Taking a break from a gun cabinet build for son.
Brother in WY cut a huge sage brush and gave me a a couple 5' pieces of the thickest parts. About 3"-4" thick.
Stripped it down to the sound woody part. Geeze, what a mess that was/is.
Cutting oysters from it to cover a box. It's really twisted and crooked. Getting semi-consistent thicknesses is a challenge. But, the growth rings and shapes of the oysters is really interesting. Don't know yet what it''ll look like with a coat of clear finish. Might need to stain it a bit.
The plan is to cut some poplar to 7" width and long enough to make a box 8" long and 5" in width and height.
Then glue on the oysters. Have to build a router planing sled to level them all out. After they are level, I'll fill in all the gaps with turquoise and epoxy. Then, cut it to final size for the box.
I think it's going to be fun, and that's what it's all about, right?

Progress pics tomorrow....maybe.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Sounds cool!

Wonder if that would work with Chesapeake Bay Oysters?? Nahhh, I'd have eaten them all before the project started! 

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

First pic is a couple pieces from what I started with. It's NASTY!

Second one is a plate of oysters.

Third is a few glued and clamped 

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Gonna be cool, Gene

Be sure to keep us posted

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'
Scroll Saw Forum Host

Box?  You might have enough to make a coffee table  and top it with glass.

 Other options  obtain

Now, a coffee table is a great idea. 

Thanks Cliff. 

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I thought the one labeled Beer looked like a Turkey but then the more I looked at it and from the time of year it is here, it looked somewhat like a tornado.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Maybe WI? No doubt about the left coast label. 

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Beer is Canada.

We should invade Canada and enslave them as our brewery  province.\\

The lower part is of course South America where the new pope is from.

I think it's funny they had to go to Argentina to find an Italian.

That is way cool Gene. Gonna make a really nice project and unique too.

Looking forward to more about this!

I had written more in this post about your comment about our grand state of CA, but I had to remove it as we are a politics free site, but man I had some good one liners for you guys!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Thanks, John. Probably tomorrow, the whole board will be covered and I can trim it to size. Decided to only do the sides and ends with oysters. I'll use some wormy mesquite for the top and a sound piece of mesquite for the bottom. Should be a nice contrast. 

Gee, I didn't mean to malign the great state of CA. There's a lot of great folks who come from there....more, lately. Not political. Just commenting on migratory patterns. :-)

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

No offense taken my friend, malign away! We are leaving in a few years to get away from Kalifornia, Calexifornia, etc. Snow Flake AZ looks like a wonderful town!

Gene Howe said:

Thanks, John. Probably tomorrow, the whole board will be covered and I can trim it to size. Decided to only do the sides and ends with oysters. I'll use some wormy mesquite for the top and a sound piece of mesquite for the bottom. Should be a nice contrast. 

Gee, I didn't mean to malign the great state of CA. There's a lot of great folks who come from there....more, lately. Not political. Just commenting on migratory patterns. :-)

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Why not come on over and scope it out. Check out the land prices. Still pretty cheap.

We got 3 bedrooms and an RV hook up. You and your family are welcome any time!

Same goes for any other PW, too. You are ALL welcome at our la casa de los vientos locos.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Got almost all the oysters fitted and glued in place. A few more and the leveling can start. 

Taking time out to hang Momma's fan. This ain't gonna be fun. 10' ceiling and one heavy fan with 70" blades. My knees are getting wobbly just thinking about it.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Oysters are all glued down. Edges trimmed. Mesquite sticks added to each edge. Now they are drying. Next step is to level everything with a router plane. Don't dare to put it through the planer.
After leveling, the voids can be filled with turquoise and epoxy. Then sanded, and finally, the 45s can be cut.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton