Help with wood project

[Rolex]

If it's 1/4 x 1/4, your cuts will be 1/8 deep. That way, you can cut ALL the pieces 1/8 deep and 1/4 in, then go back and cut the the end 1/8.
Just the fence and the crosscut guide is all you'll need.
It's too small for dowels, but you might want to use a brass brad.
Flathead to hide them in the rear, or button head to use them for trim and support from the front.

 

[RC Addict]

Wow, all this talk is way over my head. My ex's family are all woodworkers, but it is Greek to me.

Happy 5TH to you and the Mrs.!!!

 

[Rolex]

I just looked at your link again. I didn't realize there were actual photos of it mounted against the wall. NOW I understand it.
I see a problem here, though. Very pretty when it's lit up, but that would be the reason it's metal. Since it holds candles, there's gonna' be a problem with it being wood.

 

[Lessen]

Eh, it's just a tealight. I figure as long as I keep a decent distance above the tealights it shouldn't be a problem when they are lit. I certainly do have to keep that in mind though. Probably would be a good idea to do a little heat test above a tealight first though.

 

[Rolex]

You might want to plan it out so there are candle bases only in the tall rectangles.

 

[Lessen]

You might want to plan it out so there are candle bases only in the tall rectangles.

Exactly. That's what I meant.

 

[Lessen]

Picked up a few more pieces of poplar today just in case I run a little short. Also bought some 1/8" dowel rod and a Dremel drill press (which I've been wanting for a long time anyways) so I can get perfectly straight holes as well as a brand new 1/8" bit. Making a 1/8" hole in a 1/4" wide piece of wood I won't have much room to be off. I figure I'm gonna have to take a day off work this week so I can finish up.

 

[Amoeba]

Picked up a few more pieces of poplar today just in case I run a little short. Also bought some 1/8" dowel rod and a Dremel drill press (which I've been wanting for a long time anyways) so I can get perfectly straight holes as well as a brand new 1/8" bit. Making a 1/8" hole in a 1/4" wide piece of wood I won't have much room to be off. I figure I'm gonna have to take a day off work this week so I can finish up.

I'd love to see the finished product.

And I see you have mastered the ancient art of buying toys without getting flack: "But honey, I had to get the drill press so I could make you our anniversary gift! I could have just bought something pre-made but I put in my blood sweat & tears to handcraft this special gift just for you. Because you are special. You're worth way more than what I spent. I love you."

Works every time.

 

[Rolex]

Just what I like to see, Amoeba. A married man who hasn't had his brain anesthetized.

 

[Lessen]

I'd love to see the finished product.

And I see you have mastered the ancient art of buying toys without getting flack: "But honey, I had to get the drill press so I could make you our anniversary gift! I could have just bought something pre-made but I put in my blood sweat & tears to handcraft this special gift just for you. Because you are special. You're worth way more than what I spent. I love you."

Works every time.

LOL.. I'm sooo busted.

 

[Lessen]

So I was looking at the picture of the piece at CAB and realized how BIG that thing really is. Mine won't be that large... well, it might be, but the individual pieces will be significantly smaller. Some of those longer rectangles look to be almost two feet long. First of all, I didn't realize the pieces were that big. Secondly, with it being made out of very light wood I might have droop issues if I make the pieces too long. I suppose as long as I set it up and mount it properly it would be ok with larger pieces but I don't expect mine to look much like the original. I'll definitely take picture. I got a bunch of pieces cut today (went to work early and took my stuff). She works early early tomorrow so I'll have some time to make more pieces before I go to work tomorrow. Then I have Wednesday off which she doesn't know about and I'm just gonna take the kids to the babysitter as I normally would if I was working. That way I can really knock it out. God, I hope I can pull this off. I think she bought me a Summit. But all of a sudden I'm not nearly as excited about that. This thing is gonna be gorgeous if I can get it done in time.

*note* not sure if I'll even bother with the tealights or not. I think she'll like it just as well as an art piece alone (which I do as well). We'll see, that'll boil down to time.

 

[Amoeba]

God, I hope I can pull this off. I think she bought me a Summit. But all of a sudden I'm not nearly as excited about that. This thing is gonna be gorgeous if I can get it done in time.

This right here made my day. Not nearly as excited about a Summit as getting this votive holder done for the woman? 5 years and you're still head over heels for your wife. That's awesome.

 

[Lessen]

Step 1 Complete

All the individual pieces are cut. Step 2 is to smooth out all the ends. I'll just be using a DA with 220 for that. Woohoo!... one tool I actually already have

 

[Rolex]

Even if you don't add the candle bases now, just make sure you space it out from the wall. That's what made the pics so appealing as a sculpture, the fact that it cast shadows and didn't lay flat against flat.
Just as art, it's gonna' be beautiful.

By the way, you chose a very Poplar wood to work with.

 

[Lessen]

Even if you don't add the candle bases now, just make sure you space it out from the wall. That's what made the pics so appealing as a sculpture, the fact that it cast shadows and didn't lay flat against flat.
Just as art, it's gonna' be beautiful.

By the way, you chose a very Poplar wood to work with.

I just kinda bought what Lowes had.. oh wait, was that a joke?

I've already cut the pieces for the candle cradles so I'm gonna go for it. Besides, the way I want to mount them, I won't be able drill the holes in the structure after it's assembled. I also did a test of the joint with glue and it's pretty darn strong. I'm stoked, a lot of work tp do though.

 

[Lessen]

Took the day off today to work on this. Probably no change in hell I'm getting this done by the time she gets home from work Friday. It's gonna be nice, but it's probably gonna be late. I got 6 1/2 hours straight in it today.

 

[Rolex]

That's a lot of work. Is that just laid out, or is it glued up?
She's gonna' love you for 5 more years. Then you'll have to top that.

 

[NCNitro]

Looking good Josh!

 

[Lessen]

That's a lot of work. Is that just laid out, or is it glued up?

In that picture it's just laid out. I didn't think I'd be able to finish in time but I think I still have a shot. Even if I don't have it 100% finished when she get's home Friday it'll be VERY close such that she'll still "get it".

The last time I posted I only had a couple pieces glued up and it was getting close to time for me to get out of the house because I can't be exactly sure what time she get's home from work. (She doesn't know I took the day off). So I had to dissapear from about 6:30 - midnight. Being that I still had all the pieces to glue I didn't think I'd get it done in time but I took all the parts to the local park and glued 'em all up there. So now I'm ready for the next step and if I get the kids to the sitters early enough Friday I'll have another 5 or 6 hours to cram in the rest. I got about 9 hours of work into it today. I'd say I got about 12 hours in this project so far.

 

[Racer 1966]

Good and sneaky! Nice work so far :thumbup: :thumbup: