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awsum55
612 posts
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Carved River Box
This piece was a series of mistakes and poor decisions from the start. I had some spalted wood of unknown species, and also what I think is Peruvian walnut, white oak and padauk. I found myself having to solve problems I caused, at just about every step. First thing I did wrong was pick up a project I started years ago. I had 4 sides of a box taped together with grooves for the splines. I guess I felt if I glued it up first I was committed. I wanted to see if I could still finish this box several years later, so I cut a bottom and some splines and glued it all together. Now I had to make the top, which to my amazement was just about the only thing that went pretty much as I had hoped.
Once I started to sand with finer grits, I noticed a few little voids where the wood chipped, but it was minor, so I didn’t care to much. I didn’t like the way things were looking, it just seemed blah, so I decided to carve the box with my orbital sander/grinder and an 80 grit disk. Having never tried this before I just went at it, thinking the box might go in the trash anyway.
I was fairly happy with my progress until I messed up on the front corner of the box. I kept trying to fix it until I ground away too much of one of the splines and it looked odd. Now the box was no longer a rectangle and I couldn’t fix the spline on my tablesaw, so I used a hand saw and cut the groove by hand. Making the bottom of the groove flat was a real pain, but I accomplished it with a temporary chisel I made out of a nail.
Now I needed some more Padauk to replace the damaged spline. I just grabbed a small scrap, made another spline and glued it in. I was very happy with the results, it was hardly noticeable, I was pleased.
Before this was treated with BLO it had about the same color as Walnut.
Also as you can see above, prior to the BLO all the splines were less obvious.
After the oil finish the box kind of looked muddy, so I followed up with shellac. Inadvertently I picked a scrap of Padauk that was not from the same board as the other splines, or it was oriented differently. Once I applied the oil and shellac this spline looked like it had a light behind it. Oh well, just another screw up.
Because I glued the dividers into the tray, I couldn’t get the shellac on smoothly. I kept either leaving streaks or I was unable to get into the corners very well. This ended up looking bad, so I tried using 3M pads and wax to smooth everything out. That didn’t work for the same reason, gluing the dividers in was really dumb.
So I got some alcohol on a brush and rag and removed everything so I could start over. After that I had to sand again to make sure I got it all smooth. So now I tried Deft satin spray lacquer and that looked much better, but now I think it might be too shiney for my taste. I will probably go over the whole thing again with a 3M pad and wax to knock down some of the shine.
So I’m going to post this anyway because, even though I’m not sure what to do with it. My wife said she likes it, but I still might knock down the shine and put it in storage with the rest of my projects I don’t know what to do with.
If you’ve managed to read this far, I’m flattered. It's a bitch when you cause your own problems like I do.
.................. John D....................
21 Comments
I'll only give you a 3/4 thumbs up as if you'd kept your mouth shut I'd have known no different and the thumb would have been fully extended.
People should post their OOPSIES just like their treasures... so other's may learn and know they're not the only fallible person on this site.
..... So I got some alcohol ....
Nothing wrong with that... I do it often... even at the best of times.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I just love the end result AWESOME BOX!
Life’s Good, Enjoy Each New Day’s Blessings
simply beautiful love wood choices GR8 JOB 😍😎👍
*TONY ** Reinholds* ALWAYS REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN
I think it looks great, and it’s a very cool design. Besides, if it weren’t for oooopses, how would we learn anything?
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Awsum.. box. Great recovery, the top is fabulous and is the focus. Glad I have never made a mistake. Thanks for sharing
TimV, "The understanding eye sees the maker's fingerprints, they are evident in every detail, leave Fingerprints." James Krenov
I think you just explained why asymmetric art is so popular!
instead of trying to square up "biffs", just remove the scars and follow the flow.
Unique and certainly looks great!
instead of trying to square up "biffs", just remove the scars and follow the flow.
Unique and certainly looks great!
Awsum Box, really neat look. Had to look carefully through the pictures to get all the subtile adds.
daveg, SW Washington & AZ
Dutchy
Great box!
Thanks bud
LIttleBlackDuck
I'll only give you a 3/4 thumbs up as if you'd kept your mouth shut I'd have known no different and the thumb would have been fully extended.
People should post their OOPSIES just like their treasures... so other's may learn and know they're not the only fallible person on this site.
..... So I got some alcohol ....
Nothing wrong with that... I do it often... even at the best of times.
I agree Alex, and to be honest alcohol might have a little to do with it.
crowie
I just love the end result AWESOME BOX!
Thanks crowie
GR8HUNTER
simply beautiful love wood choices GR8 JOB 😍😎👍
You are too kind Tony
RyanGi
I think it looks great, and it’s a very cool design. Besides, if it weren’t for oooopses, how would we learn anything?
Thanks Ryan, I seem to be learning a lot lately.
Tim0001
Awsum.. box. Great recovery, the top is fabulous and is the focus. Glad I have never made a mistake. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Tim, I appreciate it.
SplinterGroup
I think you just explained why asymmetric art is so popular!
instead of trying to square up "biffs", just remove the scars and follow the flow.
Unique and certainly looks great!
Thanks Bruce, it seems that has become my new MO
.................. John D....................
a cool box to me for sure!
Petey
Like the design of the box and your execution of the finished product. Well done, the inside is also great.
Ron
Petey
a cool box to me for sure!
Thanks Petey
987Ron
Like the design of the box and your execution of the finished product. Well done, the inside is also great.
Thanks Ron, I appreciate it.
.................. John D....................
hell looks pretty cool to me. i agree about posting your mistakes, it can often teach us a better way to do something, and avoid making the same mistakes.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Thanks Larry, I've got a million of them. The problem I'm having is I don't remember the mistakes, so I just make them over and over again. Oh well getting old is better than dead.
.................. John D....................
This looks great! Even after reading your description I can't see any of the issues.
i hear ya john, my mistakes have mistakes !
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Beautiful, John!!!
Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day
Wait, we are supposed to remember our mistakes?
I see no mistakes. Looks fantastic.
I see no mistakes. Looks fantastic.
A great looking box, and a wonderful recovery on it. Thanks for sharing the mistakes as you call them, I don't see any. Hey, I repete mistakes on my projects, haven't learned yet.
Main Street to the Mountains
Amaizing
...woodicted
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