tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7710460148646830952024-03-12T18:22:23.378-07:00 Making my Way to Normal Behind the Scenes at The Wooden ForgeJoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-63414401477942311702016-04-25T07:00:00.000-07:002016-04-25T07:00:00.914-07:00Becoming Captain America: Part 3 Finishing!<a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2016/04/becoming-captain-america-part-1.html">Part 1: Stripping</a><br />
<a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2016/04/becoming-captain-america-part-2.html">Part 2: Painting</a><br />
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OK, so here we are. You've got a great shield, its got some awesome colors down, and it looks super sweet right? How could you possibly make it better? Clear coat it. Why? because it makes the finish look even better, it protects it and it feels like a new car when you're done. Lets go!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyTqokYTrsOcPN6Ebd56OMt6lS3l7MuzKSG9Ki_lEHaX_1k4LQrpqNuOKxryI6AmHJ_fMPRIneKFGqe1SCGN1qW9cO8EF3NMI7oAh6Stu_ahmXsTN678ebP5Udy33R8S1XT4ZWaOESlo/s1600/IMG_0601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyTqokYTrsOcPN6Ebd56OMt6lS3l7MuzKSG9Ki_lEHaX_1k4LQrpqNuOKxryI6AmHJ_fMPRIneKFGqe1SCGN1qW9cO8EF3NMI7oAh6Stu_ahmXsTN678ebP5Udy33R8S1XT4ZWaOESlo/s320/IMG_0601.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
So the first thing you should do is pull up that last little bit of tape you've left down. You left it down right? right?! good. Hopefully, it looks like this. It might not, and thats ok. I mean you've probably got to start over, but the painting part is the easiest bit to do. One thing I've learned over the years is don't skimp and by cheap tape. I don't buy the fancy frog tape, but I do at least buy the 3M painters tape, the generic stuff just doesn't stick as well and that will cause you problems with stuff seeping under the edges. Now if you rushed and didn't let the red paint dry long enough you may have marks in your red paint from where you taped over to do the blue. You can take the chance and move on, sometimes those work out once the clear coat is over it, but there's no promise so you're taking a bit of a chance.<br />
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When it comes to clear coat you can use just about anything. Some people will use lacquer, some take it to an autobody shop and pay them to spray it like a car and finish it off for them. I like doing the work myself. My personal favorite clear is Rustoleum 2X clear. No real reason other than I had it and it works well. Just like before, read the directions on the can, but usually I'll spray down about 10 coats about 10 minutes apart from each other. That leaves just enough time for the previous coat to get dry to the touch. You can also determine the overall sheen a bit at this stage. LOTS of layers mean there's more to sand through which means a glossier finish at the end. A few layers means there's less to sand through which means a slightly more satin finish at the end. Both are nice, its just personal preference.<br />
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THE BIGGEST TIP that I can give for this section is take your time and don't go too heavy. If you work to fast or hover and spray too much clear on and area it will drip and run causing a nasty sag that you can't do anything about till it dries. They are best avoided because it means more work. Here's one now!<br />
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Once you've done a bunch you have to play the waiting game and let that all cure and cook through. I won't lie, I don't wait a week on this process either, I usually move on in a day or two because I get momentum and (knock on wood) so far it hasn't bitten me. Some people would be happy to stop at this point. It looks great, its glossy its nice, BUT 90% of the time you'll have whats called orange peel from the way the spray lands, it'll be a texture just like orange skin, still smooth, but not perfect. If you make this picture large you can see it in the reflections where the lights are. If you're ok with it, move on to step 5 now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLbBRyiPhVQM1uZM3OBj6BgYIYM06V4OeN61_k84xf7W0wbR_vEPjT9cNbbAd9AkHJLYTxwEpL_qsk5n2TiSKbHlsZqP_UpNKzsYt2ASLB8D7qLQdHpxjKaAkUYBwe2Nm_64OK6LfJNs/s1600/12998169_1132697593460153_6619751189227032077_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLbBRyiPhVQM1uZM3OBj6BgYIYM06V4OeN61_k84xf7W0wbR_vEPjT9cNbbAd9AkHJLYTxwEpL_qsk5n2TiSKbHlsZqP_UpNKzsYt2ASLB8D7qLQdHpxjKaAkUYBwe2Nm_64OK6LfJNs/s320/12998169_1132697593460153_6619751189227032077_o.jpg" width="240" /></a>Here's where things get fun. Once things have cooked through, take some wet sandpaper. Some start at a rougher grit and work up, 1000 and then 2000. I usually do just one grit, it works just fine. I keep a spray bottle of water around. Wet down the paper and the shield, rewetting as needed to keep things moving and work your way around the shield. With the water you can feel how smooth the surface is and you can tell if you need to hit an area more to even it out. IF you got to heavy and had sags during the clear coat, this is where you can sand them down and even them out. When you finish, don't be discouraged. I know the first time I did it I immediately regretted it because I thought I had ruined everything. I'll leave off today with the sad state of things that you'll have after wet sanding because step 5 is what I call the "restoring the finish" stage where you use products and elbow grease and it pays off.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As always, follow </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thewoodenforge" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">The Wooden Forge</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> on Facebook to get day to day updates and check out the </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewoodenforge" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none;">Etsy</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> shop for new products!</span><br />
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-23295611223415494882016-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:002016-04-21T10:38:31.906-07:00Two Captains Working the CameraOne of the best comments I got on these pictures was "If old timey shows have taught me anything there's two superheros skinny dipping in a watering hole near by." <br />
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I took the newly finished shields outside today to enjoy the weather, a nice excuse to get myself out there too. Here are a few highlights. I could post a lot more, but who needs that when you can follow me on Facebook and see it all as it happens!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzmNhU-QdZAuc7PB-nMJTsfeoatwQqLb89RoScJ1Br_qfUONFrqHRxKDqm2-D4lCf5Wo2rbttM1TE25jWyqdj5Y-esh-MEF52tI0NelQULccGmS8yRAcmEEG9G5cGUJ0z47ozLAxKgCM/s1600/IMG_2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMwor5LhmdH65EBXvn-p6HgqvlSZ2oFk6hk4X3waF3nlDbAA7mzQ1WRX8Dq6ez-VS9mGJzSerIq3STMUeeo8v7Xpl_zfdemU_qJWFI6sR0yK-YJwnZIMf7LpCdaV9jZATaoK4GnL2dug/s1600/IMG_2525.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-30620517519006091792016-04-18T19:12:00.000-07:002016-04-18T19:12:29.032-07:00Captain Canada! Do you give it an... Eh Plus?I thought today was a good day to point out how easily the pride of America, the personification of our great (err.... our.... ok) country can become the maple syrup dripping, overly apologetic representation of our neighbor to the north.<br />
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Rather than continuing to paint a cap shield... You get to stop after the red! Forget the blue! don't do it! hooray!<br />
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It actually saves a step and swaps it out for painting the maple leaf instead.<br />
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I will say, cutting the maple leaf it a little harder than the star. Still not real hard, but definitely more cuts.<br />
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Once you get it free, it gets spun the same way a star does. Sanded as you like and then rough sanded in a circle so you get the same spun look.<br />
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Once you get that, its back to painting as usual. A light coat of red. wait for 10 minutes, another light coat, wet 10 and then finally a heavy coat. Clear coat as usual after an hour or (according to instructions) a day or later so things can cure properly.<br />
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At some point I'll sand this one down, glue the star and its business as usual. I have to thank Nathan Fillion for this one. He did this costume a few years ago and between that and a couple of Captain America TFA posters done up like this, I've been kind of obsessed with the idea.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;">As always, follow </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thewoodenforge" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">The Wooden Forge</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"> on Facebook to get day to day updates and check out the </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewoodenforge" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Etsy</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"> shop for new products! Next week, clear coating and finishing!</span><br />
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Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-84085171833627791132016-04-18T07:00:00.000-07:002016-04-25T07:36:52.408-07:00Becoming Captain America: Part 2<a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2016/04/becoming-captain-america-part-1.html">Part 1: Stripping</a><br />
<a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2016/04/becoming-captain-america-part-3.html">Part 3: Finishing</a><br />
Part 4: The back<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVxyd1iLo7kqKngCpYg0qGr3DZX6Ha3ZcGf-LQ7LYEP9eIT6RDTZazTM0Y5PzTmMBYmGDuLpiKbVyTlHNJyj4kx7NWck0T4liw0xPtxn1Nctpzvr-NlBVF28WaF44x1AgvOtdlJ6fLHA/s1600/12976778_1131524950244084_1927259464006689031_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVxyd1iLo7kqKngCpYg0qGr3DZX6Ha3ZcGf-LQ7LYEP9eIT6RDTZazTM0Y5PzTmMBYmGDuLpiKbVyTlHNJyj4kx7NWck0T4liw0xPtxn1Nctpzvr-NlBVF28WaF44x1AgvOtdlJ6fLHA/s320/12976778_1131524950244084_1927259464006689031_o.jpg" width="240" /></a>Ok so we left off with the shield taped up and ready for step two. This is where I used my ruler attached to the center of the shield with a sharpie in the holes I've drilled in it as a template. Don't worry about the hole in the shield, that will get covered up by the star later. So, looking at that picture, the hole I drilled in the center gets a metal ruler bolted to it temporarily. Because I have guide holes drilled in it, it spins around the shield like a propeller and the sharpie gives me clean circle. Once you draw your rings on, you'll end up with this.<br />
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This next step is one of the more stressful moments in this project. You need a steady hand and a sharp knife. Take an exacto knife and work your way around the outer two lines. You could do these separately but I like to do the red first and as one step, doing both rings at the same time. You've got a little wiggle room (pun intended) where variation won't show up but if you get crazy wild it'll be clear later that your lines are all wonky and out of whack. So take your time and remember to breathe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Si0Cnl4SGwFkXOWkmAUN0AcMA7Wh-omA6GWikAaOwB1-F9ZW38y2HHzZIVLQmeJsF8EKb9MFcuNJF1PBBYlcaJfafVMERwrmEZJXKcD2U4P5z3NZSWL1PsplQ6P2NQj2lRrwMe70IiY/s1600/10866172_917499581646623_3582093248133554194_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Si0Cnl4SGwFkXOWkmAUN0AcMA7Wh-omA6GWikAaOwB1-F9ZW38y2HHzZIVLQmeJsF8EKb9MFcuNJF1PBBYlcaJfafVMERwrmEZJXKcD2U4P5z3NZSWL1PsplQ6P2NQj2lRrwMe70IiY/s400/10866172_917499581646623_3582093248133554194_o.jpg" width="297" /></a><br />
Ok so here's an important point. Anodized paints are what you want here. They stay transparent so you can see the metal through the paint and don't go opaque which would counter all the hard work you did laying in those rings earlier. I prefer Duplicator paints because I think the colors are closer and like them better. Another good thing is follow the directions on the can. I do one light coat of paint, wait about 10 minutes, lay down another, and after another 10 minutes I lay down a medium to heavy top coat. The first layer won't cover well but thats ok. The last heavy coat gives it some richness and a nice solid covering. Don't get too heavy, you'll get a feel for it as you go.<br />
