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Just finished this up. Been a long week or so, had a business trip (office move in Louisiana, a 6-hour drive each way with a two-night stay in what used to be a decent hotel chain) and a couple of other projects pop up in the middle. Lots of little cuts, lots of angles, so I went through about four or five Pegas #1MG blades. The pattern is by Seyit, I found it in the Pattern Library. Used some scrap 1/2" ply I had on hand at the time. Not planning on framing this one (the scrap I had fit the pattern, but....not really enough space around all sides for a frame). I've stained it a natural stain, and will put two small eyebolts at the top and just run a piece of twine for the rustic look. If I do this pattern again, I'll be cutting the pattern so that there's enough space for the frame to be added in a diamond shape, instead of square. The pattern just seems to want the diamond. All in all, a fun cut!

I was getting down a box in the shop to find something & this nice piece of cherry was laying in the bottom......not sure where I got it but I couldn't think of a better way to use it.....another "Tree Of Life Cross" plaque......9 x 12.......5 coats of semi gloss Deft.....chamfered edges......it will be a gift for my mom later today.

H.Botas pattern done using #3 spiral blade on 1/4 inch BB plywood and Black photo board backer.hope you all like it !

Just finished a piece for my son & daughter-in-law's 25th anniversary. I'll send it to them end of the month as I was in the middle of a shutter project for a lady and 3 other projects. It came out nice so I'm going to put it in my display for the fair this week. It's 1/4" Oak veneer, cut with #1 & #3 Pegas blades, with a dip in Watco Natural. I'm going to make a frame, which is something new for me. Probably use a black background of some type, mat or painted. Undecided on a "floating frame" or a frame with no matting or glass, I've noticed a lot of that style lately, just the piece from edge to edge with frame overlapping the piece. Don't know if that style has a name...I've been a "stuff it in a Walmart frame" type of guy till I got my new miter saw (toy) the other day. What would you guys and gals that frame your work suggest? Making frames and picking the right background, other than everything black, is a new part of the hobby I need to learn. I've seen some of your posts with a very nice piece of work...and being framed just really makes it pop! I need to learn that!

I wanted to do something on the smaller size for my first attempt. So I framed this Keep On Truckin fretwork I did a month or so ago. I used a piece of 3/4" corner molding, cut and glued it. Then took a piece of 1/4" BB ply, cut & fitted it. Then 2 coats of water based Poly, dry over night, brushed some black paint on backer and inside of frame...let dry. Next I glued the backer to the molding frame, put a few drops of glue on the fretwork and carefully set in place. Quickly I used playing cards ( from Tropicana in Vegas ) to even the spacing. Cards are all the same thickness, use same number of cards on opposing sides. When I do something larger, like 8 x 10 I think I'll use a 1/4" spacing...this small one is 1/8". Also the corner molding, 3/4" or 1 1/8", works slick for small items but I'll use Poplar and paint or Oak for larger stuff. Did I do it OK, or did I miss something I should do next time?

You sure are keeping busy Gary. If I frame a project I always make my frame. I have never used glass. I have the same miter saw as you but I think I get a better job using a sled on my table saw which I made. I also make a lot out of poplar and lacquer them black.

I just start my projects at the end and work towards the beginning... that way I know its going to mess up first instead of last..

Whenever I lose something, I go buy a new one. I always keep the receipt so I can return it because I know I'll find whatever it was.

What I would do, an have done, is use a piece of the same wood an put pattern of the words on it. Cut an glue on. Don’t tell an nobody but you knows!

why do mistakes happen at the end of a project and not the beginning? I just spent over a hour on a word saying project only to have not only the last 2 letters break but also go fling off into never-never land!! I'm going to have to start from the beginning. That is after I calm down. Sorry just had to rant to somebody who would understand

So one reason I haven’t messed with my laser yet even though I’ve had it for nearly two years is I needed to figure out a stand, being busy and trying to learn the ropes of the CNC router the laser just sat on the back burner. Earlier this summer my bbq grill bottom rusted out. I fabricated a new bottom for it to get by while this COVID was so rampant. Last week the igniter quit and I’d had enough of this piecing it together with tape and glue so to speak. Went and got a new grill. My wife asked me what I was going to do with the old grill while we was moving it out of the spot to put the new grill. I said put it on the scrap trailer, ( I have a dedicated trailer that I throw metal scraps on to haul to the metal recycling centers) then it hit me. I unmourned the grill from the stand and had this scrap 1/2” osb already cut to the right size. I have some 1” too that I used for my flooring in my loft but this seems to be plenty heavy enough ( laser doesn’t weigh much) . The spot on the bottom where the lp tank goes is a perfect spot for the 5 gallon bucket of coolant for the C02 laser tube. I’ll probably build a heavier top later with enough room for a work bench spot for the laptop etc but this seems to work pretty well like this for now. Planning to have the laser setup outside of my main shop due to all the fine dust that I haven’t been able to get 100% control of yet from my saws and sanders even though I have dust collection and air filters etc. and I’m assuming the dust and the laser won’t get along with one another to well. So anyway I’m setting it up in my loft above my shop.

Someone please remind me to NEVER 4 stack 1/8" again LOL - it was very nerve racking, and took me way too long to finish (between the heat and humidity and loss of interest). But anyway, I finished my stack cuts thanks to the break in weather for the last 2 days... So here is one of the 4 (still needs finishing) - Used a Modified 3 Pegas on most of it, with a MG 1 for some of the smaller cuts Here are the 4 stacked cuts - Whew! The wife took one off my workbench I was using to make a frame and painted it. Looks ok though to me - thoughts? Thanks in advance as always for reading

I really have to agree with this. Some fretwork takes around 400 holes, sometimes more. Then fuzzies, more sanding, fiddling, finishing...

I am glad not to have to worry about time spent. I am sure it helps with pricing your work. I spend quite a lot of time in the shop messing around and tell my wife it is planning time.

Similar happened to me just before the summer. I cut a puzzle, and while I was sanding a large piece broke off and went flying who knows where. I did as @trackman suggested and just as I finished cutting the replacement i happened to look under a cart and there was my missing piece. So, yeah I feel for ya for sure LOL

After we bought and remodeled this house two years ago, I put up a 18 x 30 shop/boat storage building. So I have plenty of room, If I keep the boxes of "stuff" from taking over! About a year ago I happened upon a small insulation company from central KS that was doing a large job in my part of MO. They had a bunch of leftover chemicals and made me a deal I couldn't refuse! They got a little money for chemical they would have to throw out anyway, and I got my shop spray foamed for dirt cheep. The nearest Hobby Lobby is a good 45-60 min. away...one way. The COVID is pretty active in Joplin right now, so I don't go there unless I absolutely have to...and I haven't done so. But they do have a large frame selection! They even have the frames/boxes you would put an autographed football, baseball & bat, jersey, etc. in. I don't mind ordering one online...if I've seen it before and know how it looks in person and the quality, or lack of, but hate to just order blind on that kind of thing.

+1 on this idea... Chris

I will offer this only because it has happened to me. By the time you get to the end of a project, my may lose some of your concentration and also just become lack-a-dazical. I have no idea how to spell that. Anyway, when you first start, you are 100% into it but by the time you near the end, your mind has moved on to the next part of the project. It's just human nature and something to be worked on. I'm 77 and still trying to do it but each day, the solution is farther and farther from me. Best of luck.

The parents of my wife’s friend has a cabin on a lake in Cold Spring MN. They let us use it for a week and wouldn’t take anything for it. I seen in the cabin that there was a frog theme lol. I counted 19 different frogs. So what is one more. Made from red oak. Frog is green popular and the tops of the cattails stained colonial oak. Cut with #5 pegas MG. Pattern is by Sheila Landry.

Many years ago, my wife and I visited the Napa Valley and had a chance to tour the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. On the property was a museum of some of his memorabilia including his 5 Oscars, the desk from the Godfather and the Tucker car. After WWII there was a demand for new cars and Preston Tucker, the founder, wanted to produce an innovative car with many safety features, like seat belts, padded dash and shatter proof glass. This car had a rear engine and transmission and many versions of engines. (most problematic) He also incorporated a 3rd headlight that tracked along with the steering wheel. His marketing plans and possible stock fraud got him in trouble with the SEC. Even though he was indicted he was never convicted, the bad press led to his bankruptcy and closing of his company. Only 51 cars were ever produced. In 1988 Jeff Bridges starred in a film called Tucker, A Man and His Dream, that documents the history of the car and Preston Tucker. Another fun cut, especially the grill. Time to give the cars a rest for a while. Looking at an Art Deco box pattern.

They look Fantastic!!!.Most I have ever stack cut was 3,They were 1/4.

I wholeheartedly agree with Frank. You did a great job cutting, but not so great on the wood selection.

If you want .. next time I'm in there .. I pass it every time I go fishing up at Lake Sonoma .. which is ON FIRE right now .. heck .. Coppola may have burned down, too, in fact .. but .. if it's standing after this is done .. I can send you a bunch of pictures of it ... I'm part of the "COPPOLA FAMILY" .. just something he did when he first opened the winery. Not really family. But - I have a card that says I am. hahahahahaha. I wonder if it's still standing. ... . hmmmmm. Napa and Sonoma Counties on fire .. over 17,000 lightening strikes hit last Friday. One even hit the Mini-Horse next door. He's in "horse heaven" now. Can see the fires from my front porch. Well .. lemme know .. I'll get ya pictures of that TUCKER.

