Last minute Xmas gift: Sharkfin book ends

[ear3]

Was trying to think of Xmas gifts for my Dad -- he's at the age where giving him more stuff is just gratuitous.  But since he remains an avid reader in retirement, I thought I'd make some styled bookends, and create yet one more opportunity to do some wood shaping.

I've really gotten into shaping wood.  There's a lot of spontaneity to the process -- I just draw a shape and let it slowly emerge from the block, no need for precise measurements.  And its also tremendously forgiving -- if you gash the wood or catch an edge with the grinder you can just smooth it down.  A little while back I was going to get a RAS 115, but everything has worked out so far using my M18 Milwaukee angle grinder.

To make the ends I laminated 6 pieces of 1x6 maple, which I had pre-cut with the rough curve of the piece using the Carvex.  I would have glued all the rectangles and then cut them on the bandsaw, but this would have exceeded the capabilities of my crappy Ridgid bandsaw (hopefully I can upgrade in that area soon).

This is what the block looks like uncut -- next to it is the first one I finished yesterday:

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Having the MFT was along with the clamping elements was really essential to hold everything in place as I was working the block into shape:

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The cutting didn't take that long, maybe 30-45 min per block.  What took most of my time was the sanding.  I went from 80 to 400 without skipping any grits, using pencil marks to make sure I'd done a thorough pass.  Used the Rotex 90 mounted with the interface pad, sanding the curved parts in aggressive mode and the flats in RO.  The most challenging part was getting the edges without producing too much of a rounding-in effect.  After 400 went to 800, and then to Platin 2000.  I paid a local dealer a visit early this morning to see if I could get some 1200 and 1500, but he doesn't stock them.  The Platin definitely gave me extra gloss, though, even when skipping from 800.

I was actually unhappy with the first one (still some squigglies and blotches), and so I stepped back down to 220 and redid the progression, this time vacuuming and wiping thoroughly with a cloth, using a separate cloth for each grit.  I've never been so anal about a process.  This second effort was better, though not yet perfect.  I still have a lot of work to do when it comes to sanding/finishing.

Finished it off with three coats of Renaissance Wax, buffing out with the lambs wool pad for the RO150.  I found I got better results applying the wax with the RO150 felt pad than with just a cloth.

I'm pretty happy with how they turned out -- even got a small, fortuitous spot of quilting on one of the pieces of maple.

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[nclemmons]

Absolutely beautiful.  Such a simple design and process.  Your craftsmanship and vision really shows through!

Looks like you stirred up a LOT of dust.  Hope you were protecting your lungs!

Impressed that you did most of the work with a battery operated Milwaukee grinder.  How many batteries did you go through!?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[teocaf]

very nice shapes.  if you're going to be doing this type of stuff a lot, look into the Arbortech Turboplane wheel for your grinder.  It is really enjoyable to use and will also cut down on your sanding.

 

[Gary in Texas]

Edward, very nice. They came out looking great!!!

Gary

 

[ear3]

Took 3 1/2 to 4 4amp batteries.  Since I only have 3 batteries, I took a 20 min. break while the first one I burned through finished charging.  I suppose if I do a bigger shaping project, I'll have to get a corded grinder (or the RAS).

Dust mask, of course.

Thanks for the recommendation on the arbortech.  The video demo makes it look like a pretty sick tool, which would also help for preparing stock for the lathe.

 

[mr-gobby]

Look great wht a fantastic gift
Mark

 

[sae]

Wow, nice result.

Bosch, as well as few others, makes some dust shrouds for angle grinders, it might help you see a little out of that cloud.  [eek]

 

[wow]

Great project! Thanks for sharing.

I keep wavering as to whether I want to build a downdraft sanding table that I have all the basic parts for. Your project has put it back in the 'ToDo' column.

 

[Billedis]

I would be more than happy to put those on my bookshelf or mantle!  Great work.  Bill

 

[ear3]

I know what you mean.  Fortunately I can do a lot of my cutting/grinding outside in the driveway.  I tell myself that sawdust makes for excellent fertilizer in the garden.

Great project! Thanks for sharing.

I keep wavering as to whether I want to build a downdraft sanding table that I have all the basic parts for. Your project has put it back in the 'ToDo' column.

 

[mike_aa]

Very well done!  Simple, yet elegant shape.  Your father should be pleased and treasure them.

It's hard to believe you just used wax.  If you hadn't described the process I would have thought they had another type of finish that was polished.  I really like the depth and sheen you achieved with the wax.  It is beautiful.

I got a RAS 115 on the recon sale and I used it to lightly smooth out a live edge on a slab.  It was a beast!  I had to take a very light touch or I would have removed everything in seconds.  Based on that experience, I think it would have been a good, efficient choice for your initial shaping.

