Scallop Shell

[Leo Voisine]

My friend brought this to me today. This is a Scallop Shell done by a chain saw artist that he buys a lot of his nautical stuff from. My friend resells at craft fairs and commission shops. My friend wants to make these on his own CNC machine.

So I stepped up to the challenge. I borrowed his Scallop shell and created my rendition of the shell in Aspire. The more I do this the easier it gets. This one took about 1-3 hours. I didn't really keep track of the time. I estimate it was more like 1.5 to 2 hours. I am pretty happy with this.

The chain saw artist is REALLY REALLY good at what he does, and REALLY REALLY hard to beat, but I am learning from his stuff. I will never beat him. After chain saw he sands then burns the wood. Then he wire brushes, distresses and lastly paints. He does such a good job it is an inspiration to learn from him.

Soooo HIS work



And my 3D model. Once I make it I will post it.

 

[Darren Wright]

The pic of his looks like there is a pattern through the center horizontally, is that some of the burning he does or is it just with the wood pattern itself?

 

[Leo Voisine]

That is just the grain of the wood. Cool, eh?

 

[Leo Voisine]

This is my rendition of the scallop shell. This is straight off the machine from the model I created. I have not done any sanding at all. Tomorrow I will sand it a little. I am thinking I may sand blast this one. I have never sand blasted anything before. Something new to learn.

Hey - at least it's WOOD. I used a 2x10 from Lowes.

 

[Don Baer]

looks good Leo, I did some sand blasting on a sign years ago, it is real messy if you don't have a sand blasting enclosure.

 

[Leo Voisine]

Well, I sanded it this morning. I dug out my brand new, never used sand blaster (non-cabinet) that I bought 3-5 years ago at HF.

I watched a couple of youtube vids - NOW - I am an EGGspurt.

I didn't try to hard to get rid of fuzzies of make it look beautiful. I will distress after sandblasting then paint it.

 

[Charles Lent]

Sand blasting wood doesn't make it smooth...it removes the softer wood between the growth rings. If that is the expected result, then go to it.

Charley

 

[Leo Voisine]

Charley, yes, I am expecting that result, that is why I didn't sand it smooth now.

 

[Leo Voisine]

OK, Sandblasted. Messy is an understatement. I used a cardboard box as a semi enclosure and I did it outside. Definately NEEDED the glasses so I had to take off my prescription glasses making it very difficult to see. Need to work on that. I may go out and buy a HF enclosure sand blaster. Anybody got a discount?

Soo I am pretty happy with it for a first time.

 

[Leo Voisine]

Added a bit of distressing

 

[Leo Voisine]

First layer of paint. This fills in the distressed marks.

 

[Darren Wright]

Looking good, thanks for showing the process.

Anybody got a discount?

PM'd

 

[Mine Hill]

What are the dimensions X Y & Z ?

 

[Leo Voisine]

Here is another layer of paint. I mix my own colors. This is black white and a touch of blue.

Tomorrow I will add a little more detail

Mione, it is about 1.375 thick (Z) at the thickest point It is 9.25 tall (Y) and I don't know the (x) I can get that from my other computer, of I can measure, but it is ABOUT 12"

 

[Ryan Mooney]

I'm liking it better now that the second layer of paint is on... wasn't so sure at first..

 

[Leo Voisine]

OK - this is it. I am calling this finished.

 

[Bill Arnold]

Looks like an excellent version of the original, Leo!

 

[Don Baer]

Leo I am impressed the finish was actually very good fresh off the CNC, what size and type of a cutter was used how long did it take and what was your feed rate.

 

[Leo Voisine]

Don, I used a 1/4 ball end mill for roughing and finishing. I used a 1/4 end mill to cut out. Feed at 250 IPM, RPM at 16000. Took 53 minutes. I could have run at 350 of 500 to save time. I also could have changed stepover from .020 to .030 or more to save time. I could also change the roughing from DOC of .1, to .2 or .3 to save time. I also could change the roughing stepover from 75% to 90% to save time. Lots of room to change things. The thing with feedrate is acel and decel. You never get to max feedrate anyway. Even with that said, I am sure I could cut the time to 1/2 hour or less without trying too hard.

With things like this I like to start slow and tweak it up.

If I make these to sell, I will definitely make it go a lot faster and make a dozen or so at a time.

Bill, Thank you, I am happy with it.

 

[David Johnson]

That came out very good. Love the natural coloring and shape. Those should like fresh clams.
David