30 Projects in 30 Days - Day 8

I know it's day 8 and I'm only posting project #s 5 & 6... I'll get caught up!

well there's not much more to say than these two cigar pens should have been done a long time ago, but I seem to recall a saying that I like:

Better late than never!

30 Projects in 30 Days - Project # 4

I finished my fourth project yesterday. I wanted to try something new, so I put a little extra work into coming up with this new wine bottle stopper. For the highlight area of this stopper, I used the open segmentation technique. This technique leave open spaces between the segments leaving the stopper hollow and see-through.

serial # 2009-017

Stopper Stats:

Total Pieces: 121

Primary Wood: Walnut

Secondary Wood: Red Leaf Maple

Cap: Sapele

Dimensions: 2-1/8" tall, 1" diameter

Finish: CA/BLO

here's a picture that shows a little more of the detail.

30 Projects in 30 Days - Day 2

Day 2 project 2 of the June 2009 30 projects in 30 days.

Continuing on my positive start for my 30-in-30 challenge, I’ve completed my 15th segmented wine bottle stopper. With this stopper I've used my Patchwork pattern combining four species of wood; Jatoba, Cherry, Red Leaf Maple and Walnut. The randomness of the assembly gives this pattern a great patchwork quilt type look.

Serial # 2009-015

Stopper Stats:
Total pieces: 121
Wood: Jatoba, Cherry, Red Leaf Maple & Walnut
Cap: Sapele
Dimensions: 2-1/8” tall, 1” diameter
Finish: CA/BLO

To purchase this stopper through my Etsy store, click here.

30 Projects in 30 Days - Day 1

Day 1 project 1 of the June 2009 30 projects in 30 days.

Off to a positive start! I’ve completed my 14th segmented wine bottle stopper (shocker I know!). This stopper is a new pattern that I have named 1/2 & 1/2 Twist.

Serial # 2009-014

Stopper Stats:
Total pieces: 121
Wood: Red Leaf Maple & Walnut
Cap: Sapele
Dimensions: 2-1/8” tall, 1” diameter
Finish: CA/BLO

To purchase this stopper through my Etsy store, click here.

30 Projects in 30 Days - Intro

I have taken up the challenge of a fellow woodworker to create 30 projects in 30 days!

All through the month of June, I shall be creating new projects everyday. I'm expecting to finish several new bottle stoppers, a few pens and hopefully a new shelving unit for my daughter's bedroom.

Items that will be available to purchase will be posted at my Etsy store.

Stay tuned for all of the action!

Lila's Bakugan Battle Game Board

Lila, my eight year old daughter, has kind of a silly personality. She's been interested in this game called Bakugan recently (she keeps her battle cards in a little pink zip-up purse that reads "Kiss" on one side as I'm sure all Bakugan battle cards are kept!) so I decided to make her a little game board for her to play on. I'm hoping she gets a kick out of this!

Wine Bottle Stopper # 13

I was inspired a few weeks back to try something new with my segmented bottle stoppers by this project. I made a jig for my drillpress to hold my individual segments so I could drill a little hole and insert a small dowel (also known as a toothpick!).

Stopper Stats:
Total pieces: 137
Primary wood: Red Leaf Maple
Secondary wood: Walnut
Cap: Sapele
Dimensions: 2-1/8” tall, 1” diameter
Finish: CA/BLO

serial # 2009-013

a close-up to show more detail.

Be Careful with CA Glue!

I've been working the past couple of days on getting more stopper tops through the final glue stage so I can turn them on the lathe. Most wood glues that I use in furniture (titebond II typically) takes a couple hours to cure before being ready to continue working with the piece. I can't use this type of glue while working on the bottle stoppers or else I'd still be working on the first one! I use Cyanoacrylate... typically referred to as CA. It's basically like super glue and it bonds within seconds.

While working last Wednesday night, I had this short, but very real fear that I'd glued my thumbs together! I went to set down the piece I had just glued up and my thumbs were stuck together. I breifly pictured how it would go down if I had to go upstairs and wake up my wife for help (I pictured a lot of laughing). Not wanting to have to make that journey, I was able to pull my thumbs apart. Thankfully it was just a drop of CA and I didn't have to tear any skin in the seperation process.

It's not just tools with blades that require respect and careful use!