Vaughn McMillan
12-09-2005, 4:07 AM
I got an e-mail message a while back from fellow Saw Mill Creeker Pete Simmons, describing an idea he had for a cutting board with a laser-cut wood inlay that he wanted to give as a gift. After a few e-mail and Photoshop idea exchanges, we came up with a board design that would go with his intended inlay design. We've had a few learning experiences along the way, and the original idea has grown into several different ideas we're in the process of trying, but here are the first two we've done. I say "we", but all I did was glue some hunks of wood together and sand it flat. Pete is doing all the hard work, including the inlay design and execution. After Pete does the inlay, he sends it back to me for finish sanding and oiling. Each of these boards will log about 7,500 miles before it's presented as a gift.
The first board is the Sun Tree. The tree is walnut and the sun is padauk. The board (or substrate, in inlay-talk) is curly maple with accents of walnut, cherry and purple heart. Pardon the poor lighting in the photo.
http://workingwoods.com/workingwoods/Cutting%20Boards/Suntree%201c%20600.jpg
When I first saw the Sun Tree inlay I was wowed. Pete does great work, and his little photon-powered scroll saw is no slouch, either. The laser is accurate to ridiculous tolerances, so the fit it as close to perfect as wood will allow. Then Pete sent another board, and in the e-mail that preceeded it, he said he'd taken it to another level...kicked it up a notch, so to speak.
This is the Mountain Air board, the meaning of which I'm sure Pete can expand on. It's another gift...Pete gives nice gifts. ;)
http://workingwoods.com/workingwoods/Cutting%20Boards/Mountain%20Air%202%20600.jpg
Just in case you hadn't noticed, there's some TEENY scroll work in the lettering. Here's a detail of the "A":
http://workingwoods.com/workingwoods/Cutting%20Boards/Mountain%20Air%20Detail%20600.jpg
I haven't checked with a measuring device, but the thin lines are about 1/16" or so wide. I've looked it over very closely, and I simply cannot find any flaws. This board is headed back to Florida tomorrow morning, but at least I get to keep the pictures. :)
Needless to say it's doubtful either of these "cutting" boards will ever meet the sharp side of a knife, but they still make for a nice serving tray or wall decoration.
This is a simple example of what two Creekers can do when they put their resources and specialties together. We have a few more in the works...some more for Pete, and some for me...I'll show them to the gang here as they come off the line. I also have other tag-team project plans in the works with another Creeker...more on that one later. ;)
- Vaughn
The first board is the Sun Tree. The tree is walnut and the sun is padauk. The board (or substrate, in inlay-talk) is curly maple with accents of walnut, cherry and purple heart. Pardon the poor lighting in the photo.
http://workingwoods.com/workingwoods/Cutting%20Boards/Suntree%201c%20600.jpg
When I first saw the Sun Tree inlay I was wowed. Pete does great work, and his little photon-powered scroll saw is no slouch, either. The laser is accurate to ridiculous tolerances, so the fit it as close to perfect as wood will allow. Then Pete sent another board, and in the e-mail that preceeded it, he said he'd taken it to another level...kicked it up a notch, so to speak.
This is the Mountain Air board, the meaning of which I'm sure Pete can expand on. It's another gift...Pete gives nice gifts. ;)
http://workingwoods.com/workingwoods/Cutting%20Boards/Mountain%20Air%202%20600.jpg
Just in case you hadn't noticed, there's some TEENY scroll work in the lettering. Here's a detail of the "A":
http://workingwoods.com/workingwoods/Cutting%20Boards/Mountain%20Air%20Detail%20600.jpg
I haven't checked with a measuring device, but the thin lines are about 1/16" or so wide. I've looked it over very closely, and I simply cannot find any flaws. This board is headed back to Florida tomorrow morning, but at least I get to keep the pictures. :)
Needless to say it's doubtful either of these "cutting" boards will ever meet the sharp side of a knife, but they still make for a nice serving tray or wall decoration.
This is a simple example of what two Creekers can do when they put their resources and specialties together. We have a few more in the works...some more for Pete, and some for me...I'll show them to the gang here as they come off the line. I also have other tag-team project plans in the works with another Creeker...more on that one later. ;)
- Vaughn