Thread: need help... for mortise ...

Will try to do shortly: remember, these stools are a little eccentric (the wish of the client), but oddly comfortable, and kinda cool.

No finish on yet, so contrasting wood(s) of keys won't show as well.

No keys glued yet, but will show you them set in loosely.

Glad to oblige.

Soon,
Becky

Only a month late... got photos. One finished stool; one unfinished (am in the process).

But when I tried to upload the shots from my hard drive, the system hung for twenty minutes, then reported a "missing security token." Eh, what?

So I sent an e-mail to the admin, stating the problem: was told that was invalid, as well, so am assuming it didn't get through.

I really want to post these shots and hear your feedback, good, bad, or indifferent.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Becky

Becky,

Its almost worth it to open an account with Photobucket or some such on-line gallery and then link you pics to the forum. These days, the camera resolutions are so high that it is a pain in the ???? having to resize (lower the res) so the forum will accept it. I'm not sure that was the problem in your case - it usually says if the file is too large (which it always is).

Steve

They are high-res shots... maybe that was the issue.

Will look into photobucket.

Thanks, Steve.
Becky

Okay -- I think these are okay...

The single stool has a deeper undercut than I would have liked, but my first carvings, which were a bit geometric to show the grain differently -- well, everyone hated them, so I had to pare down to a shape that was more traditional, and more in keeping with the client's examples. Basically, I feel it's 'way too narrow now, but you can't put wood back. (I hate that.) Speaking of not putting wood back, there are a few odd cut-ins in it: these are areas where the beetle damage caused the wood to just blow away in a mild breeze. Carving and finishing such a bug-damaged beam was a challenge: especially getting the finish to not pool in the beetle-trails.

The finish is Waterlox: three coats of sealer; two coats satin. It's still a bit shiny for me, but should mellow out over time.

The butterflies are African Blackwood, Lacewood, Zebra, and something else I never could identify.

The double stool's butterflies are all teak, as are the handles. It's currently being finished. If you're interested in follow-ups, I'll be glad to post.

There's a second double being worked on: the butterflies will be all Purpleheart. Have a dreadful premonition the client will hate it. As we might, once it's done... Will post photos when it's done, so you can all mock our really poor choice of wood...

Thanks, folks. For your patience, and your input.

And thanks, Steve, for sending me to photobucket. Am assuming it's worked...

Wow, that's very nice work and very interesting. The pics come out teeny (basically thumbnail size right within the forum - so not linked to photobucket), but enough as is to show the works' shapes/colours. It would be nice to see them full size for a better look at the details. I hope you had some fun with these, as I can imagine the frustrations working without exact plans (like most custom work is).

Steve

Great work Becky! Would say more if I could see the photos better. If you would like me to try to re post the photos then email me. If you think photobucket would be better then maybe Sheets could help out as I am not that clever. What we can see looks very good.

Hi Becky

The double stool has excellent balance, proportions and details... very George Nakashima like!

I agree with you about the single stool, however, it does evoke reference to those wooden kokeshi dolls that the Japanese make and love... so they may have a very ready market if you call those your kokeshi stools..

I look forward to seeing further work.

Neil

Thanks, guys. Very tough to do... Keys, of course, dictated by the worst checking, then by need for balance.

Of course, I thought I was linking to photobucket. Steve -- any advice? I entered the http://etc line ("direct link")... but of course, even if it'd worked, that would only take you to the miniaturized photo anyway, not the original size.

What do I do, Sensei? Click what? Link who? Shut what??!!

Thanks,
Becky

Hi, Neil,

Thanks for the Nakashima reference -- it's what our client really is looking for, though we made the choice to build it this way free of Nakashima thoughts. Glad it turned out that way. When it's finished and the handles are set, I'll send further pix, as we did a little cheat inside the existing mortise which makes it look as though the handles go straight through both stools.

It also has a nice stagger to it: the beams (consecutive cuts) don't quite line up, so they kind of look like they're taking a step forward. Don't think I quite captured that in the hasty photos.

Kokeshi stools, eh? Personally, those things give me the creeps, but it might be a catching marketing ploy, eh?

I agree: I was very unhappy with the narrowing of the slope, but since my first carving was universally loathed and despised by all who saw it... well... next time it'll be better.

Apparently the client wants as many of these as we can supply (the we is me and the colleague I've joined forces with to crank these out faster -- a separate business from my refinishing), so I'll have plenty more opportunities to screw up -- I mean, correct the kokeshi look.

Might even try my original idea again, only more formal/less organic than my original attempt.

Thanks for the boost!
Becky

Originally Posted by yojimbo

Hi, Neil,

Thanks for the Nakashima reference .........--

I would have mentioned it also but I don't know who he is. Lol. You artistic types, you've lost me.

Why, you HEATHEN! In the words of the late, great Casey Stengel, "You could look it up."

I'm shocked. Shocked. And appalled. Did I mention appalled?

Really, Prozac, do yourself a favor, and check him out. Also his wonderful book, "The Soul of a Tree." George Nakashima. Remember that name.

I promise, he'll be well worth the effort.
Best,
Becky

Originally Posted by yojimbo

Why, you HEATHEN! In the words of the late, great Casey Stengel, "You could look it up."

I'm shocked. Shocked. And appalled. Did I mention appalled?

Really, Prozac, do yourself a favor, and check him out. Also his wonderful book, "The Soul of a Tree." George Nakashima. Remember that name.

I promise, he'll be well worth the effort.
Best,
Becky

Jesus Becky, you're a bit harsh! That's really upset me, didn't I tell you I couldn't read?

Ooops. Sorry. Completely slipped my mind.

But there, there, don't let it get you down: I can't write.

(Gee... didn't you tell me never to mention that reading thing on the Forum?)