gestural carving of the leaf subject. Does red heart have another name? It is a beautiful red color.

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The finished Box. 2 hand rubbed coats of min wax Woodsheen. Later I will give a coat of wax. The leaf is attached with a bambo peg, through the top and into the bottom of the leaf, with wood glue. I make these small pegs out of chopsticks. Same finish on the leaf.

The moth did not finish as well , it had some greenish tint in some of the grain that showed up when I split it, but then it faded out with the sanding and finish, then just went to the brown,black ,,It will be used somewhere else.

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Dan it is a basswood block with leather glued ,,, to the side facing down,, the white is pro-gaff tape,, it has a cloth backing.. It is used mostly in the entertainment industry. The tape if removed does not leave glue residue. Comes in white and black. I put 3 or more layers and it is soft enough to let small carvings set into the backing. Helps hold in place and if your tool slips ,,, into the tape no harm done.

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