So we have  family relatives celebrating their 60’th anniversary in November. I decided to make them a heart with their names and the year 1959 on it. I haven’t finished it yet. Woodcraft had a nice wide piece of wood, so I bought it. It is Guanacaste, I think it is also known as Parota, I don’t like it. So far I have worked with Cherry, Poplar, and Baltic birch. This stuff doesn’t seem to cut cleanly, lots of fuzzies, I’m hoping I like it better after it’s finished. Don’t think I’m gonna buy any more. Guess it’s time to learn how to glue up boards.   

I'm certain they will cherish this gift!

 

Like the folding rule, too!!

I like it.  Nice job on the lettering.

Hey Artie I glad to see you are making things...The more you make the more you will want to make. I seem to be planning something else before I get through with what I'm doing.

 Are you using the numbers and letters that are already on your computer?  I use them all the time. 

Looks good Artie. Maybe a little sealer finish and some light sanding will get rid of the fuzzies.

Artie I cannot tell are those letters all the way through the wood or just what looks like very deep.  Could be the shadow in the picture makes it look deeper though.  

 

Looks good, great to see you in the shop and making stuff.  Gluing wood boards together is a must, did a bunch of edge banding on some plywood today.  Takes some time but worth the effort.

Nice anniversary gift, Artie. They'll love it. Great job. Thats a gorgeous hunk of wood, too. Please don't stain it and mute that beautiful grain.

Edited October 28, 20196 yr by Gene Howe

32 minutes ago, Al B said:

Looks good Artie. Maybe a little sealer finish and some light sanding will get rid of the fuzzies.

I used a ros, went from 60 to 150, fuzzies all gone. Gonna use some water based general finisher I have.

1 hour ago, Smallpatch said:

Hey Artie I glad to see you are making things...The more you make the more you will want to make. I seem to be planning something else before I get through with what I'm doing.

 Are you using the numbers and letters that are already on your computer?  I use them all the time. 

I used them for the Crosses I made (have not yet finished), but on some projects I just use a stencil kit I have and go right on the wood. I used rapid resizer to get the heart shape and then print it to the size i wanted.

I've had good luck with varathane. Provides a good looking hard finish without darkening the wood if that is whatyou are looking for

19 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Artie I cannot tell are those letters all the way through the wood or just what looks like very deep.  Could be the shadow in the picture makes it look deeper though.  

 

Looks good, great to see you in the shop and making stuff.  Gluing wood boards together is a must, did a bunch of edge banding on some plywood today.  Takes some time but worth the effort.

I cut out the heart shape, put a reveal (?) on the sides with the router ( on a table of course), and then scroll saw the letters/numbers in. Then sand and finish. Just gonna go with a water based general finish. Looked very well I thought on the Cherry hearts I did. Yes, next part of the craft I need to learn is how to make larger boards out of smaller boards LOL.

Is the varathane water based? Or do they make a water based version? Got a gas water heater, and a gas burner in the basement, I could see me having a “Hey I can see my house from here “ moment.  

The varathane is water based and is available in satin or gloss finishes. Available at Lowes. Since my projects are small, I usually get it in the half pint cans. I believe it is available in spray cans, but I've never tried it.

Edited October 28, 20196 yr by Al B

35 minutes ago, Al B said:

I believe it is available in spray cans, but I've never tried it.

I use it for a tack coat.  It dries fast and can be re-coated with a brush in short time.  Acts like a quick seal.  This is for smaller work.  Beats dragging spray gear out and having to clean.  

 

Tried using for 3 coats once and was just not satisfied with results.  Others may have had better results.

My application for bandsaw boxes has been 2 thin brush-on coats, sand with 220 grit to remove any raised grain, then 3 wipe on coats. If I'm not happy with the finish I may sand  very lightly with 320 grit and add a coat of wipe on.  The advantage of wipe on coats is they go on fast and dry fast so dust issues are minimized. You can apply 3 coats in a day at normal room temperatures.

Nice job on the letters. Takes a good touch with the scroll saw.