Take a look what my Dad did!!!

Got the hankerin’ for making some more itty bitty stuff. Both pieces were turned out of Quina, a very aromatic wood found all over South America (typically used in making furniture), and finished with Hut’s Crystal Coat.

... by the way, I don’t own any “mini” tools …

Since I began designing what I call “Badges”, 3D looking logos for my website, carving a real 3D logo has been on my mind.
I recieved a sample of SignFoam to try and carved this design with three distinct carving levels on my CarveWright machine.
It required absolutely no touch up sanding because there is no tearout due to grain. The background was painted with acrylics first, and then the letters were highlighted in white. After the acrylic dried I applied three coats of clear spray.
Then, having some pieces left over from another job I made the black walnut frame, and applied clear, glossy urethane finish in two coats, following up with some finishing wax on four aught steel wool to bring it to the sort of sheen I like.
Incidently, after I finished this another sample arrived in the mail of another brand of High Density Urethane Foam (That’s what Sign Foam is). This one is called Precision Board and the same density foam, #15, is much harder. They claim it can actually be substituted for wood in all outdoor sign work. I wouldn’t be surprised to find it under the paint in some painted furnoture. The little sample I got actually sounds like wood when its dropped on a countertop.

I STOLE THIS idea here. Thanks dustbunny. It is walnut, cherry & padauk. I learned a lot here. The smallest difference in dimensions is multiplied when you get to the outside of your segmented glue-up.

This was a piece of 4×4 sycamore which a piece of equipment was shipped on. It had been laying out in the weather for years. Sure cleaned up nice. Used BLO & Danish oil.

For charity fund raiser, kids table 4’ long 2×8.
Can hold up a truck.

Made for Sister in-laws BIG 50

Made for a friend’s Grand Daughter.

But I cannot give you your wish for a blog on my Negative Space Turnings. I make my living woodworking/turning. Giving you 3 decades of work, and my innovation & creativity would be a stupid economic move. But I will pass on the project above. I made this yesterday afternoon and finished in front of the t.v. watching football. I had to work fast as a customer wanted this pronto! This is ash, but if I were you I’d make from a piece with tighter grain. About 10 inches.

I am posting this so anyone who has a lathe, drill press and some files/rasps can make a simple negative space turning. There is still a lot of wood in this so it’s fairly safe to turn. Until you get experience with this idea..keep enough wood and SHARP TOOLS

If you have indexing on your lathe..use it..if not draw your design on a 1” or thicker piece of wood. Take it to your drill press and drill the “slots” thru the wood..keep holes close. . Put on lathe & turn it to 3/8 ” or less thick. Take your rasps , rifflers, files ( I used a chainsaw file) and open up the slots. Sand & finish…It’s not hard..go forth to your shops and make one. People love these in front of their windows. (Don’t put in window that has heavy sun..I keep mine in a shaded window) I think this would make great holiday gifts. They are unique & different..you oughta get pats on the back..

post the ones you make, so we all can see them

These aren’t exactly wood but the carve like it.