Thank you for sharing.  I'm definitely going to try wax on a project now.

Mike A.

 

[Tinker]

I know what you mean.  Fortunately I can do a lot of my cutting/grinding outside in the driveway.  I tell myself that sawdust makes for excellent fertilizer in the garden.

Great project! Thanks for sharing.

I keep wavering as to whether I want to build a downdraft sanding table that I have all the basic parts for. Your project has put it back in the 'ToDo' column.

Just don't use Walnut in the garden unless you allow it to decompose completely before applying. 
Tinker

 

[ear3]

Thanks -- I'll take this as an endorsement of the RAS and move it to the top of Festool wish list.

Very well done!  Simple, yet elegant shape.  Your father should be pleased and treasure them.

It's hard to believe you just used wax.  If you hadn't described the process I would have thought they had another type of finish that was polished.  I really like the depth and sheen you achieved with the wax.  It is beautiful.

I got a RAS 115 on the recon sale and I used it to lightly smooth out a live edge on a slab.  It was a beast!  I had to take a very light touch or I would have removed everything in seconds.  Based on that experience, I think it would have been a good, efficient choice for your initial shaping.

Thank you for sharing.  I'm definitely going to try wax on a project now.

Mike A.

 

[Cheese]

Just don't use Walnut in the garden unless you allow it to decompose completely before applying. 
Tinker
[/quote

[member=550]Tinker[/member]
Just curious, what does the walnut do?

 

[Tinker]

@ Cheese,
The tannin in Walnut will kill garden plants and lawn grasses.  It seems to kill just about everything except weeds.

It is also something you don't want to use for animal bedding, especially horses.

Of course, if you have put any walnut shavings or sawdust down where you keep that horse you show on your avatar, I will come rescue it.  You don't want a dead set of wheels in you yard. :

Tinker

PS:  In some yards, i mulch the leaves (fall cleanups) and blow right back into the shrub beds as mulch.  Some, I pile the leaves for a year or so and let them breakdown.  I then re-use as mulch in the beds.  I had read that decomposing the leaves would allow the tannin to dissipate and thus be safe for mulching beds. 

For a few years, i was doing just that with walnut leaves.  there are half a dozen large walnuts it the particular yard.  For the first few years, everything was doing just fine.  I think it was about four years before some of the shrubs started looking kids sick.  I stopped using the leaves for mulch and now, about 5 years later, plants are beginning to look a little happier.  The grass is completely gone.  The only thing growing on that lawn are weeds. 

That is an unusual case.  some lawns in my area have one walnut tree.  this lawn has 6.  I have offered to remove the trees for free  :, but the owners wood rather have their trees than lawn.  I told the lady (my favorite customer) that if any of her trees disappear in the nite, don't come looking in my yard. 
WHT

 

[peter halle]

There other trees that have a similar effect.  Here is a link for more info:  https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/staff/rbir/blackwalnutcompanions.html

Peter

 

[Cheese]

@ Cheese,
It is also something you don't want to use for animal bedding, especially horses.

Of course, if you have put any walnut shavings or sawdust down where you keep that horse you show on your avatar, I will come rescue it.  You don't want a dead set of wheels in you yard. :

Tinker

[member=550]Tinker[/member]

Unfortunately, that horse is already dead.  [eek] Removed the oil tank because of a small oil leak (now that's a surprise on a British bike  [dead horse]), ordered the seals from the UK and 8 years later she's still sitting under a bike cover in the garage. Another item to put on the project list...

 

[Cheese]

[member=1674]Peter Halle[/member]
Interesting read Peter thanks...especially as black walnut, cotton wood, elm, red oak and sugar maple are all common species in the area.

 

[Tinker]

@ Cheese,
It is also something you don't want to use for animal bedding, especially horses.

Of course, if you have put any walnut shavings or sawdust down where you keep that horse you show on your avatar, I will come rescue it.  You don't want a dead set of wheels in you yard. :

Tinker

[member=550]Tinker[/member]

Unfortunately, that horse is already dead.  [eek] Removed the oil tank because of a small oil leak (now that's a surprise on a British bike  [dead horse]), ordered the seals from the UK and 8 years later she's still sitting under a bike cover in the garage. Another item to put on the project list...

I had a T-110 and then a TR 6.  They both came with a tool kit.  I soon found that the best place to carry the tool kit was in my jacket pocket where i could get at it quickest.

Tinker

 

[Tinker]

@ Peter Halle
Thanks for the connection.  That is a more complete report than i had found in the past.  It is interesting how many other trees have the same effect, altho not as bad as Walnuts.  The report mentions the effect of Walnut trees on other plants.  It does not mention its effect on animals, particularly about horses. 
Tinker