| Project by ChuckV | posted 04-16-2017 10:43 PM | 3394 views | 4 times favorited | 13 comments |  |
 |
When I saw the recent trefoils project by BanjoBen, I knew right away that I had to try making one myself. Ben kindly helped me out with some of the details.
I made this out of black walnut. The miter keys are maple and padauk. This was lot of fun to make. Since I don’t work much in my shop in the winter, it was also the perfect “warm-up” project for the upcoming season.
In Progress
Here are all the pieces cut to size:
Here is how I held the unglued pieces to cut the miter key slot on my table saw:
After the first round of gluing:
After the second round of gluing:
The Confession
Apparently my miters were a bit off in such a way that the errors compounded. When I got to the last joint, it was off by about 3/8”. I could have forced it into position, but then the joint would not meet well. Instead, I patched the error as best I could:
Once trimmed and finished, it is not perfect, but not too bad:
Now what?
My family had been asking me what I planned to do with this thing once it was completed. I have a habit of building projects just because it contains some technique or feature that interests me. I came up with some ideas on using the knot:
(1) Can it restrain a hedgehog?
I guess not.
(2) How about a tortoise?
Sigh.
(3) A snake?
Never mind…
Does anyone have any other ideas?
-- "Melodies decaying in sweet dissonance." - I. Anderson
13 comments so far
madts
home | projects | blog
1953 posts in 3346 days
#1 posted 04-16-2017 11:24 PM
Looks to me that it is the infamous Gordian Knot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordian_Knot.
I would hang it from the ceiling as a mobile. Then it can at least restrain some air.
—Madts.
-- Thor and Odin are still the greatest of Gods.
BanjoBen
home | projects | blog
105 posts in 1907 days
#2 posted 04-17-2017 12:52 AM
Very nice. The contrasting/multilayer splines are a nice touch.
BanjoBen
home | projects | blog
105 posts in 1907 days
#3 posted 04-17-2017 12:53 AM
And I think it might work better as a hedgehog jungle gym than a restraint. :)
Michael McKenzie
home | projects | blog
64 posts in 1446 days
#4 posted 04-17-2017 01:26 AM
It’s a beautiful piece that can stand on it’s own merits. Personally I’d like to see it waterproofed then mounted on a no-friction swivel atop a nice pole and see if the wind will turn it….it’s that nice-it can be an art piece.
-- ~ Ancora imparo! ~
SteveMI
home | projects | blog
1167 posts in 4301 days
#5 posted 04-17-2017 02:21 AM
Looks great! I have one on my list for this week.
Steve.
Desert_Woodworker
home | projects | blog
5212 posts in 2221 days
#6 posted 04-17-2017 03:56 AM
WOW! thank you for sharing this and the procedure….
-- Desert_Woodworker
Joe Lyddon
home | projects | blog
10961 posts in 5059 days
#7 posted 04-17-2017 04:49 AM
COOL exercise in precision joinery…
Very nice!
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: https://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/index.php?media/albums/users/joe-lyddon.1389/
ChuckV
home | projects | blog
3355 posts in 4534 days
#8 posted 04-17-2017 11:48 AM
Thanks for all the kind comments. I meant to say that I used this Elmer’s glue. The initial tack is very quick, it’s not too runny, and it’s inexpensive.
Steve: I’m looking forward to seeing your take on the project.
-- "Melodies decaying in sweet dissonance." - I. Anderson
Roger
home | projects | blog
21051 posts in 3811 days
#9 posted 04-17-2017 11:56 AM
Some very unique eye candy.
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
Porchfish
home | projects | blog
862 posts in 3539 days
#10 posted 04-17-2017 01:24 PM
I love it, on the floor , I’d love it on a wall, or I’d love it on a pole , I’d love it suspended from above, I’d love it supported from below, I’d love it over here most, but I’d love it way over there. I love it, Well done and well loved ! .....Sam I am !
-- The pig caught under the fence is always the one doing all the squealing !
Ted78
home | projects | blog
415 posts in 3007 days
#11 posted 04-17-2017 02:29 PM
A hedgehog, a tortoise AND a snake! Quite the menagerie!
Menagerie: 1. a collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition. 2. a strange or diverse collection of people or things.
Alright maybe not so ‘captive’ but nailed the strange or diverse part.
Really nice project by the way.
-- Ted
ravensrock
home | projects | blog
513 posts in 2649 days
#12 posted 04-17-2017 06:58 PM
Cool project! Really like those splines!
-- Dave, York, PA, Wildside Woodworking
Grumpy
home | projects | blog
26811 posts in 4858 days
#13 posted 04-17-2017 10:47 PM
Nice job & congratulations on your Top3 award.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Have your say...