I like to make small ‘Pretty Boxes’ and such. I like to experiment on ways of doing things for all size projects, not just little boxes… So I am always looking for new ideas. (At least new to me!)..
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/0311november/wood.html I have nothing to do with this link and not selling anything except an idea I found by accident. Looks pretty cool to me but I have no idea how long or at what temperature this clay has to be heated to.
I guess i’ll go out and look for some translucent clays and wood veneers. Will I need a pasta machine or maybe just a marble rolling pin?
Has anyone worked clay veneers like in the above link? I have used different color stone that I ground up and mixed into epoxy that worked out very well.
As a side note: Does anyone know of a good way to make standard wood veneers more translucent? I ask because I have some very old Macassar Ebony that is book matched. It is about 8 inches wide by 12 inches long. I want to make something like a Japanese lantern that ‘glows’ or for some panels within a Japanese shoji screen.
Any thoughts are welcome.
Replies
When I did consulting for Khufu, we used earthen veneers on the inside walls of the chambers. The painting gangs insisted on a smooth surface. ;-)
To me, however, adding clays to a box is more crafts than woodworking.
As to that 8" x 12" piece of Ebony, why don't you send it to me, and I'll make your panels for you. They will feel like sheer, black silk, but they will be Ebony, I promise. ;-)
Got me on that one...
Consulting for Khufu... It took me awhile before I realized what you really said.. I guess I am getting too old?
I have a bundle of book matched 8" x 12" pieces of Gaboon Ebony. (About 30 sheets in the bundle.) It is striped with heart and sap wood and is not pure black. Anyway, I would hate to ruin it. I am looking for a way that I could treat so it would transmit a bit more light through it. I read something about treating veneers in some manner to do this but I cannot find the old reference.
... adding clays to a box is more crafts than woodworking. I politely disagree.
I have seen many very nice peices of 'woodworking' that have materials other than only wood used. I'm OK with anyone calling it 'Craft'. Is using Ivory, Bone, Mother of Pearl, Gold, Silver, Brass, Stone, Glass, Guilding (or whatever) make it a 'Craft'?
By the way.. My reply about 'craft' does not mean that I took offence. I only stated what I think. I think of woodworking as a 'fun' thing and I harlly ever take anything but family too seriously.
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