My sister is getting married next month. For their gift I've built
this chest. I must explain before looking at the pictures that they
had their first date at this gazebo, and her fiance is an astronomy
buff and they have a thing with the moon.
http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
Warning for those on dialup, the total size of the images is about 700
kb.
The dovetails on the corners were the first time I attempted anything
larger than a drawer, cuts on the bandsaw and chopped out the waste.
They aint perfect, but I'm surprised at how well they came out. It
was also the first time I chop out mortises by hand, and after all
those I now understand why people buy dedicated mortisers. The bay
for the gazebo was an assembly nightmare.
Because I'm limited in the number of longer clamps I have, one cabinet
set of K besseys and then everything else is 12" or less, I took what
I guess is a fairly unconventional approach to assembly. I put
together the corners first, which let me load them up with short
clamps to get the dovetails tight. Then I assembled the front and
back, and then put them together with the side panels.
I won't say I couldn't have done it without the wreck, but it wouldn't
look like it does. It wouldn't have dovetails. It would probably
have poly on it instead of shellac and wax. Whether it googling the
group for info on veneering or asking questions, or just knowing if I
really got myself into a jam I could come here and find a solution, or
at least a sympathy "Doh!"
And finally, when the budget was toast and I really wanted a piece of
birds-eye for the moon I made a plea on the wreck. Not only did I get
it, he also turned it for me, and sent two of them, and only asked for
postage in return. He contacted me privately so I will leave him
anonymous. Because I had two to work with I was able to experiment
with carving larger craters into it which was never part of the plan,
and I'm thrilled with the results. So, thank you again.
-Leuf
UPDATE: Well I thought it was finished...
Yesterday my sister was over and she happens to mention that they have
concerts at the gazebo that's right near them. Someone says, "Oh,
that's *the* gazebo, right?" As she is walking out of the room she
says, "No, we met at the one in <next town over>" and didn't see the
look on everyone's faces.
'Measure twice, cut once' and make sure you're measuring the right
building... How many giant gazebos out in the middle of nowhere can
there be... Apparently, two.
So, I have three and a half days to make the *right* gazebo.
Fortunately this one is a little simpler. Fortunately I didn't glue
glue the other one in. And fortunately I didn't find this out three
and a half days from now.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the shop...
-Leuf
Leuf wrote:
> My sister is getting married next month. For their gift I've built
> this chest. I must explain before looking at the pictures that they
> had their first date at this gazebo, and her fiance is an astronomy
> buff and they have a thing with the moon.
>
> http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
>
> Warning for those on dialup, the total size of the images is about 700
> kb.
>
> The dovetails on the corners were the first time I attempted anything
> larger than a drawer, cuts on the bandsaw and chopped out the waste.
> They aint perfect, but I'm surprised at how well they came out. It
> was also the first time I chop out mortises by hand, and after all
> those I now understand why people buy dedicated mortisers. The bay
> for the gazebo was an assembly nightmare.
>
> Because I'm limited in the number of longer clamps I have, one cabinet
> set of K besseys and then everything else is 12" or less, I took what
> I guess is a fairly unconventional approach to assembly. I put
> together the corners first, which let me load them up with short
> clamps to get the dovetails tight. Then I assembled the front and
> back, and then put them together with the side panels.
>
> I won't say I couldn't have done it without the wreck, but it wouldn't
> look like it does. It wouldn't have dovetails. It would probably
> have poly on it instead of shellac and wax. Whether it googling the
> group for info on veneering or asking questions, or just knowing if I
> really got myself into a jam I could come here and find a solution, or
> at least a sympathy "Doh!"
>
> And finally, when the budget was toast and I really wanted a piece of
> birds-eye for the moon I made a plea on the wreck. Not only did I get
> it, he also turned it for me, and sent two of them, and only asked for
> postage in return. He contacted me privately so I will leave him
> anonymous. Because I had two to work with I was able to experiment
> with carving larger craters into it which was never part of the plan,
> and I'm thrilled with the results. So, thank you again.
>
>
> -Leuf
That is a master piece. Really unusual and different and very nice.
A pat on the back and great big well done.
I'm sure it will stand out in you sisters and BIL's live as one of the
most significant gifts they will receive.
Regards
John
Doing a piece for someone you know well can lead to some
wonderful pieces - with an occassional nightmare along
the way. What a great, very personal, gift - to both of
them (the bride is usually the one who scores on the
wedding gifts). From the ideas to the execution, all
just so.
Take a bow, smile sheepishly and mumble "Aw shucks..."
A hundred years from now - on whatever is the equivalent
of the Antique Road Show - a great, great, great grand niece
will tell the tale of two ancestors falling in love in a
gazebo, moon struck, and how the woman's brother
made the piece as a wedding gift. The two lovers, both
fascinated by the moon, AND one being an astronomer,
will make quite a provinance. An early 21st century,
very personalized wedding chest, done by a very creative
and talented amateur (amateur meaning one who does
what he does for the love of it, and spends the time and
effort to make very special pieces). An heirloom that's
been in the family for a hundred years, and likely to
remain a treasure for generations to come. The dollar
value the appraiser gives the stunned woman won't
even come close to the value she places on the chest.
You did put the right sized craters in the correct
locations right?
Nicely done!
This one goes in The Keeper Folder. Thanks!
charlie b
alexy <[email protected]> wrote:
>>The dovetails on the corners were the first time I attempted anything
>>larger than a drawer, cuts on the bandsaw and chopped out the waste.
>>They aint perfect, but I'm surprised at how well they came out.
>They look to be very nicely executed -- light enough that vertical
^^^^^^^^^^^^
>cuts pretty much disappear in the grain!
Whoops! Make that "tight enough".
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
Leuf <[email protected]> wrote:
>My sister is getting married next month. For their gift I've built
>this chest. I must explain before looking at the pictures that they
>had their first date at this gazebo, and her fiance is an astronomy
>buff and they have a thing with the moon.
>
>http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
I echo the comments of others here: Nice looking work, and very
special for the recipients. While we often do projects where we spend
$400 on wood to make something we could buy for $300, something with a
special meaning like this must have been a rewarding project.
>The dovetails on the corners were the first time I attempted anything
>larger than a drawer, cuts on the bandsaw and chopped out the waste.
>They aint perfect, but I'm surprised at how well they came out.
They look to be very nicely executed -- light enough that vertical
cuts pretty much disappear in the grain!
I'm curious about your choice to use dovetails there. This is the
first time I have seen dovetails used in a long-grain-to-long-grain
joint like that. I almost always see them where end grain meets end
grain at 90 degrees, such as drawer sides to front, box ends to front
and back, etc. These are so nearly invisible (in the photos, at least)
that I assume you are not using them as a visual design element. I
would think they would be weaker than a miter joint, which would have
40% more long-grain-to- long-grain glue surface. I guess if the glue
ever gives out, this would have some mechanical linkage.
Anyway, beautiful work. I bet you will see it in their home 25 years
from now!
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
"Leuf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My sister is getting married next month. For their gift I've built
> this chest. I must explain before looking at the pictures that they
> had their first date at this gazebo, and her fiance is an astronomy
> buff and they have a thing with the moon.
>
> http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
>
> Warning for those on dialup, the total size of the images is about 700
> kb.
VERY nice work. Of course the gazebo has special meaning to them, but you
did a great job on making the miniature.
"Leuf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My sister is getting married next month. For their gift I've built
> this chest. I must explain before looking at the pictures that they
> had their first date at this gazebo, and her fiance is an astronomy
> buff and they have a thing with the moon.
>
> http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
>
> Warning for those on dialup, the total size of the images is about 700
> kb.
>
> The dovetails on the corners were the first time I attempted anything
> larger than a drawer, cuts on the bandsaw and chopped out the waste.
> They aint perfect, but I'm surprised at how well they came out. It
> was also the first time I chop out mortises by hand, and after all
> those I now understand why people buy dedicated mortisers. The bay
> for the gazebo was an assembly nightmare.
>
> Because I'm limited in the number of longer clamps I have, one cabinet
> set of K besseys and then everything else is 12" or less, I took what
> I guess is a fairly unconventional approach to assembly. I put
> together the corners first, which let me load them up with short
> clamps to get the dovetails tight. Then I assembled the front and
> back, and then put them together with the side panels.
>
> I won't say I couldn't have done it without the wreck, but it wouldn't
> look like it does. It wouldn't have dovetails. It would probably
> have poly on it instead of shellac and wax. Whether it googling the
> group for info on veneering or asking questions, or just knowing if I
> really got myself into a jam I could come here and find a solution, or
> at least a sympathy "Doh!"
>
> And finally, when the budget was toast and I really wanted a piece of
> birds-eye for the moon I made a plea on the wreck. Not only did I get
> it, he also turned it for me, and sent two of them, and only asked for
> postage in return. He contacted me privately so I will leave him
> anonymous. Because I had two to work with I was able to experiment
> with carving larger craters into it which was never part of the plan,
> and I'm thrilled with the results. So, thank you again.
>
>
First Class Work Leuf!!
I am sure that the bride and groom will be thrilled. Nobody else is going
to give such a present. Both unique and personalized. It doesn't get better
than that! As the giver or the recipient.
Leuf (in [email protected]) said:
| UPDATE: Well I thought it was finished...
<snip>
| If anyone needs me, I'll be in the shop...
Groan.
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html
Lobby Dosser (in XoiCe.5734$ph1.819@trnddc06) said:
| Leuf <[email protected]> wrote:
|
|| My sister is getting married next month. For their gift I've built
|| this chest. I must explain before looking at the pictures that
|| they had their first date at this gazebo, and her fiance is an
|| astronomy buff and they have a thing with the moon.
||
|| http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
|
| AWESOME!!!
My exact response!
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html
Leuf <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Aw shucks, guys... :)
>
>
> On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 11:38:21 -0700, charlie b <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>You did put the right sized craters in the correct
>>locations right?
