Blog series by gurnie | updated 09-01-2011 04:49 PM | 4 parts | 12599 reads | 10 comments total |
Part 1: The harmonica case for the Harmonica case collector
So this is a commissioned harmonica case that I am working on. this gentleman wanted his likeness on a harmonica case. So i sketched out an idea of him leaning against a brick wall, playing his harmonica. His likeness would be done in intarsia. I’ve been working on this project on and off for about 4 months, maybe longer – taking my time so i enjoy it making it. treating it like a piece of art and not a “task” i have to complete. I think it’s coming a...
Part 2: Part 2: How to make wood look like brick
I spent some time refining the “brick building” technique. I originally was going to do it with a dremel tool, but the lines weren’t straight enough for my liking. So I did some more experimenting and decided I am hand chiseling this. First I draw my brick marks in pencil. Each brick is about 5/8” long, 1/4” high. I draw out my pattern using a square and a pencil, alternating the pattern up the piece. then i use a chisel to dap along the line N...
Part 3: commissioned harmonica case - grouting the brick
So it took me two weeks to chisel out the bloodwood to make it look like patterned brick (you know, doing some here and there not to drive myself crazy). Then i mixed glue with maple dust and grouted the piece. Then it was sanded with a sander. here’s the results. I think the next thing to do is glue up the box and then shape the legs. I am a bit afraid that applying a finish will darken the grout, hopefully it won’t be too much. Whatdaya think?
Part 4: How to grout wood
I realized I never explained how I got the grout “look” to work with the harmonica case, so i thought i’d take the time to post photos to show you the process. Here’s an image of the wood, pre-grouted. if you look at my last blog entry, you can see how I was able to chisle away the wood for the brick pattern. In this photo you can see the tightbond 3 glue (which dries darker than regular tightbond), a collection of maple dust, a cup, tooth picks, and kabob s...