Thread: Cremation urn - silver ash & Australian red cedar

Nicely done Alex. Is the marquetry an original design?

No, clip art supplied by the client, Bob

This looks a lot better than the I used to make at work

Beautiful box.

Love the way the grain of the silver ash above the fisherman looks like the sun and clouds. Was this a deliberate choice? Looks great.

Steven.

Thanks folks, glad you like it. I think the client made an excellent choice of timber, and the artwork she sent works well too.

Originally Posted by spokeshave

Love the way the grain of the silver ash above the fisherman looks like the sun and clouds. Was this a deliberate choice? Looks great.

Steven.

Yes, I'd cut a larger piece of veneer and chose the best part of it.

Nice marquetry. I thought the fisherman was laser engraved until I read your post. Outstanding as always.


Paul

Your finish interests me can you explain how you do it how many coats of shellac and Kunos oil is that instead of wax I have been looking for a new finish to use
Bob

Bob, I hope this helps.

After sanding to 800 grit, I use a coat of fairly thin shellac as a sanding sealer. Then I resand lightly with 800 & clean with white spirits. I use Kunos cut 50/50 with bio thinners. The first coat is a flood coat, most of which soaks in. After about 15 minutes I wipe off any that hasn't. Leave for 24 hours, and wipe on another coat - a reasonable amount, but not as much as the flood coat. When it starts to tack up (10-20 minutes depending on temp & humidity), buff it off. Next day, apply a coat with 0000 steel wool, and immediately wipe off any excess. after 10-20 minutes, buff it. After that, you can rub in as many very light coats as you like, a day apart, and buff them. On some timbers such as silver ash and Aus. red cedar you can achieve a very high sheen if you wish.

The old rule when applying oil used to be 'Once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year, then once a year on your birthday.' Probably not necessary with the quality oils we have now, but one lady I made a blanket box for has stuck to this, and I must say it looks pretty good after nearly 10 years.

Thank you Alex I will try on my next project I will be using red cedar and huon pine the end grain is a problem the shellac may solve it

White shellac will usually minimise the darkening on end grain that you get with oils.

Great Alex.
I've got a Christmas present for you, a nice small 30mm thick piece of heavily grained ASC. It's in the carport marked 'Alex', when you are over this way please collect
Thanks for showing this delicate piece

Greg

Wow, thanks Greg. I'll probably be over in the new year, depending on what timber my next client wants me to use.

Hope you and Mal & families have a great Christmas, and that the new year brings you all the best.