Project 2 of 52

" The Peacock"

For my second project I wanted to show my love for two dissimilar pieces of wood that when united together can create an amazing artistic piece. I decided to use two solid pieces of 12 quarter turning stock. The Orange colored block is African Padouk and the light colored block is Myrtle or the California Laurel.

In deciding what to do with these two pieces of wood, I chose an infinity design with one glued joint to bring together the differences they had before.

From the beginning of starting this project I wanted to create a piece that could be in a kitchen. A talking point among friends. So it became a wine bottle holder.

I finished the piece with a boiled linseed oil to bring out the grain patterns and luster of the particular woods.

This project will be in the gallery showing at the end of the 52 weeks.



Project 1 of 52

So in honor of the many photographers out there that do the 365 project of a picture a day, I am embarking on my own little project 52. I will create a new piece of woodworking every week for a year. My projects will vary, some easier than others depending on how ambitious I think my week can be. I have a small list of projects to get me started, some will be gifts for people I know, others will be seen at a gallery showing when the year is done.

PROJECT 1

With creating my blog and actual work that pays, I decided to make a pen and pencil set on my lathe for project 1. Both the pen and pencil are made with Cocobolo wood from South America. The pen is accented with black chrome and the pencil is accented with 24k gold.

This particular wood is toxic in it's unfinished or airborne state to most people. Wearing a respirator is always a good idea, as well as all safety equipment. Safety is always number one in the shop.

As you can see the contrast of the two types of metals showcases the wood differently.

This project has been given as a gift.

Tips and Tricks (Measuring)

Yes, we all know the adage "Measure twice, cut once." The problem with this is how are we measuring. To explain this, take a tape measure for example. Sure, just because it says one thing, how does that make it true. I have found one thing while building custom cabinets. No two tape measures are the same. Best course of action, always use the same tape measure for a particular project you are working on. That way if you are at a job site and measure a wall for cabinets at 8 foot exactly, if you use the same tape measure while you are building them, you know that it will match the 8 foot you measured. When it comes to woodworking on the smaller scale, throw the tape measure out and go by two things: How it looks and how it feels. This way it is about fitting pieces together to make a whole.

Getting Started

To start into the great world of woodworking you only need one thing, the passion. Through the years being involved in the construction trade I have collected many tools and machinery that helps with working with wood. Some I could not live without and some are sometimes a little too novel. To begin this journey like many others it's not about the gadgets it's about the ingenuity. I implore you to take this adventure with me along my many years of building and creating. Let's Build!