[Closed] WCA next art project - You Tree stump haters stay off this thread

Bestiality, don't knock it 'till you've tried it!

Use a router bit at least 19mm diameter, a standard 1/2" cutter will be murder. Good luck with it and don't confuse the timber with your ankle...

The problem is the slices/discs of wood are pretty much guaranteed to split and it will start to fall apart like a cut pizza.

Have you tried it on a sample yet minus the sled? Did the using the router blow out the bark edge?

I'm worries about your wrists... Not for any particular reason other than they are a bit like ankles and you don't have a great track record with ankles.

Whatever it ends up looking like, it'll have been fun.

Tick.

If you can still do this then you attempt to stop the large cracks opening up by using a ratchet strap, or two, and really tighten it up.  Keep tightening it as the wood shrinks and you may have something still in one piece.

Good luck.  I have some off the top of this sculpture that I am still trying to finish in a local village and they are doing ok, but they are 5 feet across and the same width as yours.

Concept seems good.  Have you been able to make it stiff enough to prevent bowing when youve got a bit of pressure on the router

You can also make the slot 2x the width of the bit to save moving the jig so much (looks like you might have done that)

How are you going to hold the slice to avoid having to take 1in off one side when you could take 1/2 off either side given you are doing both sides anyway

Looks like you're on the right track but as usual the Americans have to go bigger

https://www.wwgoa.com/video/flattening-large-wood-slabs-with-a-router/

That's quite some garage :).  The WCA method needs less space but his method looks nice.  The level seems a nice way of finding the minimum material to take off but I don't think it works as the surface on the bottom will end up with the large space instead - all you are doing is swapping the surface on the bench with a 'virtual' surface on top that you are creating with your level.  In reality you want something in between*

*actually in reality you probably don't gas as you're taking it off with a power tool anyway 🙂

Retract your fingers. Please.

Okay - this mornings start before I really get started.

Will the slice split as it dries - almost certainly.

My plan it to engrave something onto the freshly flattened face and then use epoxy casting resin to stabilise the surface. Thanks for the tip about ratchet straps, they will be going on while it dries out.

Do I stick it in the sauna to speed the drying? It won't be that hot near floor level but will be dry air rather than the damp winter air. It might dry it out too quickly but not sure. you thoughts?

Do I half level one side and then the other? Yes if I was clever. So that is a No then. I will be doing the easy way as I am not too worried about losing a bit of thickness.

Test the router before using the sled - good idea. I actually just rested the sled on the slice so I could see what happened. Tests the routing and the sled in one go.

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1971/44373992535_8cf5913344_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1971/44373992535_8cf5913344_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2aBbj1P ]20181013_093640[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

I only did a shallow cut to see if it would take off an obvious high point. I also made sure it ran over the bark at the edge to see what would happen there.

The result

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1977/44373992785_12d4819764_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1977/44373992785_12d4819764_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2aBbj68 ]20181013_093800[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

Now I am off to build the frame for the sled to sit on.

Why not use a plane ?

Plane - That will smooth off the wood but it is all end grain and how do you ensure your plane is level?

Built the frame for the sled to sit on

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/31411950408_5d8f59149f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/31411950408_5d8f59149f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PRLstS ]20181013_101754[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

Legs screwed together so I can take them back off and shorten them if required. There are screws form the other side holding the legs too and they are quite steady

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1914/30347737577_aa3e523eef_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1914/30347737577_aa3e523eef_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NeJ65M ]20181013_101800[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

All ready to go

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1967/30347749467_d5a962bb47_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1967/30347749467_d5a962bb47_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NeJ9BM ]20181013_101919[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

It works!

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1917/43472280910_2197224aed_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1917/43472280910_2197224aed_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/29euNyE ]20181013_102931[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

It makes a lot of mess and whoever said get a BIG router bit was right. Off to Tool Station / Screwfix / Selco so see what they have got

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1974/45237340212_1ba1af8b79_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1974/45237340212_1ba1af8b79_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2bVtccA ]20181013_104701[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

I liked the extraction system in the vid posted earlier but his garage was very fancy

Routers are great, but messy

Our wood slice table splits, it then fully closes again, depending on the weather.

