Thread: Yr 12 HSC Major Project feedback

Welcome to the forum.

As your teacher has no doubt told you, you need to demonstrate your competence at as many techniques as you can, but you also have to design a project that you can complete. Therefore, you need to take on a project that is within your capabilities and do it well, rather than taking on a project that you can't do well.
It sounds like your design achieves the first of all requirements - it does what it is meant to do. No doubt in your portfolio you have explained what it has to do - e.g. hold jewellery, rings, necklaces, ear rings etc, and how you've achieved this with particular materials & designs.
One thing I've noticed with otherwise good designs is that they are too chunky. Ask yourself if you can make panels thinner. If this means potential problems with warping, spell them out and explain how you overcame them.
Make sure your drawers are a good fit. There's nothing nicer than a piston fit drawer. This may mean a bit of work with a card scraper.
While the content of your portfolio is important, don't forget presentation. This includes spelling and grammar. Have someone who's never seen it before - perhaps your local librarian - proofread it. For example:

im I'm a student which who is currently completing my woodwork major project for hsc. It is currently not completed but i was hoping for some feedback on the design, things iI could do to finish it and the timber iI have used.

As far as finishing goes, it's a subjective decision. French polishing looks great, takes time and skill, but is easily repaired if damaged. Oil also takes time, ives you some control over the degree of sheen and is also reasonably easy to repair, but needs refreshing from time to time. Polyurethane is quick and more resistant to damage, but is also difficult to repair and can make the project look like it's wrapped in Glad-Wrap. Do some test pieces, make your choice, but show that you have considered the options and justify your choice.

Please don't think I'm being pedantic about spelling & grammar. If the quality of your writing just puts your marker in a good mood, that can make a difference of one or two marks. Every mark counts. Good luck and best wishes.

Hi Amber81

I like the wood selection ..
Looks like mitred dovetails ... nice crafting

Just on the internal finish ...french velvet lined drawers and contrasting timber in the dividers always looks good. Dividers around 6mm will help reduce the bulk

I see that you can do dovetails ... what about sliding dovetail ends on the partitions ... and rails?

Good luck ...

Keep the pics coming


regards

Rob

Timber looks like American Walnut (one of my favourites).
If you want an easy, spray-on finish that doesn't look like plastic, see if you can track down Mirotone Spraylac. It's a very natural looking finish that doesn't fill the pores, so you can still see all the grain.

Originally Posted by amber81

Hi Everyone<

im a student which is currently completing my woodwork major project for hsc. It is currently not completed but i was hoping for some feedback on the design, things i could do to finish it and the timber i have used.

my jewellery box consists of:
- 3 horizontal drawers
- 2 verticle with aluminium inserts with holes drilled in them to hold earrings
- 2 necklace doors
- it also has a grain match cut out of one piece of timber that will make up the false fronts of the doors

Hi amber

welcome to the forums -- I hope we are able to help you.

Alex has provided some excellent advice, but I'm a little concerned that I may not be understanding the question you are asking us.

Are you looking to short-cut the process of selecting the finish you ill use on the jewelry box, or asking our help in prioritizing the time you can spend working on the box between now and when you need to hand in the project later this month. If the latter, you really need to sit down with your teacher and the marking criteria and reach an understanding of what is involved in completing both your portfolio and the project itself.
If I have interpreted your question correctly, you need a very good understanding of where a final burst of effort will be best rewarded in additional marks -- over and above what you have completed so far will be rewarded.

As I read the marking criteria, an incomplete project accompanied by a complete portfolio will score better than a completed project with an incomplete or poorly written portfolio.