| Project by DevinT | posted 12-11-2021 12:39 AM | 864 views | 0 times favorited | 13 comments |  |
 |
This year, I drew my Aunt’s name from a hat. I think she asked for a gift certificate from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The cap on the gift is $50 I believe.
I decided to be cheap and make her gift.
A twisted and ugly piece of Afrormosia scrap cutoff that cost $3, an ugly rough sawn piece of Cocobolo for $4
plus
$0.20 for some neodymium magnets, about $0.05 worth of epoxy, $0.10 worth of Danish Oil, about $0.15 worth of furniture wax, $1 for some rubber feet, about $1 in sandpaper, and maybe $0.10 combined for some painter’s tape, frog tape, black enamel paint, gold paint, clear enamel spray, and last but not least, about $0.50 worth of Q-tips, popsicle sticks, and rags.
Total cost: ~$10
I bet I have the cheapest gift this year (woot!).
Now, ...
We take all those ingredients and add one hand saw, one hand plane, a surfacing sled with handheld router, one exacto knife, ...
one Shaper Origin, and …
3 weeks of time.
Add a smidge of electricity (for the surfacing router and Shaper Origin) and poof, this is what you get (see photos)
ASIDE: NO hammers were used. Though I have thought of just telling my Aunt that I found a piece of wood on the side of the road and hit it with a hammer a few times and thought it looked good.
-- Devin, SF, CA
13 comments so far
mafe
home | projects | blog
13872 posts in 4581 days
#1 posted 12-11-2021 01:01 AM
I think you have a lucky aunt, to get the ‘cheap’ gift.
’Though I have thought of just telling my Aunt that I found a piece of wood on the side of the road and hit it with a hammer a few times and thought it looked good’.
Laughs.
Really fine work and finish.
Merry Christmas,
Mads
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect.
Dave Polaschek
home | projects | blog
10487 posts in 2074 days
#2 posted 12-11-2021 01:08 AM
Sharp looking present, Devin. I’m sure she’ll love it!
-- Dave - Santa Fe
pottz
home | projects | blog
26546 posts in 2476 days
#3 posted 12-11-2021 01:19 AM
let me just say this,at work most give gift cards which i abhor as, i dont give a shit or wanna waste my time yet still seem i care about you.every year i make something for the ladies that take care of all my needs all year,because i wanna show them that i do appreciate what they do for me.this year they will get a toaster tong,my last project posted,and a bowl ive turned filled with lindors chocolates.so dev you are very far from giving a “cheap” gift my special friend.be proud of that gift,and im sure she will to.
-- working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
987Ron
home | projects | blog
4136 posts in 808 days
#4 posted 12-11-2021 01:46 AM
very nice gift and very well done. Aunt should be happy.
-- Ron
LittleBlackDuck
home | projects | blog
9454 posts in 2312 days
#5 posted 12-11-2021 02:39 AM
Great “little” plaque DT... hope the wording is in the auntie’s language…
With 3 weeks of time, even at sweatshop labour of 50¢/hr… that would cost this at $60+... you are red flagged!
-- If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
sras
home | projects | blog
6715 posts in 4621 days
#6 posted 12-11-2021 02:41 AM
Beautiful sign Devin!
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
Eric
home | projects | blog
5732 posts in 1365 days
#7 posted 12-11-2021 02:56 AM
Nicely done Devin, and that is a great finish. I am sure your Aunt will love it and cherish it. Gifts from the heart are always priceless. Great job.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
-- Eric, building the dream. the "Loft"
Brodan
home | projects | blog
503 posts in 2794 days
#8 posted 12-11-2021 12:24 PM
Nice sign. Love the finish.
I bet your aunt will love her cheap gift.
-- Dan, TN
Peteybadboy
home | projects | blog
4942 posts in 3441 days
#9 posted 12-11-2021 01:56 PM
Nice job!
BTW we have the same counters.
-- Petey
GR8HUNTER
home | projects | blog
9692 posts in 2204 days
#10 posted 12-11-2021 02:31 PM
a very beautiful sign your aunt will love it GREAT JOB :<))))) GRATZ TOP 3
-- Tony---- Reinholds,Pa.------ REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE FUN :<))
corelz125
home | projects | blog
5532 posts in 2468 days
#11 posted 12-11-2021 02:42 PM
Got it done with plenty of time to spare. Nice work
splintergroup
home | projects | blog
7118 posts in 2714 days
#12 posted 12-11-2021 04:24 PM
Perfection!
I have to laugh some times on how you sweat over small details, the true bane of any woodworker 8^)
Fine display of talent and artistry Devin!
DevinT
home | projects | blog
3093 posts in 458 days
#13 posted 12-13-2021 11:15 PM
Thank you all so very much.
So tired. I took 2 days of rest after this project and jumped right into my LJ HPOYD Secret Santa gift. That ‘bout wore me out and almost took every last bit of energy.
Need a couple days to recoup again.
-- Devin, SF, CA
Have your say...