>
> I did my best. I'm sure he'll tell me if I didn't get it right;)
> Well, maybe he'll bite his tongue on the first day...
>
>
> -Leuf
>
As well he ought! This is a great gift. Nice work!
Patriarch
Leuf <[email protected]> wrote:
> My sister is getting married next month. For their gift I've built
> this chest. I must explain before looking at the pictures that they
> had their first date at this gazebo, and her fiance is an astronomy
> buff and they have a thing with the moon.
>
> http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
>
>
AWESOME!!!
On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 11:43:18 -0400, "Lee Michaels"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>The plus side is that you now have one expertly constructed surplus
>miniature gazebo. I am sure that another great project/drama is in your
>future!
You know I've always sensed in them a deep longing to start a
miniature gazebo collection...
>I have seen/experienced things like this before. It is real funny when it
>happens to someone else. Not so much fun when it happens to you.
Well we'd gone hiking on wed, it was after that I found out. I was
just too exhausted to do anything but laugh at the time. Every time I
head down to the shop if Dad happens to pass by we have a chuckle. I
mean, one gazebo is an octagon, and one is a hexagon. How can you not
laugh at not even getting the right basic shape?
>How do you come up with your gazebo plans?
I actually got started woodworking with doing scale models. Dad got a
train set and I started making buildings. I don't do it too often
anymore, but it's something that comes fairly easy by now. The main
thing for me is I don't try to do an exact scale model. There are
limits to what I can reasonably cut, 1/16th thickness for example. So
I just take stock of what I can do, and what it's supposed to look
like and find compromises that work.
A picture that's square on and from far enough away to mostly
eliminate perspective distortion is a big help. I'll load up the
picture in an image editor and write down dimensions in terms of
pixels. Then it's just a matter of picking one dimension and then
scaling all the rest based on the pixel dimensions, rounding off to
convenient numbers.
Two days down, one and a half to go. The base, posts and railings are
done except for railings on the stairs. Stain is drying on it now.
Tomorrow it's on to the roof.
*yawn*
-Leuf
On Sat, 16 Jul 2005 21:14:34 -0400, Leuf <[email protected]>
wrote:
>http://woodworking.dnsalias.com/chest.html
That's a beauty, Leuf. Glad you found your bird's eye!
"Leuf" lamented
> UPDATE: Well I thought it was finished...
>
> Yesterday my sister was over and she happens to mention that they have
> concerts at the gazebo that's right near them. Someone says, "Oh,
> that's *the* gazebo, right?" As she is walking out of the room she
> says, "No, we met at the one in <next town over>" and didn't see the
> look on everyone's faces.
>
> 'Measure twice, cut once' and make sure you're measuring the right
> building... How many giant gazebos out in the middle of nowhere can
> there be... Apparently, two.
>
> So, I have three and a half days to make the *right* gazebo.
> Fortunately this one is a little simpler. Fortunately I didn't glue
> glue the other one in. And fortunately I didn't find this out three
> and a half days from now.
>
> If anyone needs me, I'll be in the shop...
>
>
LOL! That is hilarious! Women are a master at obscuring little details
needed for design and construction. DAMHIKT
The plus side is that you now have one expertly constructed surplus
miniature gazebo. I am sure that another great project/drama is in your
future!
I have seen/experienced things like this before. It is real funny when it
happens to someone else. Not so much fun when it happens to you.
How do you come up with your gazebo plans?
Aw shucks, guys... :)
On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 11:38:21 -0700, charlie b <[email protected]>
wrote:
>You did put the right sized craters in the correct
>locations right?
I did my best. I'm sure he'll tell me if I didn't get it right;)
Well, maybe he'll bite his tongue on the first day...
-Leuf
On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:04:14 -0400, alexy <[email protected]> wrote:
>I echo the comments of others here: Nice looking work, and very
>special for the recipients. While we often do projects where we spend
>$400 on wood to make something we could buy for $300, something with a
>special meaning like this must have been a rewarding project.
Plus personalizing for them makes it easier to give it away, rather
than say screw it, I'm keeping it and giving them a gift certificate
;) Either that or I'll have to start arranging dates at gazebos...
>I'm curious about your choice to use dovetails there. This is the
>first time I have seen dovetails used in a long-grain-to-long-grain
>joint like that. I almost always see them where end grain meets end
>grain at 90 degrees, such as drawer sides to front, box ends to front
>and back, etc. These are so nearly invisible (in the photos, at least)
>that I assume you are not using them as a visual design element. I
>would think they would be weaker than a miter joint, which would have
>40% more long-grain-to- long-grain glue surface. I guess if the glue
>ever gives out, this would have some mechanical linkage.
There isn't the dramatic difference in end grain vs face grain. I
used QS for the corner pieces, so there is a noticeable difference in
the grain. It's a more subtle textural difference than a light/dark
which is more apparent in person than the photos. The corner on the
left side that you have the closest view of in the 2nd photo just
happened to end up with the grain in the two pieces almost perfectly
matching so it really blends there, the other corners its more
apparent.
-Leuf