new2woodwrk Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) So I tried a 3d cut this morning... My first. I've been thinking of making a themed Chess Set. I don't play very well (actually, I don't play at all), but I love themed chess sets LOL Anyway, I used a Pegas #5 mfg brand spanking new blade. The dimensions of the piece ended up at 3 3/8" H x 1 1/4" W Here are the pics and then the lessons I learned - feel free to add your lessons as I may do this again with more scraps It's been dipped in polyurethane and is drying - this is the 2nd dip I don't think it came out to terrible, and I learned a few things which is always good. So for others who have not done this type of cut, but may be considering it here is what I learned... 1. Wood species - very important. I used poplar since that is what I use mostly at the moment. I can see this being a real problem with a very hard wood or a very soft wood. 2. The blank - I used a piece of poplar I had left over. It wasn't exactly cut to size (1 3/4" x 13/16"), but this was a test so I used it. This was the biggest problem I had... The problem was it wasn't a square piece, but was rectangular. This caused a problem when cutting the tall side as it barely fit below the arm of my saw and I couldn't get a good hold of it to guide it through the cut, the arm kept banging the heck out of my fingers. Even with a jig (which was also not set up correctly) I had a very difficult time holding the piece to cut. I think if/when I do another I'll cut the wood more square and thinner and I have to fix my jig to lock the piece in place. 3. Gluing - I used a glue stick and glued right to the wood. Since I had read the outside was going to be throw away any way, it seemed like the easiest option. It was easy, and the correct selection for me. Oh, and I hate to throw things away so I saved the pieces that are throw away. I can use them for framed scenic units when I make them and glue them to the backing 4. Drilling - I used a 1/8 drill bit and probably should have a little smaller for the starting holes. Problem was the rectangular side also posed a problem with the bit size. 5. Blade - There were 2 sides to cut on this pattern, and one side (the deepest cut side) as mentioned in #2 above was a real bear to hold onto and guide. However, the selection of the #5 was spot on, if I used a harder wood I would most likely use a #7 blade instead. 6. Cutting - The cutting of the flat side, was fairly smooth. But again see #2, not so easy. And the tall side took a lot longer than the flat side - makes sense cutting through more wood 7. Taping - Once I had finished cutting the flat side, I had to tape the cut piece in place with clear packing tape. I should have taped the whole thing BEFORE starting the cut. Well there it is. Another type of cut under my belt! Thanks as always in advance for reading Edited May 3, 2021 by new2woodwrk frankorona, Charlie E, ben2008 and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) All looks not to bad, I wood be interested in seeing your jig please.....I have no trouble with my jigs.... This is very much the same as mine... https://www.stevedgood.com/catalog/index.php Just type jig and it's the first one on the page... Edited May 3, 2021 by merlin new2woodwrk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawson56 Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 It looks Pretty Darn Impressive. I had tried it a few times. Didn't turn out to well. new2woodwrk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 (edited) I find 3D cutting fascinating... It is always a surprise to me what comes out when you remove the outer wood... I love the mini bird houses,,, so does my daughter, she steals every one I make and my favorite is the 3D nut crackers I have cut... she stoled that also... but she use to dance in the local Nut Cracker productions when she was a little ballerina many years ago... Like you,,, I have patterns to make a chess set... hope to get to it this year.. Show progress on yours,,, it will keep me interested in completing one.. I will be a thanking you... Edited May 3, 2021 by Scrappile Dave Monk, new2woodwrk, young ned and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjweb Posted May 3, 2021 Report Share Posted May 3, 2021 Paul I really like your nut crackers, where did you get the patterns, RJ new2woodwrk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2woodwrk Posted May 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 3 hours ago, merlin said: All looks not to bad, I wood be interested in seeing your jig please.....I have no trouble with my jigs.... This is very much the same as mine... https://www.stevedgood.com/catalog/index.php Just type jig and it's the first one on the page... That's the same jig type I have. My problem was I started to cut before I put the piece into the jig and then started to have trouble with the height of one side and by that time I couldnt get the jig setup properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 (edited) 45 minutes ago, rjweb said: Paul I really like your nut crackers, where did you get the patterns, RJ http://www.jeplans.com/Catalog/Catalog2.php?targp=JECAT&JECAT=All scroll down almost to the bottom. Edited May 4, 2021 by Scrappile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveww1 Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 nice job new2woodwrk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAC1961 Posted May 4, 2021 Report Share Posted May 4, 2021 Looks good to me. My favorite wood for 3D scrolling is basswood. Others work well, finer grain and softer the better. I almost start with a #5 blade and adjust up or down as needed. I almost always finish with boiled linseed oil. Scrappile, new2woodwrk and BadBob 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomanydogs Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 The Sea Horse came out really good. I like it. Well done. new2woodwrk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barb.j.enders Posted May 7, 2021 Report Share Posted May 7, 2021 Looks great. If you want to do a themed chess set, the link that Scrappile posted also has a nautical themed chess set. I started that set about 5 years ago.... still working on it. LOL new2woodwrk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2woodwrk Posted May 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2021 11 hours ago, barb.j.enders said: Looks great. If you want to do a themed chess set, the link that Scrappile posted also has a nautical themed chess set. I started that set about 5 years ago.... still working on it. LOL Thanks - I've given up on attempting a chess set. Instead I'm going with 3d play sets for children Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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