Candy Dish - Segmented of Course!

I've finished my first segmented candy dish!

The candy dish is 2-3/4" tall with a 5" diameter and includes 61 segments. I used the "early american" stain from Minwax for color and applied several coats of wipe-on gloss polyurethane.

I like how this little dish has come out. I've got a second one nearly finished and I'm looking forward to making more!

Another Segmented Candy Dish

Here's a better picture of the candy dish from yesterday.

Today I turned another candy dish, with a similar segment pattern, that uses twice as many segments.

I was thinking that by making similar dishes with different sized segments it would help design new pieces in the future. It should give me an idea of what a design should look like with the different options. Tha's the theory anyway!

Segmented Candy Dish

I worked on the plug needed for the bottom of the "flower" today. While those pieces are drying off, I also worked on a little something different.
I had actually glued up this little segmented candy dish a while back. It seemed like a good time to work on it again. I think it looks pretty good. Should look even better when it's full of M&M's!
 

Segmented Abstract Model - "Flower"

I present to you

"Flower"

a Segmented Abstract Model

by

Darryl Masterson

I will be getting a better picture soon!

Segmented Abstract Model - Nearly Finished

That's right, it's not completely done yet, but it's certainly to the point where I can snap a picture and be happy with what I see!

I'm so close to done now that I can taste it though!

Segmented Abstract Model - Applying Polyurethane

I've now finished the fifth coat of gloss polyurethane on the base layer. I'm really excited to see the finished piece now!

but for now... here's what I've got

Segmented Abstract Model - Staining Day

Yesterday I finished sanding and staining each of the three sections of my project.

I like how the stain helps highlight each segment.
What do you think?

Segmented Abstract Model

I've spent some time in the workshop this week and have worked on my current project. I still have more work to do, but this gives a good idea of my overal design.

thoughts?

A Slow Return to the Workshop

Just two weeks ago my mother-in-law woke me up from a nap asking if I had heard anything from my parents regarding my brother being in an accident... not 10 minutes later my father confirmed my brother had died at the hospital.

My brother, Sam, was 30 years old. He had just earned his Master Electrician's License this past May.












I've tried to distract myself by working on a couple of projects in my workshop. I've had limited success.

The Sculpture - Section Two Complete

When I started turning the inside of section two I was pretty well convinced it was going to end badly with pieces all over the workshop floor... I'm happy to report it did not end that way! I'm super pumped that I was able to get this section turned without a crisis!

Here's where it stands now with section two in place.

And, as always, I would be happy to hear your thoughts!

The Sculpture - Section Two in Progress

Today I finished gluing up section two of the sculpture and turned the outside shape. This allowed me to get a better visual of how my design will look in 3D. Want to see it?

ok, here goes...

With the addition of section two, the sculpture is now 10.5" tall and has a diameter of about 7". I'm happy to say it's looking pretty close to how I designed it. And I really like that you cannot see in enough to see section two connect to the base. I was hoping to acheive that sense of mystery and I'm happy to see it work out!

Thoughts?

The Sculpture - Section Two

I've got all the segments cut that are needed for the second section of my sculpture.

Section two is just over 6 inches tall and 7.5 inches in diamter and includes 300 segments. The rubber bands are holding the segments together as I have not yet started gluing this section.

The Sculpture - Base Completed

With some work I finished turning the base of this sculpture I'm working on. I'm happy with the end result, but it certainly wasn't easy getting there. Turning a wine bottle stopper is nothing compared to this! I had a ton of sanding to do to clean this up!

I'm really happy with the alignment of the segments and I think I was able to maintain a fairly consistant wall thickness. There is a flaw... but i'm going to leave it there.

Now to start working on the next section!

The Sculpture - Rough Turned Base

With the based glued up, I put it on the lathe tonight and started rough turning the shape. So far I'm rally happy with the results. I can't wait to see this idea of mine come to life!

What are your thoughts so far? Seriously, I'd like to hear them!

Wine Bottle Stopper Give-Away!

That's right, you read the title correctly! You now have a chance to win this wine bottle stopper for FREE!

 

Serial #: 2010-018:

Stopper Details:
~ Total pieces: 151
~ Woods: Maple & Mahogany
~ Cap: Sapele
~ Dimensions: 2-1/8” tall, 1” diameter
~ Finish: polyurethane (gloss)


To get yourself entered, just jump on over here and follow the directions!

Sneak Peek at a New Project

Here's a little something new I'm working on. For size reference it is currently about 5" in diameter, 7" tall and includes over 250 pieces...

I haven't started gluing yet, so the rubberbands are holding the rings together. :)

The Segmented Rollerball Pen

A couple weeks ago I spent a weekend working on this new pen. I realized it had been more than two years since I completed my last segmented pen. I've been wanting to make another, so I got to it!

This pen includes 300 pieces of Maple, Brazilian Cherry, Bloodwood and Cherry. I used the Patchwork design that I had used on several wine bottle stoppers previously. The hardware is black titanium, providing a beautiful and durable finish for years to come!

This pen is currently for sale through my Etsy shop.

The Playhouse - Windows!

My parents stopped over on Sunday and offered to buy the windows.

My dad helped me get them installed. The girls have even spent the night in the playhouse now!

The Playhouse - Now With a Door

That's right, I've finally installed a door on the playhouse. For now I've just gone with a simple storm door, but it's got a sliding window to reveal a screen which is nice.

Next up I need to install the soffits to close up all the little gaps where the roof line and walls meet. That should do the trick to keep the bugs out so the girls can have their sleepover!

The Playhouse - Roofing Complete

With the help of my friend Jeremy and my nephew Zac providing the shingles, the playhouse roofing is now done! The whole thing actually went up pretty well. I bought an aluminum drip edge for each side and then we over lapped the roofing paper (tar paper) before starting the shingles.

Since the sun was so hot on Saturday we started on the "shady" side of the playhouse. That did make it a bit more comfortable to work! I certainly did drink a lot of water that day though!

Considering neither of us have ever really done roofing before, I think we did a pretty decent job!

And the little bit of rain we got on Sunday shows that it all is working like it should!

Next up will be the trim around the roof I think... that or windows. I haven't decided yet!

The Playhouse - The Poor Abused Finger Chapter

as I've mentioned previously, a week after my left middle finger got tangled up with a nail gun, I found out I broke the same finger while loading some 3/4" OSB into the car... well I got my hands on the x-ray today!

so nothing was done this past weekend on the playhouse. I did get a few more wine bottle stoppers started though! hopefully another week or so and this finger will be good as new!

The Playhouse - On Hold

This past Thursday I found out I broke my finger last Sunday. The same finger that tried to tangle with the nail gun the week before! After my finger has been sore and swollen for 4 days I thought it would be a good idea to get it checked out. The x-rays were pretty gnarly! I want to see if i can get a copy at my follow up appointment in the morning.

So considering that it hurts like crazy to put any pressure on that finger, and i really don't want to do any further damage to it, progress on the playhouse is currently on hold. Hopefully in a week or to my finger will be back to normal and I can get back at it!

While my finger is healing, I think I may get back to working on some new wine bottle stoppers...

The Playhouse - Sheathing Done!

With all the framing finished up over the 4th of July weekend it was time to get to work on putting up the roof sheathing and also finishing the front and back walls. This past Thursday I got the first piece of sheathing added to the roof.

The following day I got the second piece of sheathing added to the roof.

This past Saturday it rained most of the day, so I had to find other things to do. Sunday, however, was gorgeous! I called my friend Jeremy and he agreed to come over and give me a hand in finishing up the rest of the roof sheathing.

with the roof sheathing done and still some daylight available, we decided to tackle finishing up the sheathing on the front and back walls.

I'm really happy with how the playhouse is coming together. My girls also seem very excited which makes it even more fun! Next up will be the shingles for the roof and working on fitting the windows.

The Playhouse - Framing Done!

After a couple of fairly intense days of working on the playhouse I was a little slow to get going yesterday. Once I did get going though, everything moved along pretty smoothly. I finished up both the front and back hanging rafters.

Front hanging rafters.

Rear hanging rafters.












With the hanging rafters complete, all that was left was to put up the permanent collar ties and frame up the peak section of the front and back walls.

Front view with all framing done.

Rear view with all framing done.












oh... and on a side note, becareful with nail guns! As I was finishing up the framing for the peak in the back wall, i had a nail come through the back of a 2x4 and stab my finger. If it had stopped bleeding on it's own, the trip to the ER would not have been needed... but that's where I ended up! My finger is a bit sore and now bandaged up. I'm curious to see how it looks tonight when the bandage comes off.

ouch! Thankfully the nail didn't come out the other side of my finger!

The Playhouse - Roof Rafters!

Today I worked on installing the roof rafters. I've never done anything like this before. I found does info online to help show me how to do it. It all seems to be coming together well enough.

It took a while, but I got them cut and installed one by one.

This view from from the back shows just how tall a 9 foot roof line really is! I added a couple of temporary plywood collar ties. I'm going to put up some permanent collar ties with 2x4s before I add the OSB to the roof.

The hardest part so far has been adding the rafters that overhang the front. I'm not going to explain how I did it... but you can tell I got them up there! ...and I didn't hurt myself!

Here's how it looks as of now.

I need to make another quick trip to Home Depot tomorrow, but then I should have the roof all framed up!

The Playhouse - 4 Walls Complete

I have some time off of work and I'm using that to work on the playhouse. Yesterday was a fairly productive day as I got all of the remaining shealthing cut and nailed to the walls. I also finished framing around the door and built the supports that will hold the ridge board in place as I start putting up the rafters.

This picture shows how I have added the wall plate (basically a layer of 2x4 that helps lock the walls together) and framed out the top six inches of the door. I was actually a little surprised how well that went together!

With the wall plate now installed, next up I needed to finish installing the sheathing on the walls.

 

A view through the right side window

A view through the left side window

Next on the list was to built the supports that will hold the ridge board in place while I install the rafters. Once the rafters are all in place, these supports will be removed. I also finished shealthing the front wall to match the other three walls.

And now I just need to get to work on the rafters...

A Monster Captured in My Dungeon!

As I got to work last night in the workshop dungeon, I first had to capture a beast that thought it could move into my territory! Little nasties are often found and vanquished, either by stomping them or vacuum captured, but this little baddie... this was something different!

I caught it with my cat-like reflexes (actually he just sat there as a slipped a peanut butter jar over him) and locked it in my makeshift cell.

ok, fine... I found this nasty spider in the basement last night and wanted to share!

Gross huh!?! Now I'm going to go squish it before my wife freaks out that it's even still in the house!

The Playhouse - A Quick Catch-up

I've started working on a playhouse for my girls. It's being built in the backyard in an area close to the house, but not really used. I had shown my wife a playhouse another woodworker out there had built for his kids and we went from there. The playhouse is not really going to look anything like the inspiration it came from though.

After deciding on a floor plan of 8' x 12' I got to work with the help of a friend and my brother-in-law. We were able to get the floor and back wall put together pretty quickly.

For those that don't know, I'm the one in the Red Sox shirt. The other guy is my friend Jeremy.

It rained the following weekend, so nothing was done then. But it was nice on week three and I was able to get the front and one side wall framed up...or at least mostly framed up! The front wall has a door in the middle and a window on each side of the door. Both side walls will have a centered window. The walls are all six feet tall.

Last weekend I picked up some 7/16" OSB (that particleboard stuff and referred to as sheathing) and started adding that on. I also got the additional 2x4s i need to finish framing the last wall. With the sheathing applied the frame is now much more ridgid and it's starting to look more like a playhouse.

I picked up two more sheets of OSB to work on finishing the sheathing on the two sides and the front up to the top of the window frames. The top 18" of the walls I'll finish after I get the roof framed up. Speaking of which... I have six days off for the 4th of July and I'm planning on getting the roof framed and hoping to also get the OSB up there as well so the whole playhouse will be closed in with the exception of the window and door openings!

Once I get the roof started (hopefully Thursday) I'll be sure to post some new pics. Stay tuned!