I'm dumb and keep picking these 600 pc intarsia projects
This was
Supposed to be my fall project taking me into the winter but I'm so far ahead of my schedule
Only an idiot sets a schedule when retired but old habits don't die easily
Tiki bar refurbish all pcs cut except for top but waiting on my son to have time so we can tackle it
Epoxy table is moving along
I'll start this intarsia today
My only concern is this plan isn't numbered nor wood choice suggested so I'm on my own
The only thing I'll change on this pattern isnthe
Sky
Instead of incorporating the sky pieces into pattern I'll use some spalted maple or whatever I have and lay it on 1/2 inch ply
The entire piece will be mounted on 1/2 inch ply and the sky will be 1/4 inch thick rest will be 3/4 so sky looks in distance or something like that
I might raise some pieces to alter depth
Right now I have no clue just trying to keep busy
Me and elen have zero plans to go away until mid d august only taking kids to Hershey park then in sept down south so i have a load of free time as long as my back holds out
This is going to be very challenging for me
But I babysit a 3 year old and if I can handle that I feel I can handle anything
And as I'm typing my buddy texted me to remind me I promised to help him make a 90 inch by 5 feet high built in shelving unit for his kids house and of course I know he wants me to do it here so I'll have to take a few days off for that
I'm giving this one a difficulty level of 8.5 out of 10
It's sad this stuff is so addictive
Loads of difficult cuts
Had cardiologist today he was happy with everything except my weight what else is new
According to all the specialists I've been seeing for 20 years not including neuro I should have been dead 15 years ago
One doc I liked passed from cancer years ago one died from I don't know what and another retired due to illness
No canaries but I'm out there in 85 degrees playing with my 3 year old and then walking and then torturing myself with these intarsia patterns
So what do they know
Made a little progress
The artist didn't number nor reco species so I'm on my own on this one
Confusing when every piece looks similar
All I have is time well I hope I still do so I'm taking it slow and steady
Here's where I'm at left some paper on it so I know what pieces go next
Bottom snow is darker since it's older not as fresh
Hehe haha
One bird will be a cardinal
A bright red cardinal lands on my lawn a few times a week it's a beautiful looking bird
Inspired me to represent him on this pattern
Canary wood way too expensive to waste on all the snow but I will use some on the second bird makes sense right?
Canary wood?
Isn't canary wood from a bird?
Got one bird done today got interrupted by my buddy who got home from Florida so he had to tell me about his exploits
Started the second bird gonna be red like cardinal but I'm done for the day
I'll finish up the red bird this weekend and get busy with the hotwheels epoxy table
Eh
Anyway bird is canary wood sapele walnut yellowheart black limba
From all the layered animals I've made I have a box full of plastic eyes of every size and I'm using the smallest for these two birds
I have ebony but I like the way these look
I can't believe the dentist had me wait almost an hour because his fax or whatever did not receive the authorization for him to touch up some bonding
I was told it was sent but it wasnt
I took a chance when I went to Michigan that it wouldn't break but I have 3 roadtrips this summer needed it done and then once myn6 month no teeth work I'll get it all whitened and etc
Anyway I was fried when I got home it's hot it's humid but my addiction was strong
Took elen out to a nice lunch and was back in shop by 1:30
Second bird was difficult
Bloodwood and purple heart were smoking wood got so hot I couldn't hold it
I went up to 9 blade still tough
Bloodwood needs to be raised a bit
Here's where I'm at today
The beak is walnut and the front part of face is sapele
Hardest pattern I've attempted so far
I didn't realize that at 600 pcs there tiny tiny pcs involved
Tough to cut and fit
The house has more slats but I combined every 2 no one except artist might notice
Need to adjust door frame and windows but seems ok
Back fence on right side was total aggrevation
I will remake some of the snow caps on the fence posts eventually
Might also make inside of 2 front windows yellow like there's a light on inside
Here's where I'm at I need to stop to regroup
I love intarsia but these projects are so difficult
Working over an hour on one part the left part of tree
Taking a break
I have empty my car it's getting returned tomorrow and now I'm stuck for hopefully only 2-3 weeks till my new one gets shipped here
Me and elen have never shared one car for 47 years
Should be interesting
Slow progress today
Not sure if white or red oak background mountains will fly
When finished before shaping I'll have to decide
I'm surprised how difficult or should I say involved this piece is
Got gaps and eventually I'll make another piece or disguise as best I can
Here's where I'm at
I figure I have 85 percent of the pieces cut
The snow bush on the left side will be extremely challenging and I'm sure gaps will show but I'll address best I can
I figured out the only way to avoid gaps is to do easier pieces or cut and fit and shape and sand one piece at a time and glue as I go along
That would limit me to 5 pieces a day if I'm lucky and I'd still show some gaps
I'm rating this piece a 9 out of 10 on the difficulty scale for anyone even intarsiats 10 times better then me
Today my liquid list
4 12 ounce cans of seltzer
2 17 ounce bottles of water
2 16 ounce bottles of diet root beer
And 2 20 ounce cups of coffee in the am
I'm sure I'll take in another 50 ounces by soccer game tonight
Anyway stay hydrated if you work in 90 degree temp with tropical dewpoint/humidity
Have a looksie
I made risers for the red bird and chimney since my bloodwood is only 1/2 inch thick
Never to old to learn from mistakes
And my biggest mistake was choosing yet another pattern I have no business attempting
But I like to annoy myself but this is last one with 600 pcs and all the interlocking puzzle cuts
No more for me
So this morning my son invited us to his home the kiddies were thrilled the pool and slide the 3 video game rooms and enough legos to supply a small country so they went
Elen is dealing with upset stomach and I'm not 100 percent so we declined and naturally everyone was upset but understood
So I decided to finish pieces to see just how much I messed up
When I start to shape and sand I will go from right lower corner up and then out to the left so by the time I get to the bad gaps I can recut pieces as I need to
No reason to recut now because glue up will force a lot of them together
So much for cutting outside of lines
Eh
It's 250 degrees out there so I decided no more don't look at it worry about the gaps after I start sanding and shaping
Here's where I'm at
I know it doesn't look hard but for me this is an extremely difficult pattern to execute
I'd say maybe intarsia isn't my thing but I've made a few that I was offered a decent price for but never enough to make me happy
Take a look I put x on the one bad piece that is the monkey wrench in the works
