Quick CNC Router Project -- Zoe's Leash Rack

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This was a quick little project using the CNC Router.  It was to make a rack hung near the back door, where we could hang all our dog's leashes, harnesses, collars, etc.

I retired with some computer skills that lent themselves nicely to this amazing machine.  The item is designed in a computer drawing program.  Then another program writes instructions for the machine, telling it how to move the router bit 3-dimensionally.  

You can see it working in this 3-minute video.

Some New Tools

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I have purchased the following toys tools over the past few years, and enjoy them immensely.  From oldest to newest...

1.  Ringmaster Lathe Attachment

This device bolts to the lathe bed near the chuck and cuts rings from various-sized disks, which are then glued together, forming a bowl.

In the photo above, there is a red circle around the cutter making its angled cut through the blank.  More about the Ringmaster in a future post called, 'What the Heck is a Ringmaster"?"

2. Rikon 14" Bandsaw

Before this saw, I had one I'd purchased 30-ish years ago from the long-defunct 'House of Tools'.  It was a terrible saw and eventually became dangerous.  I removed the motor and took the saw to the recycle, rather than sell it to some unsuspecting woodworker who might be injured while using it.  The new Rikon has a 6" high fence and 14" of clearance for resawing.

For more pics, click 'Read More' below

Maple Burl End Table

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Several years ago, someone gave me some 3/4" slices from a 'bird's eye' maple burl.  The two largest were 'mirrored', and glued into a single piece.  From this, a round disk was cut approximately 14" in diameter.

Note the two red arrows at each end of the glue joint.

 The center spindle was eastern maple turned on the lathe.  The three curved feet were made from quilted oak.

Normally, when I bring new pieces up from the basement, my considerably better half says words to the effect, 'that's lovely, dear', and permits the new piece a short period of display time in the family room.  But eventually -- I'm sure in the dead of night -- most of them disappear to some remote corner of our home, seldom noticed again. 

But this burl table has apparently found a permanent home in our family room where any unsuspecting, innocent company might actually see it.  So far; so good ...  😁

A Close Shave

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In this vale
Of toil and sin,
Your head grows bald
But not your chin!

     Burma Shave

I am sufficiently long-of-tooth that I can remember the Burma Shave signs on driving trips in the US when I was a kid.

Maybe I had them in mind a few years ago when I went on a razor-making tangent.  A few of the adult males in my long-suffering family were about to receive more clutter from my shop for Christmas.

The set at the top is made with African blackwood, the same wood bagpipes are made from.  It is dense and oily -- perfect for a bathroom counter.

Here are two more.

Red cedar burl

My favourite turning wood is yellow cedar burl.  It is really nice to work with and has a distinctive pleasant odour that quickly fills the shop. If you can find bird's-eye burl like this, the markings really 'pop' when the finish is applied.

A Root-Ball Bowl

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Many years ago, a neighbour was removing a dead arbutus tree from his back yard and noticed a big knot or burl in the center of the root ball, so he thoughtfully gave it to me.  As you might imagine, the whole mass was a mixture of wood, small stones, and dirt.  After much blasting with the garden hose and hours resharpening tools, this small bowl emerged -- approx 6" across at the top.

Smarter Than Your Average Dog!

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My brother's companion out in the shop is an old yellow Labrador retriever named Elliott.  Elliott, being smarter than your average bear, has learned that when he hears the thickness planer start up, there will soon be a soft comfortable place to sleep and a thick blanket to keep him warm.  He immediately runs to the machine and lies down under the chip discharge. 😊

December 16, 2020    Sad news...   My brother had to make an agonizing decision about Elliot earlier today.  He had a local vet visit their hobby farm, and after a good long life, Elliott's aches and pains were gone.  My brother and his family are mourning the loss of this wonderful old dog.

The Beetle-Kill Pen

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I started making wooden pens over 20 years ago and one of my favourites was made from beetle-killed Lodgepole Pine.

In BC, the infamous 'mountain pine beetle' would eventually infect over 18 million hectares of forest-lands.  In the dead trees, the beetles usually left a distinctive greyish-blue stain streaked through the cream-coloured heartwood, in addition to a brown pitch stain.  

This is a section of beetle-killed pine 2X4 from the local Home Depot.  Note the 3 distinct colours.

So I wanted to make a segmented pen, highlighting these colours.  Here it is with a matching case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One person who looked at this photo, noticed there is an alien hiding in the grain.  Can you see him? 😉