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/41739541510_93c074bd51_n.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/41739541510_93c074bd51_n.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/26Ao4vq ]2018-07-21_02-55-01[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/28608901417_0ce2a3bb06_n.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/28608901417_0ce2a3bb06_n.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/KA56EZ ]2018-07-18_10-02-29[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr

Dust - I started holding the garage vac next to the router which helped a lot but was awkward and made my hand ache. I will just brush it all up at the end.

Router bits - All the decent bits that are any larger than what I am using at the moment are £30+ which is more than I want to pay for something I am likely to only use once.

I have taken to option that I am almost certain I will regret which is to buy cheap tools on the understanding that they should last one job. At £2.28 I really don't know what to expect but I bought two and hopefully they will manage one side each.

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1956/43473069210_84385bb2bc_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1956/43473069210_84385bb2bc_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/29eyQU3 ]20181013_113157[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

nooooooooooo don't cheap out with the silverline.

🙂 They are VERY cheap...

But the first one is worked okay

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/45239042872_69891bf644_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/45239042872_69891bf644_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2bVBVkN ]20181013_120612[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

At the deepest I was cutting about 17mm off

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1908/43474264200_f44df65648_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1908/43474264200_f44df65648_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/29eEY8j ]20181013_120618[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

An hour later and the bit is beginning to judder a bit but one side is flat

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1950/45239044662_8c289abb28_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1950/45239044662_8c289abb28_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2bVBVSE ]20181013_125418[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

and reasonably happy with the surface for a first pass. Obviously will need finishing but still not bad

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1966/45288671311_bd35b63a10_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1966/45288671311_bd35b63a10_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2c11h9x ]20181013_125423[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

I am now taking a break to do other stuff but should be back later today when I will throw away the first Silverline bit and use the second one to flatten the other side of the slice.

Looking good WCA!

Both sides now flat and parallel

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1925/45242897092_6a81af4ab2_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1925/45242897092_6a81af4ab2_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2bVXF4S ]20181013_162603[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1937/30353420737_a515c62d69_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1937/30353420737_a515c62d69_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Nfedui ]20181013_162600[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

Any suggestions for using the bag of oak shavings?

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1974/30353420017_c63275d889_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1974/30353420017_c63275d889_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/NfedgT ]20181013_162611[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

Anyone in Southampton need pet bedding?

Excellent result and no blood stains. Surely your oak chippings will go in your artisan smoker?

I assume the chippings will go on the composting toilet these days :(.  Shitting in a bucket of sawdust really isn't my idea either of progress or of saving the world

Hmm - wood smoker. I could knock one of those up next weekend I guess. Oak smoked salami / bacon / fish anyone?

Okay - working on a design for the engraving. I plan to create a relief engraving with 4 layers of depth. I plan to use a bevelled router bit to smooth the transitions between layers but I will keep it fairly simple for my first attempt. If it works well I might do something fancy on the other side.

So here was a stock image which it about the right shape for the slice of tree.

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1959/44381658505_a2c1fffae1.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1959/44381658505_a2c1fffae1.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2aBRAQH ]Dragon Original[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

When I simplify it and plan the different depths I end up with this.

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1967/44571664464_149344209d.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1967/44571664464_149344209d.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2aUDqZw ]Dragon[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

The idea is that the white will be the deepest engraving, then green, then black and then finally red will be the top level. I added the egg to fill up some of the white space as this is the deepest so needs most wood removed.

Once I have the main cuts made to depth I will add the finer details with a Dremel fitted with a fine router bit.

It is too late to start now so I shall relax with a Duval and contemplate the carving tomorrow.

Can’t wait to see the end result of this.

Just to keep it in line with the last thread - I bet you stole those silverline bits from your neighbour, you monster.

How will you transfer the image to route to the wood?

and

is this really a bicycle forum and do I care?

Given the quality and the fact they were only £2.28 means they weren't worth stealing.

