tributesinwood
Wood Carvings by Mark Sheridan
Starting To Look Like A Box
Today, I’ve fitted everything together with a bit more cutting here and there. The biggest item was routering a recess in the bottom inside of the box to accommodate the bottom panel. Once that’s in place and everything is glued together, I’m planning to add some oak trim at the top to act as a shoulder for the lid and at the bottom to act as a more decorative base.
Joining the Box Panels
I had originally intended to join the box together using bevel joints…basically, a 45 degree saw cut along the length of the box side with each side glued to the adjoining panel. I don’t have a table saw but I do have a nice radial arm saw that was given to me by my Dad.
When I cut the basic panels out of the basswood length that I bought, I had set the saw up pretty accurately for a nice square cut. There’s actually a lot to setting up a radial arm saw and I had it within about 1/64″ accuracy. When I went to cut a bevel cut, however, it was a different story. The bevel cut of about a 12″ length and through an inch thick stock just could not be kept accurate ( and I’m honestly still not sure why )…so, I gave up and went to Plan ‘B’.
And Plan ‘B’ worked out so well it will now become Plan ‘A’ for remaining projects!
As you can see from the photos, I created a bit of a more complex rabbet joint using a router. I just carefully measured out the dimension of the rabbets and used a fence and hand-held router. I wanted to keep any joint lines that might be slightly visible as thin as possible…that’s why there’s that little 1/8″ ‘cap’ on one of the panel sides. Next step is to add a top and bottom to the box.
Four Panels Completed
Are carvings really ever completed? It always seems to me that there’s a little more that I can do. But, I think with these four panels that I’m pretty much where I want to be.
I used the plunge router base that I bought for my Dremel tool to get those panel lines that you see around the figures. A little chisel work was required to clean things up a bit, but it was mostly done with the little router and a 1/4″ bit.
Next stop is to put them on the radial arm saw to get the 45 degree bevel cuts that I need on the sides to form the box. I took a long time in setting up the saw and I think I have it very close to square. I’ll try a few pieces of scrap material before I start into the panels that I carved. If you’re wondering why I didn’t do the bevel cuts first…I flirted with that idea as well. I decided that I’d have a better chance of damaging the corners while carving so decided to do the bevel cuts last and then glue up the box.
Some Initial Sanding
With a bit more detailing with the Foredom tool equipped with ruby cutters, and some initial sanding, Saint Mark is looking pretty good.
This afternoon, Paul and I are doing some swimming ( indoors…it’s -10 C outside ) and Mom is making us pizza for supper…so, if I get a bit more carving time in there as well, all told it’s going to be another banner Saturday!
Today’s Activities
Unfortunately, it’s a rainy January day in Kingston today. The weather is becoming more and more peculiar. The next few days are well above freezing and the following few days are expected to be way, way below freezing. So, Rosie and I did our daily walk through puddles this morning. I’d much prefer walking through snow at this time of year.
I did spend a bit of time on my latest panel for the chalice box. I’m enjoying using the plunge-base for the Dremel tool. I used it to cut a 5/8″ channel all around the figure and then used it again to cut a lesser channel around the halo and around the arms and book. It’s actually quite handy in that you can set the depth that you want to carve down to and then just chisel later into that channel. The Dremel tool isn’t all that powerful, so you have to take a few passes to get to the 5/8″ depth.
I’m working on the face right now and will turn to some Foredom tool work for the finer detail very shortly.
Here’s how it’s looking at this point.
Third Panel Completed
The panel of Jesus is pretty much complete. I’ll do a few minor touch ups and final sanding on each of the panels before putting a urethane finish on them, but this figure of Jesus is about where I wanted to go with it.
The next, and final, panel is that of Saint Mark. Mark is known for a number of reasons including the writing of the Gospel, but one of the noteworthy historical facts is that it was Mark who brought the Gospels to Egypt. For this reason, Mark is often depicted holding or carrying the bible. I’m planning to depict him similar to this figure of Jesus but with his hands holding an open bible.
I also plan on making some channels with a router around the edge of these panels and I’m not sure whether I’ll do that or start on the panel of Mark…
My Wonderful Daughter
Emily sent me a couple of photos of her fun night out with friends. You’ve probably heard of “paint night” activities…where you join a group for a night of painting a particular scene led by a local artist.
Well, Emily went to such a get together last night and came up with this acrylic masterpiece! She had just a great time and tells me that this group has a Facebook page at paintniteHamilton if you’re interested in seeing other nights that they’ve sponsored.
Today’s Progress
I’m still getting reacquainted with relief carving so it’s taking me a bit of time. Actually, with practice, I know that I’ll be more willing to take big chunks away at a time…but, for now, I’m working pretty slowly and making sure that I don’t take too much away in the wrong spots! As a result, I had to do Jesus’ face twice today as my first effort was nice but too pronounced for the rest of the figure’s body…so, I re-carved the entire face an 1/8″ lower!
But, it’s a rainy, grey winter day so my little Sheltie, Rosie, and I just sat downstairs for a few hours and carved away. I carved and Rosie curled up on the floor amongst the wood chips which she later deposited around the house.
Here’s what things are looking like at this point. Still a lot to do and a few things to correct, I think.
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