Absolutely beautiful work. Seems a shame you decided to use scrap ply rather than a nice piece of solid wood. I try to think of what I want a finish project to look like before ever selecting the wood for cutting and I like to think about the size and kind of frame I would want to use. Many, many years ago my Dad, rest his soul, used to do marketry and made beautiful pictures just by selecting the right pieces of wood vaneers for color and grain. I attempt to think about the whole project including looking carfefully at the grain of the wood I chose to cut. It can make a big difference in the beauty of the finish project.

Diamond in the rough it is!!!.probably would have tripled the value done in hard wood

fantastic job, it's beautiful

terrific job

Whoa!! I agree!!! I,ve one board of cherry left and will have to look for it to do this too! Nice job Smitty!!!

That's stunning and I like the idea of a diamond shape. !

Beautiful work Bernd.

You did fantastic for being your first stack cut Brenda.

Well, I'm glad you are "not displeased"' Brenda! LOL Actually though, you did a marvelous job and the out-come is fantastic. Thanks for sharing and God Bless! Spirithorse

Looks great, Gary! Thanks for sharing and God Bless! Spirithorse

Very very good. To me that is a wow

Looks really good!

Pretty cool!

I have been using inexpensive frames from Walmart also. I get rid of the glass and strip all the do dads off the back. Then usually glue the panel into the frame. This is OK, depending on the piece. Recently I have since gone to Hobby Loby and Michaels and looked in their custom framing section. Much toooooooooo costly to have them make a frame, but they do sell some nice premade frames in a veriety of sizes and I think the are worth the money for a great looking piece of work like you have done. Especially if it is going to be a gift for someone special. I too, am struggleing with the idea of making my own frames but it is nearly impossible to purchase true Frame Moulding in stick form and what I did find was VERY costly. Even simple frames from hardwood flat stock can wind up costing as much as buying a premade fame. Up to now I have been keeping my projet panel sizes to suit standard Photograph sizes, basically 8x10 and 11x14, but I did note Hobby Lobby has some unusual sizes including 12x16, 10x13 and 11x17. They even have larger sizes for posters and such. My shop is so small now that It is not even worth me getting a good miter saw so I will have to build my own frames with hand tools for now, for the basic projects. I'll spend a few extra dollars for a nice frame when the project demands it.

Yep. Been there. Done that. On your redo, cut the last two letters first. Larry

I do rabbit the back of the frame.

It's a frame that doesn't have a mat or frame covering the edge of the piece. So it looks like it's "floating" in the frame. By the way...I like your Dead Head ornament!

Thank you very much for such encouraging words.

Take a look in the floor tile section at your local hardware store. They sell plastic spacers, little "X" shapes. The arms are all the same thickness, so if you want 3/8 gap, just jab a couple of those between the frame and the wood all the way around and boom, you're centered! Nicely cut!

This is the extent of my "wheels" projects so far. Lately, with the Arizona heat, I haven't been in the shop at all, so I have to post what I have done in the past. I hope that's okay.

I make toys, as you might have guessed. I also take lots of photos. I have made lots of cars and trucks. many of them one of a kind because I was experimenting with something or had a and interesting piece of wood that wasn't big enough to use with anything else. This toy was one of those. Check out the cores in this plywood.

It's not a car, but if you have a car you might need a tow truck. I've made several of these and have a smaller one in the works. This one is part of my grandsons fleet.

I used to connect a clock to the foot pedal circuit, but that only gives the cutting time which i think is about half of the real time spent on a project start to finish

I know many don't like working with mdf for the reasons listed, and it's awful if it gets wet and is not as strong as PW, but there are advantages too. It's really cheap, dead flat, available if lots of thicknesses, paints well and in lots of stores. I love it for jigs and other shop projects. I especially like how it works with this mft work surface I made last year.

Nice score. If you are just going to use it to just cut down stock almost any blade will do. If you seriously plan do a lot of finish work like cutting molding or making miters for picture frames you really need a blade made specifically for a sliding miter saw. It has to do with the angle of the teeth. You also want a blade with more vs less teeth to get a nice clean edge. Pay the extra and get a carbide or at least carbide tipped blade. I have this blade on mine and I really like it. https://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/ka12106/

The water actually flows through the C02 light bulb.. and contaminates can ark from the beam... believe it or not antifreeze has conductivity properties... There are folks using antifreeze and RV antifreeze etc.. but it shortens the life of the laser tube.. replacement tubes run as much as I paid for the whole machine, LOL.. So hoping to get at least a couple years from it.. From what I've read... the best option is a fish tank heater.. For the time being.. I'm just going to run water.. Possibly just flush the water out and winterize it, then wait for spring / summer to run it.. If I find I can run it with little learning curve and add products from it to my selling inventory... I'll add the tank heater and run it through the winter if needed..