I shall draw a grid over a print of the picture and a grid over the wood and then copy the picture by hand.

this is a chat forum on a bike site. The bike forum is next door.

There's a bike forum? Every day is a school day.

There’s a bike forum? Every day is a school day.

Yep, don't care.  Enjoying this stuff

This is good, nice work WCA.

I just broke a toe climbing out of the hydrotherapy pool (hot tub)

Ya plum.

Which foot??

#sexpondsagas

Long toe next to the big toe. Caught on the towel. No issues as it is on the ****ed foot so little pain. Only spotted it when trying to put socks on and it was 90 degrees from normal.

Pulled it back roughly into shape and it should be fine.

I am thinking about how to prevent the slice splitting. A ratchet strap around the outside has been suggested but reading up on it there is a basic problem with maths.

The shrinkage rate or the wood varies meaning there is about a 4% difference which is whet causes the crack.

Pentacryl is available but bloody expensive for a piece as big and thick as mine.

I was wondering about soaking it in 'wet rot wood hardener' which is less than a tenner for 500ml. I was thinking of doing the carving today and then putting plastic underneath and pouring a can over it to soak in over the week. If I feel like carving the other side of the slab I will do that and then repeat with another can of wood hardener.

I plan to use some epoxy 'liquid glass' as a top coat but that probably won't soak in as much as the wood hardener and just crack when the slice cracks.

Thoughts?

Thoughts: I don't know about the wood hardener but will any epoxy stick to it, or resist the cracking?

Loving this thread, I'll post up my bedroom/bathroom spray-booth project one day.

I'm off to look at your classic car yt stuff

My experience of epoxy so far is that it will stick to anything, even when you don't want it too. I plan to coat it thickly enough and over the edges so it should be okay.

Started to transfer the design. First draw squares on the picture and the wood to help with proportions

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1958/44586096334_4ba7a8bb18_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1958/44586096334_4ba7a8bb18_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2aVVp5S ]20181014_094455[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

Then sketch it in by hand in pencil

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1937/31434522658_ac996c7222_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1937/31434522658_ac996c7222_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PTL9qA ]20181014_095525[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

Then realise you can't see a sodding thing so repeat with marker pens

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1935/43493361770_788150e3c6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1935/43493361770_788150e3c6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/29gmRaL ]20181014_101648[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

Then run through the rain back to the house for a coffee and some contemplation. Do I start by cutting away the deepest bits and then get shallower or do I start shallow and get deeper?

Shallow to deep was my first thought but that will mean losing the design with each layer I carve and going over the deeper carved bits repeatedly.

I am now thinking start deep and work to shallow. I also need to cut the deeper sections a bit smaller than I want them so I can angle the edges to blend up to the next level.

The trouble with the next step is that I can't un-cut the wood so what ever I do is what I have to live with.

No time for mistakes.

You could wait until it's done it's splitting and then fill with epoxy before carving. You know you can use normal printed paper to transfer a picture onto wood? Just look up how to on YouTube, you could blow up your design over several sheets of paper and transfer them to your log.

I could wait until it has finished splitting. That was the original plan but it is raining and I am bored.

I know about transferring pictures to wood but I need to adjust the dimensions to fit the shape of the wood and I am not too fussed about having a direct copy so freehand is easiest.

I am now heading back to the garage to start the carving

First rough cut complete. Here are some pictures of the process and result

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/45316851921_7d5d750a78_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/45316851921_7d5d750a78_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2c3uHg8 ]20181014_165201[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1927/45268598532_910a284e22_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1927/45268598532_910a284e22_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2bYepd9 ]20181014_165207[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1944/31443124758_87fa0f49d5_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1944/31443124758_87fa0f49d5_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PUwewE ]20181014_180247[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1907/45316858631_2e057c8003_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1907/45316858631_2e057c8003_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2c3uKfP ]20181014_180252[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1906/31443126818_2b2b372ed1_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1906/31443126818_2b2b372ed1_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/PUwf9b ]20181014_180255[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr