Thread: Collapsible Castles

[quote It is surprising the lack of information regarding collapsible castles on the market. As the name suggests they collapse back into the branch from .... and when tipped up form a castle. Windows are burnt in with a modified nail head.

LEFT][/quote]

Sir perhaps its the day or my brain but please explain how they collapse.

They really look neat just so natural

Do you have any patterns or hints

Originally Posted by Gra

Do you have any patterns or hints

.... do you want them ?????

Very simple ..... first get a branch .... second slice into lengthwise quarters on bandsaw ..... third cut off bottom ..... fourth tilt bandsaw / scrollsaw table slightly so that when each cut is make it will bind with the next on the way up ..... basically the cut should look like the sides of the letter "A" (I cut a few the wrong way) ..... cut random shapes making sure that you form a key so that the piece being cut cant fall out of the back .... ie begin your cut tight, and then swing away .... keep going in this manner until you run out of timber .... after that glue the base back on and you are in business.

The pieces will lock together as you pull them up wards ..... the amount of extension of each piece will be determined by the angle of your table to the blade .... the higher the angle, the higher the protrusion of the piece. As you have done the key type cut the pieces should lock each other in from falling out the back.

Difficult to explain in words .... I will post photos if it isn't clear on Sunday night following the show.

Amazing and its the sort of thing people will admire and wonder why the hell you have a dang old piece of wood sitting on the coffee table.

I love these Castles!! If you are lucky enough to find a branch with some interesting grain, it just adds to the imagined life of the Castle!!

Just Love them

cheers
Wendy

Ahem...Have mentioned these before Buried in podcast #22


http://www.collapsiblecastles.com/

Thanks Tankstand ..... I have seen them once before in person and also viewed the podcast, however as I stated in the original post there is little information on the net regarding the castles.

Generally most things that can be done in woodwork have been done to death in the past. If you do a search on google for bandsaw boxes you will get page after page after page .... a search for Collapsible Castles brings up far less results, but does include your earlier post.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/collapsiblecastles/ which is the same person as per your post seems to be the only person doing them in any quantity .... there is a photo on the page regarding how the cuts are tapered if you are interested.

I am not for a minute suggesting that it is my original idea ..... just a few quick things that I put together for the show that I though people may be interested in ..... so far they have been very popular especially with the kids .... 7-8 of the 9 I made have sold in a few hours today

Wendy .... the grain isn't really all that important .... I think the better timber has interesting bark and different coloured heart wood. Of the ones that I made I used apricot, oak and ??? cant recall the name of the last timber (first photo) but it stinks when sanded and despite the interesting colours I will not be using it again. As they are just a little fun you can just use what is lying around ..... if it doesn't work it can be put in the fire

A couple of times I've started to watch the podcast, only to be sidetracked by other things. So, I still haven't seen 'em being made.

Just one question... do all the cuts start and finish from the back edge, like a set of nested C's, or are they actually concentric rings (sorta), with the traversing cuts cuts hidden at the back of the castle when it is "opened?"

I probably haven't phrased that clearly... (but at least I know what I mean. )

Edit: just added a pic of what I mean... are the cuts like the top or bottom?
Attachment 59326

They are more so the nested "c" shape .... refer attached image from website listed above (ie I stole it )

I dont see why you couldn't do an entry cut straight from the back and then cut an "o" or a squiggle and then back out again. It would end up with a turrett that is more central to the block and pops up at the back also. Only problem would be that it wouldn't be all that attractive when viewed from the rear.

Edit: Just saw Skew's images.

They have been cut as per your image 1. The cuts need to be nested "c" so that they dont fall out of the back.
My thoughts above were if you were cutting a quater log (bottom and back flat). Using your half log method (ie only the bottom is flat) would be quite good as it could be viewed from all angles and removes the risk of pieces falling out of the back .... I like it .... a new technique worth thinking about next time. Thumbs up Skew!

Originally Posted by Sir Stink

I am not for a minute suggesting that it is my original idea

Sir Stink, I was merely adding the links to direct readers of your thread to where they may learn how to make these clever things themselves.
I wasn't calling anyone out and I apologise if I caused you grief.

Sir Stink, You did not make enough of these for the Barwon Valley wood show, all sold early, same for your band sawn boxes.
you were on a winner with them.
regards nine fingers.

Originally Posted by Sir Stinkalot

They have been cut as per your image 1. The cuts need to be nested "c" so that they dont fall out of the back.

Thanks. That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure as I'd just been trying to pick the entry points in the latest bandsawn box threads...

Brilliant! I'm going to give this a go and once I know how, get my kids involved in making some. Thanks for the inspiration.
Damien

well dont these look cool

nice work stinky