Celtic Stone Cross-Made of wood

**xgrain** · 23rd November 2012, 08:57 AM

HI all,
My recent achievemnet. A friend of mine is getting married and they are both lovers of cletic knots and such. This is their suprise gift.
Challenges:
One entry point only
vertical as opposed to my previous horizontal ones.
Make it look like it was carved.
Use up some more of that reclaimed Merbu

I also went reverse on the "make draw front level with the face". Because I had set back the "round" part of the cross I wanted the draw fronts to match. At this point I finally decided how I was going to do the draw pulls. I wanted them to be apart of the criss crossing of the celtic knot which made up the outlines of the draws. So I made the draw fronts extra thick. Then routered away the outer to leave the diamond pattern raised. ie the draw pulls are not glued on.

I messed up the lines where the bottom leg meets the round. Had to fix by coming in at a compound angle. Unfortunately it stands out a bit ;( destroying the symetry. Im also not so sure why I drilled those 4 holes

Path of blade. Almost went thru the edge at the top loop and the left loop is not a nice curve. However I was pretty chuffed I achieved it with no major rework.
Looking at the front. Entry is at the bottom centre of bottom draw. Cutting the right hand curve of that draw and snaking across to the left hand side of the next draw up and then the right hand side of the third etc. We go into the top right draw over to the right and back under itself and then up into the left side of the top most draw over and down on the right looping into the bottom of the left hand draw over the top which leads us into the right hand side of the middle draws, back down the middle draws criss crossing and finally out the entry point albeit at a different angle.

Not many of the surfaces gave easy access to power sanding

. Which took the edge off the finishing fun.

Gave it a few more wax coats since these pictures, as they revealled some not so good finish in areas.

I think this would be really nice in single piece of wood. It might be a design I will re visit after my skill set has improved.

**wood hacker** · 23rd November 2012, 09:18 AM

What can I say other than FREAKING FANTASTIC.

It's obvious that a lot of thought and planning went into it. Very well done.

cheers
WH

**mrpedersen** · 23rd November 2012, 11:18 AM

Absolutely great !! And yes, In a single block it would also be great, But I really the way it is - Gives it that aged look of a Celtic work.

glenn

**Sir Stinkalot** · 23rd November 2012, 11:27 AM

Looks great. A very well considered design and well executed. I cannot say that I have seen anything similar previously.

My only suggestion, which is perhaps very picky, is to insert some shims into the drawer cavity on the bottom to lift the drawers slightly in their cavities to help even out the saw kerf. Perhaps it is more to do with the photo angle, however in the front on picture the top drawer sits quite low due to the wedge shape created, leaving a larger gap at the top (where you were concerned about breaking out the top). A couple of small shims on the left and right side of the drawer cavity will lift the drawer up slightly closing the gap at the top and creating a more even gap around the drawers when they are closed. This will be particularly effective with the "carved" look that you have created as in a carved version the middle part would have been central.

Other than that minor comment I think it really is a very technical box that you have managed to pull off well.

**John T** · 23rd November 2012, 01:26 PM

You are brave man to try that design a mighty achivement

well done.
john.

**tdrumnut** · 23rd November 2012, 02:12 PM

I'm with woodhacker 'Freakin fantastic'

**torchwood** · 24th November 2012, 03:33 PM

That took a lot of thinking, stunning. Harry

**xgrain** · 25th November 2012, 06:08 AM

thanks all,
Right on the shim idea too. I actually bought some sticky felt with the intention to do this one but as it was the last thing to do and time was short I only had one chance at it...and it failed. The felt was too thick

and the two drawsI tried it on wouldnt slide out. So I needed something thinner but had no time to make such

Next time I promise

**Humphrey9999** · 25th November 2012, 09:33 AM

Beautiful work xgrain. That carved look is great. Quite an exercise in planning. Well done.

**Robson Valley** · 25th November 2012, 09:41 AM

There won't be another wedding gift that will come close to what you have achieved.
It's a perfect example of exactly what you can't buy. Yet, some elements of carving are there.
I have a little book detailing the geometry of carved windows, mostly in churches.
Perhaps to reduce the weight or let in more light but round holes are not uncommon.

Sacred Geometry. Miranda Lundy. 1998. Fitzhenry & Whiteside (Canada)
Markham, ON. L3R 4T8 ISBN: 0-8027-1382-3

**bosox** · 27th November 2012, 01:49 AM

That is one of a kind and the most incredible band saw box I've ever seen. !!!!

**orraloon** · 27th November 2012, 03:34 PM

As someone who has only just started on the first couple of boxes I am very impressed.
As an old celt I am very impressed.
Impressive all round.
Regards
John

**artme** · 28th November 2012, 06:16 PM

Good grief!! What a project and what a great result!!

**Jonzjob** · 29th November 2012, 04:19 AM

That is a very impressive box mate. Congratulations on both the design and the finish!

**Sculptured Box** · 30th November 2012, 08:10 AM

agree with the previous comments, a great design and very well done, have no doubt this will be a much loved and treasured gift !

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