I have not used my SO3 for a couple of weeks due to other things I needed to do. So I have a few projects that I got done in the last two days.
This first one is for a friend to give to his brother. His brother’s birthday is 9/11. So until 2000 a happy birthday celebration but after 2001 a more somber day for your birthday.
I for some reason did not take a picture of the finished project after sanding. My friend will finish the plaque with epoxy.
Next up was a plaque for my woodworking club’s October annual 2x4 contest. I made one every year. Here it is after carving with a coat of dewaxed shellac and first coat of paint.
My last thing will be my entry in the 2x4 contest. This came from a scrollsaw magazine and they call it a figit box. The thing is a simple little box that has a lid in 3 parts. The lid has a lower part then a center part and on that layer you put cut out gears and the 3rd layer has cut outs to see you spin the gears. I had some rift cut 2x4 for over a year because a new 2x4 is high in moisture content and will warp specifically when cut thin. So here is the base of the project.
This was made from a glued up 2x4 and was 1.4" after getting it smoothed up. So I used a 4" OAL 1/4" bit to cut out the pocket center and then a contour cut around the outside. Since that long bit has come loose in the past I paused about every 5 minutes to check the collet for tightness.
The next phase will be to cut the 3 layers and the 3 gears. I will paint each layer a different color because pine 2x4’s are ugly and will make them very vibrant colors.
Here is a scan from the ScrollSaw Magazine. They suggested hardwood but since it is a 2x4 contest I will use a 2x4.
I had to make a change. The moving gears did not work out with softwood like in a 2x4. For hardwood I think they would have worked fine. I redesigned the lid and here it is. I will paint the wreath black and each butter fly a different color.
I will apply dewaxed shellac to the whole project and then paint in the carving on top of the lid. I will finish with wipe on polyurethane. The pine is soft and the poly hardens it up some. I wish the original idea had worked but sometimes you just have to shift gears and keep going. What is impressive to me is my SO3 cuts so precisely. I am quite proud of how my old SO3 XXL with HDZ works.
Got first coat of paint on project. Will likely take two coats of paint on butterflies. After I sand off excess I will likely go back and paint inside the butterflies with their colors.
It will have to use a fine brush to stay inside the lines. I have until October 4, 2025 to finish it up. Also got my 2x4 plaque for the winner with 3 coats of poly. May need one more but will see in the morning. Of course it is made from 2x4 material.
