Calenders

[gwaithcoed]

Each year I try to make something for the Lady Captain at our local golf club to sell to raise money for her nominated charity. I've done bird boxes and bird tables but this year it's Perpetual Calenders.
I was given one to repair after the glue had failed and thought they would be something that would sell.
My skip diving friend had just bought me a Mahogany door that he happened to see and I used the glazing bars for the houses. The blocks are beech from some table legs. I've made 10 in total and hope they do well

Fortunately I have a gravograph engraver and used this to engrave the numbers and months on to the blocks. These were then highlighted with a black pencil. Two coats of quick drying varnish and there ready to go.

Alan.

 

[Vic Perrin]

Snap!!!!

Only problem Alan is that my Mrs brought this one from Next £15 I think.

Regards

Vic

 

[marcros]

Is a third block needed to cover every date ?

 

[Vic Perrin]

Is a third block needed to cover every date ?

No
I block has 1,6,3,5,2,0. The other has 1,8,4,7, 2,0.

The 6 is also the 9

Cheers

Vic

 

[marcros]

Ah. The penny drops.

 

[Mr_P]

Great job, seriously just black pencil ?

I'm planning something with letters and in my head I've been coming up with all sorts of crazy heath robinson contraptions involving compressors / head gear with syringes and tubing.

I was planning on using paint for the letters and leaving the wood raw or maybe just a wipe with oil.

Any tips on varnishing dice ? Did you spray or use a brush ?

I'm also using reclaim to keep my unit cost low but each item will need over 100 letters so the final selling price will mainly depend on how quickly I can make them.

 

[powertools]

This is interesting. I have a small Graphograph machine that I purchased years ago to make stencils for car window security marking since nobody has this done any more the machine has not been used for a few years.
I have never considered using it on wood but I have unearthed it this morning having seen this and now have all sorts of ideas but I still need to find the instructions. I have 6 different sets of fonts but what sort of cutter do you use in wood?

 

[gwaithcoed]

Mr P wrote

Any tips on varnishing dice ? Did you spray or use a brush ?

I ues a brush. Made a "V" channel with 2 pieces of wood.This allowed me to do 4 sides by holding the other 2, drop it in the V and then do the other sides

powertool wrote

but what sort of cutter do you use in wood?
Post P

The cutters are all 1/8 diam carbide and I use the one with the broadest cut,

Alan.

 

[powertools]

Thanks for reply I will have to experiment with this idea.

 

[Baldhead]

Alan

Very nice, also nice to do something for charity, can you give me some more info on your engraving machine please.

Bh

 

[gwaithcoed]

Hello Bh, It is a Gravograph IM3.

Alan.

 

[powertools]

Here is a picture of mine.

I think that it is an older model IN2

It has been in the back of my mind to sell it when I got round to it but having tried it on wood for the first time today I shall try out a few ideas and I think that I will be keeping it thanks to this thread.

 

[Baldhead]

Alan, Powertools

Thanks for that, I've just found one of these on eBay, unfortunately I don't have the funds at the moment, however one will be on my 'wish list'

BH