Aromatic cedar can give a silky, deep hued result when carved and polished. This wee dragon is a useless desk top dust collector that I worked on this week. I encourage anyone to work with rotary tools instead of knives and chisels since this wood splits along its grain easier than any wood with which I've worked. After shaping I sanded to 800 grit, gave the carving three coats of shellac and a hand rubbed coat of bee's wax. It feels like amber to the touch. I'm thinking it is time to work with the little bit of cedar that I have left. I'm thinking I should make something that is meant to be handed and enjoyed, any ideas?
I carried on with the keepsake box last week too. It is padauk, maple and white oak. I had only a small piece of padauk and got just enough the sides for this box with a tiny bit left over. I have found it difficult to work with, it has tended to splinter, (maybe it is very dry). However, the colour is wonderful and it is easy to sand, planing resulted in tear out.
Since this is a fancy box for fancy stuff I tried a fancy corner. I set up a jig on my table saw mitre gauge to hold the box while I cut the corners off at 46 degrees. It was a little nerve racking since I was afraid it might splinter as I was cutting it.
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| ready for final sanding and shellac |
The lid is one piece maple, no mitred corners to make here. It was as quick to cut the opening with my coping saw as to drag out my scroll saw and set it up. As you can see below the cut out is to accommodate a stained glass insert, made by Eva.
I have the wooden pieces made and am working on the finish. I am planning to give the wood several coats of clear shellac. Between each coat I will give the wood a light sanding with 1000 grit. I expect the finish to be glass smooth. (two coats done, 5 or 6 to go).
After that hinges and a latch. I will have to look around to get something small, delicate and worthy.
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