Competition WIP : The Big Sheep (patio set) - withdrawn

[big soft moose]

No actual work in progress yet but I have swimbo approval which is a step in the right direction. Slightly worried by the fact that ive never done anything like this before but what the **** it will be an adventure.

The concept is for a hexagonal or possibly octagonal table built in oak (and iroko on the non visible bits) and topped with quarry tiling. Lower than usual (a sort of higher than coffee table , lower than dining table , can put a drink on it but can also double as a impromptu potting table type height)

and two chairs

the table doesnt worry me that much as though ive never built one like that I have done a few coffee tables and things , however I've not built a chair before so that should be "interesting"

My entry was pretty spur of the moment so i'm just posting this thread now to help keep me motivated.

probably lots of WIP pics and "what the **** do i do now" enquiries to come

 

[OPJ]

My entry was pretty spur of the moment...

Well, if you don't enter or miss the deadline then you stand no chance of winning or taking part! :wink:

I'd focus on the table first of all, Pete. Forget about the chairs; they can come later (you've got plenty of time!). I'm no chair-maker myself but, when the time comes, you may find it easiest to make a couple of templates for the legs and things that you can use with a router. That way, you stand a better chance of ending up with two chairs that look identical.

 

[big soft moose]

Still no pics but sorted out my 'shop today - in order to accomodate my new lathe and was pleasantly suprised by the ammount of decent section oak i have kicking about - this will mean that i can revert to an all oak build rather than having to use iroko on the hidden bits ( I'm trying to do this out of reclaim and offcut as far as i can both for environmental reasons and because my bank account is depleted after the wedding (and new lathe)

Sketchup annoyingly doesnt work on my computer - bloody vista - but i will work out some back of an envelope sketches and scan them and put them up shortly.

the decision i'm trying to make at the moment is do i do four legs or one pedestal leg ? any advice would be most welcome.

 

[rkchapman]

I'd go for 4 legs but set well in (so as to act a bit like a pedestal in terms of not getting in the way).

A pedestal would need to be pretty beefy (and might then be less portable, which tends to be important in patio furniture).

Just my initial reaction, for what it's worth...

 

[big soft moose]

I'd go for 4 legs but set well in (so as to act a bit like a pedestal in terms of not getting in the way).

A pedestal would need to be pretty beefy (and might then be less portable, which tends to be important in patio furniture).

Just my initial reaction, for what it's worth...

cheers richard - i was leaning towards pedestal because then i dont have to worry about making 4 the same so thats food for thought.

ive got some 5" x5" oak which used to be thames path way markers so that ought to be beefy enough if i do go pedestal route- concerned it might be a bit plain tho so thinking about possibly carving a spiral ( which i can do as its just a turning technique writ large.) - or i might flute it - or turn it and stick some beads in, or use a router jig to make it octagonal to match the top , or ... hmm decisions decisions.

 

[oddsocks]

Sketchup annoyingly doesnt work on my computer - bloody vista - but i will work out some back of an envelope sketches and scan them and put them up shortly.

.

I have vista and run sketchup - it may be that your user doesn't have the permissions it needs.... If you have the shortcut on the desktop right click it and select run as administrator to see if that helps. Sketchup 7 definitely can work with vista home premium

Dave

 

[ste_5150]

Sketchup annoyingly doesnt work on my computer - bloody vista - but i will work out some back of an envelope sketches and scan them and put them up shortly.

.

I have vista and run sketchup - it may be that your user doesn't have the permissions it needs.... If you have the shortcut on the desktop right click it and select run as administrator to see if that helps. Sketchup 7 definitely can work with vista home premium

Dave

Sketchup's fine on my Vista machine as well. I hate Vista too though.... Patronising, badly organised OS if you ask me :wink:

If you want some advice on getting it working it seems there's a lot of expertise on here so maybe start a thread in Design??

I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread though - my first project is very similar! Good luck

 

[big soft moose]

An 11th hour design change has occurred - the set will now have a sheep theme (these being swimbos favorite) , my idea being that the table will resemble a big sheep with either a flattened top or a top that hinges open or pulls out , and a side table or two resembling much smaller sheep with holes in the top to take drinks. so that together they resemble a small flock - Chairs wise I'm thinking of either doing sheep as stools or doing something based on a shepherds crook

One thought is to of put the basic shapes together out of 4 or 5 " square oak then carve them with an arbortech and chainsaw (or to do it out of one big butt if i can lay hands on the timber), while another thought is to make the main table in a barrel like construction.

Yes I know this is somewhat ambitious for a beginer like me particularly as my carving has so far been limited to mushrooms and my joinery to signs and gates - but i figure you only live once and i decided that given the standard of joinery on here i havent a hope of competing on equal terms if i make something run of the mill - so i decided to chance my arm and do something a bit different.

(and yes i'll probably wake up tommorow with - oh god what did i do that for thoughts but such is life - he who never made a **** up , never made anything)

 

[oddsocks]

Wow - that is some design change! Can't wait to see it -you'll have guests flocking to your parties

 

[OPJ]

Sounds very interesting, Pete! It's always good if you can push yourself that little bit further away from your comfort zone - I look forward to seeing this one develop.

 

[big soft moose]

bumpety bumpety bump - as requested by woodbloke.

no more progress on this as yet - the trojan sheep has yet to leave the drawing board as i have a swimbo inspired list of "more important" jobs to do first including a cd rack and a sewing table to store her new sewing machine and assorted related items.

i have a design in mind for the sheep which involves cutting out loads of 2" thick shapes on the bandsaw and laminating them together , before carving with an arbotech and powerfile.

The idea is that it will be hollow and the top will come off and be turned over to become a table top

I still cant get sketch up to run on either of our computers so i will scrible and scan some designs asap.

 

[big soft moose]

As I have bravely / stupidly /insanely (delete as applicable) decided to resurect this project with only 10 days to go and without having started it yet i figured i better ressurect the WIP

another design revision has occured because swimbo cant remember approving the trojan sheep and now isnt so keen. ( to be fair the original approval came in the shape of a "yes dear" which may have indicated that she wasnt actually listening to my trojan sheep plans

the plan now is to build a patio seat/bench with a sheep motif to the back and with hinged tables on either side also in sheep shape - hopefully this is close enough to the original breif for rob not to disqualify me.

my intial sketch below will give you some idea ( tho you will also notice that i'm infringing on ironballs' patent for the scribble it )



the sheep for the back and tables will be cut out on the bandsaw / scrollsaw/ jig saw while the seating will be either 6x2 or 4x2 probably in oak or ash depending on what i can get at this notice

 

[WellsWood]

my intial sketch below will give you some idea ( tho you will also notice that i'm infringing on ironballs' patent for the scribble it )

I see you've got the motion blur plugin for that too :wink:


10 days to go and now you're starting, blimey you must be oplanning on working fast. I'd still be pondering which pencil to draw the plans with :roll: :wink:

 

[big soft moose]

following my recent op the doctor has told me not to lift anything heavy until saturday at the earliest - so my eleventh hour attempt will have to go by the board.

 

[wizer]

Double or even triple that time Pete. I think the quoted recovery times from the NHS are far too short.

 

[big soft moose]

Double or even triple that time Pete. I think the quoted recovery times from the NHS are far too short.

I went private so i'm hopeful that they know what they are talking about - actually its been 11 days since the op and after a week of doing next to nowt i'm now back on my feet and only having to take the occasional pain killer - still no heavy lifting until the end of the week minimum.

 

[Jake]

Shame, I was looking forward to seeing this one turn out.

 

[big soft moose]

Shame, I was looking forward to seeing this one turn out.

it'll still happen - just not in time for the compo deadline

 

[Jake]

Good stuff, it looks slightly bonkers (hope you don't mind me saying that) but great fun.