Where does the week go? Things are really picking up pace on the business front, and my current project has really taken shape. This weekend also saw the first day of the workshops open studios exhibition. If you haven't already done so, pop onto the C>art website and see all the other local Artists and Craftie-types that are opening their doors to the public. Its an exciting time, that justifies all the hard work and dusty cleaning spree. (http//:www.c-art.org.uk)
So last week I had set up a jig for drilling the back-rest spindle holes into the seat. All went well and I moved onto using the amazing big sander in the machine room to taper the seat ever so slightly across its width. Planing the curved edge onto the front bottom of the seat took a while, but the shape is just as I wanted.
All the final prep was done for the through joints on the ends of each spindle. Lovely English Walnut was kindly offered to me for use as wedges, which is going to really add a lovely contrast to the final piece. I've been dreaming of making something with Walnut, it's such a beautiful, dark wood. Very rarely does a Walnut tree pass through the timber yard, but when it does it gets quite a lot of attention. I have my eyes on some, I must concoct a wonderful project to do it justice.
A couple of dry runs, putting everything together the back-rest spindles have been fitted nicely. Jig no. 6 was rustled up for the secret screw holes that will join these spindles to the seat. Finally, an all-over fine finish sanding for all components before gluing up (if this doesn't make any sense what so ever, all will be revealed...)
And here we are... glued up with wedges and all. I also got the boot rack frame mortise and tenoned and glued up. Which leaves a bit of cleaning up around the joints and phase 3 of the project to crack on with Monday morning.
Check out Huw's incredible sliding gate in the background. It apparently weighs 300kg, is 80mm thick and beautifully finished. You don't want that to fall on your toe!