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This is the end of step 2.0, step 2.5 comes after a day of wait.<br />
You need to give this red time to dry before moving on. Don't tape it, don't move on too quick. You'll regret it. I usually do the blue a day after the read but for sure wait 24 hours. If you want to get real technical the can says it takes 7 days to cure... I can't ever wait that long.<br />
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Tape around the blue ring that you haven't pulled up yet, OR pull the center tape and then tape over the red. However you want to lay out the last blue circle. I still don't have a great method for it. You want to make sure you don't overlap because you'll see the paints on top of each other.<br />
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Once you've done that, repeat the process to do the blue. Leave the last ring untouched, thats the bare metal, the stand in for the "white" and remember what happens when it's exposed? yup, it rusts. so leave it covered and let the blue dry. You'll want to leave it covered until you clear coat the whole thing.<br />
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I love how the blue looks while its going down, its my favorite.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG_ECkaPtYb7BRZ5Db6oANtNUvdFHlW39GyAi4S_EP-4HxRzX506I4V2E0aYKyXkERrvGgkkjBwVjlSqDf46td3N2cUgeNTo-TMVrhVOfMk6j1P_CtJ3Jtd9KXMr2udz2NrXQMx65ZBk/s1600/11021516_917979158265332_3466124428862448878_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG_ECkaPtYb7BRZ5Db6oANtNUvdFHlW39GyAi4S_EP-4HxRzX506I4V2E0aYKyXkERrvGgkkjBwVjlSqDf46td3N2cUgeNTo-TMVrhVOfMk6j1P_CtJ3Jtd9KXMr2udz2NrXQMx65ZBk/s320/11021516_917979158265332_3466124428862448878_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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As always, follow <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thewoodenforge">The Wooden Forge</a> on Facebook to get day to day updates and check out the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewoodenforge">Etsy</a> shop for new products! Next week, clear coating and finishing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG_ECkaPtYb7BRZ5Db6oANtNUvdFHlW39GyAi4S_EP-4HxRzX506I4V2E0aYKyXkERrvGgkkjBwVjlSqDf46td3N2cUgeNTo-TMVrhVOfMk6j1P_CtJ3Jtd9KXMr2udz2NrXQMx65ZBk/s1600/11021516_917979158265332_3466124428862448878_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwNhRQvWbRVMyq5JVjYFjTZFVModLM7skrVdFkiD-DaOGmHLLXFxAd69Q13J6D4IyZlFzfoJgmiD33B9Q5XkptPFCEIeN52k2294O3l72et5ZPm5w_Vqg2igUTyGKD9SCcVgcuGUTkZ0/s1600/1781363_917979148265333_2856352285018266477_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwNhRQvWbRVMyq5JVjYFjTZFVModLM7skrVdFkiD-DaOGmHLLXFxAd69Q13J6D4IyZlFzfoJgmiD33B9Q5XkptPFCEIeN52k2294O3l72et5ZPm5w_Vqg2igUTyGKD9SCcVgcuGUTkZ0/s400/1781363_917979148265333_2856352285018266477_o.jpg" width="300" /></a>Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-48765414775055218382016-04-15T16:15:00.000-07:002016-04-16T16:10:52.474-07:00NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA BATMAN!!!Took a small break from shields for a few days while I finished tweaking and cleaning up the front of my latest cap build while Captain Canada sits stripped and waiting for paint. Also got in two more sleds and have an order for THE REAL DEAL aluminum spun blank coming sometime in the near future. So you ask what have I been doing in the mean time? Jumping over to DC comics and tackling batarangs!<br />
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This all started out because I found some decent bar stock and went... why not, this should be fun. So I found a template and then scaled it up because apparently the batarangs in "The Dark Knight" are crazy small... or so the internet says. Wheres the fun in that? so I moved them up to about 2 inches tall and around 5 inches wide. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrhXEii0TuD6TID_iwCZwqesxIEEXSmEx-gp3sFG8tfQ0bCQKYyOl13EVMvsXAmweAAd6N-kKqkUPf3ffzQjatsEyLSl92UxOi9dzNMalVqPsmMKS5Gu4q0oxVBVh8oHxxeJhJQsRzZE/s1600/13007222_1135217613208151_1929399591334023295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrhXEii0TuD6TID_iwCZwqesxIEEXSmEx-gp3sFG8tfQ0bCQKYyOl13EVMvsXAmweAAd6N-kKqkUPf3ffzQjatsEyLSl92UxOi9dzNMalVqPsmMKS5Gu4q0oxVBVh8oHxxeJhJQsRzZE/s320/13007222_1135217613208151_1929399591334023295_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>So far I've got 3 versions done with another coming and I think that will be standard for what I end up making. A completely flat black version, black with the edge bevels cleaned back to bare metal, A completely clean mirrored, and coming this weekend a fluorescent yellow version that is far from stealthy but good clean fun.</div>
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The mirror finish isn't done here, I've got more polishing to do but as of today I can clearly see myself in it, so thats fun. </div>
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You can see in the black picture, there's the bar that I'm working with. I thought about the smaller ones too. I may still do some of those in the future as key rings. One of the main problems with making these is needing the right tools. A jigsaw and metal blade work... sort of. Lots of grinding and hand filing to clean them up, a band saw or scroll saw would work wonders here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklR68MLkSFpqtnFLQLIlaVQE2orp4ICoT5dgMfsn-6BtEAVlQNR_gkN-xEO7PWIRyMI4vAhhUcFty6j4c15aQAPKObj9MLqvpt9DHIRiGhs4N3iuvnTfY_aIDjpwkWIPRS0CluhaCp9Q/s1600/13007120_1133925023337410_2321851334097723450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklR68MLkSFpqtnFLQLIlaVQE2orp4ICoT5dgMfsn-6BtEAVlQNR_gkN-xEO7PWIRyMI4vAhhUcFty6j4c15aQAPKObj9MLqvpt9DHIRiGhs4N3iuvnTfY_aIDjpwkWIPRS0CluhaCp9Q/s320/13007120_1133925023337410_2321851334097723450_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklR68MLkSFpqtnFLQLIlaVQE2orp4ICoT5dgMfsn-6BtEAVlQNR_gkN-xEO7PWIRyMI4vAhhUcFty6j4c15aQAPKObj9MLqvpt9DHIRiGhs4N3iuvnTfY_aIDjpwkWIPRS0CluhaCp9Q/s1600/13007120_1133925023337410_2321851334097723450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_buULiHs0oEVS6pC3zoT6B2nnLMC-uzaaeNfJUXXL7BNlHpys81p77ImV8qJRlEZKSBRXaBghwIjTBKuzY4ksTeHgCN0LGHit3jSDRkKVkxe_Y8nh4MAgT9YnSkiS-ALNkJetqijexpc/s1600/il_570xN.956997556_30dh.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_buULiHs0oEVS6pC3zoT6B2nnLMC-uzaaeNfJUXXL7BNlHpys81p77ImV8qJRlEZKSBRXaBghwIjTBKuzY4ksTeHgCN0LGHit3jSDRkKVkxe_Y8nh4MAgT9YnSkiS-ALNkJetqijexpc/s400/il_570xN.956997556_30dh.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbX8QYYCI8_f5sJu6Hk8lTfifcG4t-VvlUT8a8IJqc-2gJTgmyRGlSbMEUhyphenhyphenAeB89ZixUvUR2jPxAc5lFO3dVt-4nFJrFJI3KrhFNGJwn-uWJqoLk2WdIlMtIJd6Z0yknrNZpuBVCyREE/s1600/13010689_1133925066670739_8864517115116079938_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbX8QYYCI8_f5sJu6Hk8lTfifcG4t-VvlUT8a8IJqc-2gJTgmyRGlSbMEUhyphenhyphenAeB89ZixUvUR2jPxAc5lFO3dVt-4nFJrFJI3KrhFNGJwn-uWJqoLk2WdIlMtIJd6Z0yknrNZpuBVCyREE/s320/13010689_1133925066670739_8864517115116079938_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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When it comes down to it, if you have some patience, these are real easy to make. The clean up takes the longest time but if you plan the cuts right they pop free in about a minute. </div>
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This is what you don't want to do. Its harder once you cut it free because you have to clamp it down and things just get in the way. So cut the wing thats sticking out of the bar, and THEN cut the other wing so its free. If you're REALLY smart, you'll cut the head and ears free first as well. Those get lots of filing just because there's no good way to get in there.</div>
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So eventually you end up with this. From this point on, its just refining edges and cleaning up to whatever level you want! I won't lie, working these on a bench grinder with sparks flying, you feel like the real deal. Time to go dispense some justice. </div>
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Exciting colors! Batman yellow, Anodized red and blue for Red Hood and Nightwing!</div>
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Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-51642577289228526462016-04-11T17:30:00.000-07:002016-04-25T07:36:59.343-07:00Becoming Captain America Part 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3WZ6BIF64XJlOr3bI0zy-2LGkDIX1bqPDSVyFI6ObFg32LNuxaSRtax4tpYgjDr0biIMJGItrywEDQyzhE5NmqThxtP9LOIK1J7rbcnfs_StNGwmz9PWbnWqluj3Xfc7ZBBPNQINzcQ/s1600/41iPQc86JYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3WZ6BIF64XJlOr3bI0zy-2LGkDIX1bqPDSVyFI6ObFg32LNuxaSRtax4tpYgjDr0biIMJGItrywEDQyzhE5NmqThxtP9LOIK1J7rbcnfs_StNGwmz9PWbnWqluj3Xfc7ZBBPNQINzcQ/s1600/41iPQc86JYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3WZ6BIF64XJlOr3bI0zy-2LGkDIX1bqPDSVyFI6ObFg32LNuxaSRtax4tpYgjDr0biIMJGItrywEDQyzhE5NmqThxtP9LOIK1J7rbcnfs_StNGwmz9PWbnWqluj3Xfc7ZBBPNQINzcQ/s1600/41iPQc86JYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3WZ6BIF64XJlOr3bI0zy-2LGkDIX1bqPDSVyFI6ObFg32LNuxaSRtax4tpYgjDr0biIMJGItrywEDQyzhE5NmqThxtP9LOIK1J7rbcnfs_StNGwmz9PWbnWqluj3Xfc7ZBBPNQINzcQ/s320/41iPQc86JYL.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2016/04/becoming-captain-america-part-2.html">Part 2: Painting</a><br />
<a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2016/04/becoming-captain-america-part-3.html">Part 3: Finishing</a><br />
Part 4: The Back<br />
Here we go the tutorial you've all been waiting for. Since this is a budget build, it all starts with a little thing you might know from your childhood. A metal saucer sled, that is IF you can find one. These have been increasingly hard to get a hold of because they're great metal sleds and there's a growing number of people who use them for cap shields. The company pretty much sells out each year and I think(I don't know for sure) They are having a tough time keeping up with the strange new demand.<br />
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So step one is to take those holes that the rope handles are going through and connect them to the opposite corner. I use a sharpie since you're going to strip the paint anyway. This gives you an X that marks the center. Drill a hole there and then slather on paint stripper. I get the most caustic nasty stuff I can and usually let it sit on there over night, but it'll start working in about 15 minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WTITL_nHYL8I_p2c5nVApMKr5vcBL201gtjTdIQvLjEaj8m0ToT8UKeyViBCg5yCu7tHTlXGlxzdzqszfzNlT1_D7vusFKZnF776JomvD5kafbP9H_XJUY__uWep_mxYcUZadrz0kMo/s1600/12976698_1130880586975187_7845297522541147989_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WTITL_nHYL8I_p2c5nVApMKr5vcBL201gtjTdIQvLjEaj8m0ToT8UKeyViBCg5yCu7tHTlXGlxzdzqszfzNlT1_D7vusFKZnF776JomvD5kafbP9H_XJUY__uWep_mxYcUZadrz0kMo/s400/12976698_1130880586975187_7845297522541147989_o.jpg" width="300" /></a>I won't lie, scraping it off is probably the worst part of this project and technically you need to do it to the front AND the back. This is some heavy duty paint so you probably won't get it all over. Here's what I usually end up with.<br />
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Now this picture is pretty important because it shows 3 things. The left over red. Some of the are I've cleaned up, and the rust. Now if you're lucky there won't be any rust when you strip the paint, BUT because these saucers are steel they are exceptionally prone to flash rusting. I took too long stripping this but it showed up in about a day or two. If you don't get all the paint off and the sled cleaned up you may have to clean it again to remove the rust.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6fgepD29DxCQ9jdlF0J9cxvujfDiMFilvZpm13WaDEzfQmZZnVPZM8exa7P-A9T2okC_RgUNAOD5FCcWcdx5tSSmqTjPFCbcJtI-l8LSxpVpAqub_JUAt_KhA9KASJ2NJbOwvk_zyIM/s1600/12916895_1130880583641854_170430344010525983_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6fgepD29DxCQ9jdlF0J9cxvujfDiMFilvZpm13WaDEzfQmZZnVPZM8exa7P-A9T2okC_RgUNAOD5FCcWcdx5tSSmqTjPFCbcJtI-l8LSxpVpAqub_JUAt_KhA9KASJ2NJbOwvk_zyIM/s400/12916895_1130880583641854_170430344010525983_o.jpg" width="300" /></a>As you can see here. I used a wire wheel in a corded drill to remove the rest of the paint and the rust. It cleans and polishes as it goes. Once I've got the whole thing cleaned up I tape the whole thing. I THINK this keeps it from rusting and once you hit this stage you've got a lot more time to work and can stop rushing. I don't know for sure if it prevents rust but it keeps moisture and air away from the surface and I haven't had the metal rust while taped yet so... *knock on wood*<br />
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This example is missing the center hole (I forgot it). I have a ruler with holes drilled to lay out the rings and I use that next with some rough sand paper. I took steel wool and polished things up so it wasn't so wire brushy and then I used the ruler as a propeller. It spins around the saucer and you can gouge in the circular lines that are oh so important later once the paint goes on.<br />
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Those spun, ground in lines are what make this budget build look similar to the spun aluminum look the movie shields have. I forgot to take a few pictures in this process but have another shield coming up so I'll go back and fill in with those pictures later. One other thing that I find important is I spray the back of the shield with a clear coat at this point because I'm leaving it bare and that keeps it from rusting. It gets the same treatment as the front to get that spun aluminum look.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze5zA1GRHz7wuU7oebIxc-4KzDHrhJfHtgCnICTDRv62QIzkhPkD22e4Fv0j2aRdISt08HPAAounUKjRoAlpgMJjDVCxeVeS9B44lX8gGXNdNo8d6no1VSnZD1qunhpQ9DcsesXGu1IQ/s1600/12976778_1131524950244084_1927259464006689031_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgze5zA1GRHz7wuU7oebIxc-4KzDHrhJfHtgCnICTDRv62QIzkhPkD22e4Fv0j2aRdISt08HPAAounUKjRoAlpgMJjDVCxeVeS9B44lX8gGXNdNo8d6no1VSnZD1qunhpQ9DcsesXGu1IQ/s320/12976778_1131524950244084_1927259464006689031_o.jpg" width="240" /></a>I usually call this day one, or day one and two if I'm being lazy. At the end of this step you should end up with this. Or at least taped. The rings are pretty quick to draw if you've got your cheat ruler so they can wait until step 2.<br />
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If you're reading these write ups and don't know how I got from one point to another, let me know! leave a comment and let me clarify because I get wrapped up in the process and know that sometimes I forget pieces and would love for these to be super clear at the end. Feel free to share and let your friends see and at the end show off the skills you've picked up and make your own!<br />
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Check back next week for Step 2 Painting!<br />
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As always, follow <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thewoodenforge">The Wooden Forge</a> on Facebook to get day to day updates and check out the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewoodenforge">Etsy</a> shop for new products!Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-30305879733166672692016-04-10T16:03:00.001-07:002016-04-10T16:03:05.083-07:00A Full Day of Staying BusyAnother small tease as I make progress on the shield.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtj5jbx-xNpcBzaEec231I8W0JxFXCFnhyphenhyphenhum1bg7jM3DSK_6fiJk3DLv6HAxy4Bu8glTkkv8BKRpt5KgDrgdcBeRGVqP8Q5pHNRRrGPXBuwRy8mVXhBkmYBQeo_jUXSHi0sUF53fT5U/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtj5jbx-xNpcBzaEec231I8W0JxFXCFnhyphenhyphenhum1bg7jM3DSK_6fiJk3DLv6HAxy4Bu8glTkkv8BKRpt5KgDrgdcBeRGVqP8Q5pHNRRrGPXBuwRy8mVXhBkmYBQeo_jUXSHi0sUF53fT5U/s320/IMG_2360.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Today I did 90% of the work on the star for the shield. Taking breaks on it I started making coasters out of a bunch of old records. Most of them are just the centers, but one exception was a copy of The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's" that happened to be a pressing that had a full color image all over it so I worked my way around grabbing the best parts until I had a full set.<br />
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A bit of advice. These are crazy simple to do. IF you have and use a heat gun. I struggled to cut these the other day then I had the bright idea to heat them up until they were fluid and then a sharp blade cuts through them like butter. From there you can just hand sand the edges until you're happy. Depending on whether or not there's a paper label on it, you may want to seal them with something so that water/spilled drinks don't wreck the track listings.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnjryzdNYBM1zULadQEdQhcDCN95Liy_BUqVqhKvT7fsA1xQsi4TuSQ4CGRqxpNUEJE4yojF7Xb2UHq2kHFXWviQIPrQUXVUhBcQYPqo49ny5KVa5rGtfCzOP5hTCMJq3Bs8uuafDzUY/s1600/IMG_2361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnjryzdNYBM1zULadQEdQhcDCN95Liy_BUqVqhKvT7fsA1xQsi4TuSQ4CGRqxpNUEJE4yojF7Xb2UHq2kHFXWviQIPrQUXVUhBcQYPqo49ny5KVa5rGtfCzOP5hTCMJq3Bs8uuafDzUY/s320/IMG_2361.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Hooray new ideas! Starting tomorrow I'll start adding a new post walking through the shield project each week. If popular demand says I should do it faster I'll do twice a week but for now I'll post them on Mondays.<br />
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If you want up to date, day to day posts showing what I"m working on and where I am on these shields, head over to the Facebook page, like the shop and you'll get regular updates with shiny fun pictures<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thewoodenforge">The Wooden Forge</a>Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-54074484935689785952016-04-09T15:23:00.000-07:002016-04-09T21:14:28.035-07:00Captain America ReduxWell, its been far to long since I've updated this and a lot has changed in my world. Since my last post my etsy store transformed into "The Wooden Forge" if you know me, you're well aware of this. But what that means is I'm also more active not only selling things, but making things as well. It has become this sort of nerd haven for me to indulge my need to work with my hands while doing it all with a nerd flair. Its my outlet, my freedom, my "thing" that pushes me to keep trying and learning about more things.<br />
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About a year ago I finally tackled what I've decided is THE project for me (at least for now). A Captain America shield, just like in the original Avengers. It has changed some now as the movies have progressed but I still love this original design. SO what that means is I'll be taking my posts on the Facebook page (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheWoodenForge">www.facebook.com/TheWoodenForge</a>) and expanding the process into a real tutorial so all of you adventurous types can try to make one for yourself.<br />
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For now, a teaser of some of the in process shots to tide you over till later. You can see some more at the Facebook page, or my Etsy shop where I have shots of a finished shield.<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewoodenforge">www.etsy.com/shop/thewoodenforge</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0fnZWRhJt2ewq3nlgWVtzZGzxZOD8sN7626cuNqX77NmJwgLJEZ54szBzGpI5Al_VOfvsvA5cDWkYO4IFnxNPP4_RLKN1nTqJGpv0iUzp7YcmEki6EVY8ind47cDFrFBcDW33VEzAas/s1600/12970931_1132697676793478_3361572104686373116_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlu_7v1TwYRAulBVWc5GSjECMQSYh5LCdnW6SCK_2BDGNEyiiCfmxuCeGxuck4czruB7pgrjzXhH4JXH1dg9Tvf4cbG9b36_4Nq_4qgs7kCjb4_lyqPmW2XNUuirXQDDC7HllDIhVQvU/s1600/12983181_1132068013523111_2064061428037612587_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlu_7v1TwYRAulBVWc5GSjECMQSYh5LCdnW6SCK_2BDGNEyiiCfmxuCeGxuck4czruB7pgrjzXhH4JXH1dg9Tvf4cbG9b36_4Nq_4qgs7kCjb4_lyqPmW2XNUuirXQDDC7HllDIhVQvU/s640/12983181_1132068013523111_2064061428037612587_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0fnZWRhJt2ewq3nlgWVtzZGzxZOD8sN7626cuNqX77NmJwgLJEZ54szBzGpI5Al_VOfvsvA5cDWkYO4IFnxNPP4_RLKN1nTqJGpv0iUzp7YcmEki6EVY8ind47cDFrFBcDW33VEzAas/s640/12970931_1132697676793478_3361572104686373116_o.jpg" width="640" />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-42399421289840827952014-05-05T17:02:00.000-07:002014-05-05T17:02:23.215-07:00Vintage Engagement PhotosI am particularly fond of these pictures, so I thought I'd throw them up here just to show off. We had a lot of other ones taken but these definitely are my favorite and a pretty good representation of ourselves and our style. We had been looking to get some on a train but things fell through and luckily found a police station that was built in the style of an old train depot which worked as a great backdrop. I just wish there were a couple I'd kept a straight face for. If I hadn't looked so concerned in the black and white picture, it would be one of my favorite ever. Oh well.<br />
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welcome to Pleasantville</div>
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Right this way</div>
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WANT EAT FACE!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz4yqfTExDoXsPJaKU2TX8XcVKkWaaxdbI3xnWACr35Hos98ev_Bp0v-gncG-mXw_YKXLZnTLiXMB6T-_SJlpnTbhBihrZfrFW5XXkxDfBLAMIFAdX-bKgwMqCiAG1yb1kr1bA0uYWys/s1600/1948367_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz4yqfTExDoXsPJaKU2TX8XcVKkWaaxdbI3xnWACr35Hos98ev_Bp0v-gncG-mXw_YKXLZnTLiXMB6T-_SJlpnTbhBihrZfrFW5XXkxDfBLAMIFAdX-bKgwMqCiAG1yb1kr1bA0uYWys/s1600/1948367_orig.jpg" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
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Stop screwing around</div>
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If only I weren't thinking, "whats that in the distance?"</div>
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Are they gone?</div>
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This is the "of course I can be normal" picture</div>
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"SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!" also known as the "hold a person in the air for an unreasonable amount of time so I can take 25 pictures"... picture</div>
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"Its a good thing we're outside because when I try to be sweet indoors I hit your head on door frames"</div>
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Just being sweet this time</div>
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"How much do I have to mess with you before you break and start laughing"</div>
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Unplanned fixing of my bowtie. Bowties are cool.</div>
Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-36408884745637177992014-05-05T06:03:00.000-07:002014-05-05T06:03:58.734-07:00Make Your Own Trees!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I mentioned in my Mackers post, here is the quick and dirty make your own branches post. This is pretty easy if you're willing to get your hands dirty. I had a stash of skinny PVC pipes in the shop already, so I went out to the store and bought a heat gun for about $25. Came back, hit some pipes with the heat and began twisting, stretching and bending the plastic. When I finished I ended up here. Nothing too fancy, and I wanted them to still be fairly linear. so I didn't do too much. I came in next with some wire and gaff tape and added in some smaller off shoots just by wrapping around the PVC and bending till happy.<br />
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Here is where the messy part comes in. Its Paper Mache time! I watered down a bucket of wood glue and started dipping paper towels. You can use just about any I'd bet, or newspaper or anything along those lines, I find that the school variety of brown hand towels are great for this kind of thing. Layer things on until its all covered. Bunch bits up, crinkle things, wrap, however you'd like because that's going to be your bark texture. Let them all sit and dry for a few hours and then you're ready to paint. I just used spray paint because they were a quick gag, but you could spray and then hit them with a brush for some highlights and shadow.<br />
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I thought that these would barely last the show, but they've been dropped, thrown around, stacked in corners and generally abused and other than a few tears and rough spots they are still in remarkably good condition. For foliage we had some Christmas tree branches that we just ziptied on. You could use any foliage you want. With brown ties they aren't too noticeable.<br />
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<b>And there you have it. Easy, crafty, and without too much expense. </b></div>
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-15090424487052163042013-12-05T07:37:00.000-08:002013-12-05T07:37:42.068-08:00Make Your Own Magic WandHere's a simple one! A great project for kids to take part in. Awesome as presents or for those of us nerds out there who just want to have their own magic wand (raises hand)<br />
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The only things you need are:<br />
-A dowel rod<br />
-Hot Glue<br />
-Paint<br />
Optional:<br />
-Beads<br />
- some sort of gem<br />
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I'll cover the optional parts as we go. First things first you should cut the dowel rod to a length that you want. I made mine fairly long though I forget what the actual measurement was. I used a chop saw, but you can easily use a hand saw, a sharp box cutter would work, or you could just break it and it wouldn't be the end of the world.<br />
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Once you've done this, I took a box cutter and shaved the end down a bit so it came a little closer to a point. (there is a lot of this that could be subjective and change depending on what look you want in the end)<br />
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After that I took my Gem and glued it onto the flat end with a dab of hot glue. This gem can be just about anything, or you could forgo it but it makes a nice end and base for the "handle" portion of the wand. I used a couple of large beads, you could also go with those shiny stones, a chunk of turquoise, anything that's sort of flat and has a pattern you like. (Don't mind my magazines and mess)<br />
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From there just start laying on hot glue. Be careful as you do this, not to burn yourself and to not put on way too much and heat up the other layers. I made 3 at once so I tried various methods. On my first want I made it more organic and twisted hot glue vines up the want. As the glue cools and starts to solidify you have a period of time where its still warm that you can roll it in your hands and form it to some extent. I found that globbing a lot on and hanging it from the tip while rolling made a nice layered look. This is also where you can add small beads into the mix to give it different textures or patterns.<br />
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And that's pretty much it! let everything dry and then paint it however you'd like. I made a cream colored wand. a dark black brown and then I painted green leaves on my organic wand. Paint them up however you'd like!</div>
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-12623787110516936412013-10-19T08:25:00.000-07:002013-10-19T08:25:30.318-07:00Mackers! or the Scottish Play<div style="text-align: left;">
This is a post almost a year late but here we go.</div>
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Saint Andrew's Theatre class settled on Macbeth as their play this past year. We went with a female Macbeth and while I'm biased I think it was a pretty darn good production, especially for high schoolers tackling Shakespeare for the first time. It was as presentable as any other production I've seen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojho0adbRfCjRR5FVI_G7oEQYkC4m-_1Giqjs3R2Jnx9NQbvIBu_I5xr8R-jenZ2QJtjv-ijqdGJ9IOIToO6uRH-s2-27L9OGU7487UTlwhOEcnvOh-wkN2qJDwnak4LHYuyZgAAITBU/s1600/photo+1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojho0adbRfCjRR5FVI_G7oEQYkC4m-_1Giqjs3R2Jnx9NQbvIBu_I5xr8R-jenZ2QJtjv-ijqdGJ9IOIToO6uRH-s2-27L9OGU7487UTlwhOEcnvOh-wkN2qJDwnak4LHYuyZgAAITBU/s320/photo+1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>Given the nature of the play and the background of war my design and our concept was a timeless un-ending war. Mixing current and past military uniforms, and styles. The main structure was essentially a pile of junk, with meant to reflect a once great building that has been ravaged by war, who's inhabitants have patched and barricaded using anything they can find creating a patchwork defense.<br />
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The audience was again on stage with overflow into the house seats, keeping this in mind I added a temporary thrust stage on top of the stairs leading down the stage. The floor design was a little more abstract but was meant to reflect the two warring houses and the points of their swords, which meet in the middle in a metaphorical battlefield. The circle also became a point of importance and power where the witches met, with a focal point for certain effects.<br />
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It was an interesting experience and my stage was covered in drops and smears of fake blood at the end of the show (which by the way "bleeds" through paint). We also got hit by a snowstorm the day we were supposed to open so things were cancelled and rescheduled but eventually it went off without a hitch.<br />
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Look for a short sub-post about how I went about creating branches for the soldiers to bring forward as Birnam Wood approached.<br />
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<b>An in-progress shot, before the floor and some details were finished.</b></div>
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Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-55827912330995563092013-10-17T15:42:00.002-07:002014-10-07T09:11:28.888-07:00Making Semi-Custom Blades on the CheapThis is a project I've had on a burner (not the back one, but not the front one) for awhile now. I had seen tutorials on various sites and always intended to tackle it but never had the time. Well I've finally started it. Back in the day a company by the name of Cold Steel (most famous for their ridiculous product videos, See below) Made a machete blade that cost around $12. They've now discontinued it, which threw the first wrench into the plan. I made the choice to buy one of their other machetes for about $17 and change the design a little. These blades, are cheap, covered in a black coating, and have a junky plastic handle, BUT they are tempered and heat treated properly which means they have potential.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnfkkwlvnlFoqbNEoT1IovL1n5ZfBKdGujdb50jU-a6zHWnZzB4Cogbxkah9A69khG1BRA4gWik97fUf8abbVSb20ORgLaiIf2rId-SUYQaT9lJ05-GVPZrZxamJrYK4Xfu063WOG6N8/s1600/Cold_Steel_Two_Handed_21_Latin_Machete_97TM21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnfkkwlvnlFoqbNEoT1IovL1n5ZfBKdGujdb50jU-a6zHWnZzB4Cogbxkah9A69khG1BRA4gWik97fUf8abbVSb20ORgLaiIf2rId-SUYQaT9lJ05-GVPZrZxamJrYK4Xfu063WOG6N8/s400/Cold_Steel_Two_Handed_21_Latin_Machete_97TM21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first step was to take a grinder and cut of the handle without damaging the tang. This is harder now than it used to be when they were making rubber handles. Be sure you have good ventilation and maybe even a mask because if you use a grinder the plastic doesn't cut as much as it just melts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsvyemEyOlUY-ySuEfUFIltOUbypG1eW5rCVm4bdc4xhnlLNT4l5-r4v7be1zNd9gvzCZunyPnodj3eDuZXiDv6Tk3KGhpkdSyS8myf78kW0lqdrhEjy3ju-8KTe_05kiMDihsVSaMBI/s1600/1231529_10101448546084040_1014591106_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsvyemEyOlUY-ySuEfUFIltOUbypG1eW5rCVm4bdc4xhnlLNT4l5-r4v7be1zNd9gvzCZunyPnodj3eDuZXiDv6Tk3KGhpkdSyS8myf78kW0lqdrhEjy3ju-8KTe_05kiMDihsVSaMBI/s400/1231529_10101448546084040_1014591106_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>Step two was to take some charcoal and draw out the shape of the two blades I was going to cut down. I marked it out, took the grinder with a cut off wheel and got to work chopping the long 21" blade into a small dagger and seax style small blade. It wasn't a perfect fit but they worked out alright. The downside to the coldsteel blades is just how thin they are, not much real meat to them.<br />
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Step three was taking my orbital sander and getting the black coating off. This was the easiest part to do. A little elbow grease and some repetition with a coarse grit paper did most of the work. So I was left with two bare blades ready for rehilting.<br />
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This is about the point where I had a long break since life got hectic, but I started carving and shaping the new handle out of Red Oak. I cut the basic shape with my jigsaw (a scroll saw would be great for this) and then started working it with the bench grinder and sand paper. It was a bit bulky so I thinned one side down using the table saw. I unfortunately ran it through backwards and cut too thin, so the blade will be offset. Not what I intended but it will make a nice pair for the dagger as a side blade on a main scabbard so I decided I could live with it.<br />
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-75699833046277346072013-10-17T15:41:00.001-07:002014-10-07T09:11:28.892-07:00They Fight! Peter Pan Edition, Also- They BuildAnother summer post!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-RkKpwp-SDM3Uhw48uVLZetMBLaSjkDI71T1V5GEXj0JTztoDaVLyaE720Wjhyb2zlIWrjQ6fw_r0TomjGwyuvV9UmXLeUzpQbuR_FyysJGa7vXoNq02DmY3odC7Yj4YKir9CRLyQX4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-RkKpwp-SDM3Uhw48uVLZetMBLaSjkDI71T1V5GEXj0JTztoDaVLyaE720Wjhyb2zlIWrjQ6fw_r0TomjGwyuvV9UmXLeUzpQbuR_FyysJGa7vXoNq02DmY3odC7Yj4YKir9CRLyQX4/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a>Heather's summer camp season for the YMCA included both<i> Bye Bye Birdie</i> and <i>Peter Pan.</i> This meant more work on my end helping out, though I only had a small hand in <i>Birdie. </i>An hour or so in photoshop gave her an Elvis style poster starring her lead. The interesting part is that the picture we had to work with only showed one arm, so I had to clone the good one, meaning he's got two right arms. I don't think anybody could tell. Then a nice parent took it to work and printed it on a giant sheet of foam board, pretty nice for not a lot of work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHCeXsj9lajje08jOkBCY_pf3ymjcpav4RAF2GkjBp-KO7l04rfYIVsFeib5uhz1qeWEa8GmnFpfv-a_1h2qGRpZIv-11o67RWHvLDlHGtlhTY9yvlWdob7jXkBhDnZyP-oOYSxYIMBI/s1600/photo+3+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHCeXsj9lajje08jOkBCY_pf3ymjcpav4RAF2GkjBp-KO7l04rfYIVsFeib5uhz1qeWEa8GmnFpfv-a_1h2qGRpZIv-11o67RWHvLDlHGtlhTY9yvlWdob7jXkBhDnZyP-oOYSxYIMBI/s320/photo+3+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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For <i>Peter Pan</i> I made Heather 8 rehearsal cubes, 2 large windows, a base for a sonotube mast, and then helped walk through how to make a few other pieces. I spent a day cutting out panels at her branch and then took them back to my shop to assemble. By the end of the day (probably 4 hours of work) I finally had all 48 panels cut, was covered in caked on sawdust (it was raining) and had a nose full of junk too (should have had on a dust mask). I also made a hook for Hook out of a $12 hay bale hook and some leather.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0U_gdsMjlU43IrOuYQ9JbRnnW7KgY3x9fxIJJU1i_bKktwq0zaVpFthigv6uqGYmUzZYY9dnHVZKmPDmWogUJ4gb5hhx9lP205fEdEfgBT1Z1dfS0e7lhFcf-HpyLhsNHBV3E17dhTpk/s1600/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0U_gdsMjlU43IrOuYQ9JbRnnW7KgY3x9fxIJJU1i_bKktwq0zaVpFthigv6uqGYmUzZYY9dnHVZKmPDmWogUJ4gb5hhx9lP205fEdEfgBT1Z1dfS0e7lhFcf-HpyLhsNHBV3E17dhTpk/s400/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a> If you were ever curious how much stuff you can cram into a Prius C, here's your answer. 2 tool bags, a bunch of clamps, a sword box, a table saw, 2 drills, a router, a circular saw, box of screws and a few other things. This is AFTER I'd taken a bunch of stuff out.<br />
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The fight choreography was interesting for this show. I did all the choreography and had one day of instruction with the kids (which only was about an hour of work) and Heather did all the actual running of the fight, troubleshooting, training and fight calls. I wish I could have been more hands on but I was too heavy into my own summer work to be there. So when I finally saw it again was the night I saw the show. It needed a little more polish for sure and the night I was there they bobbled a couple of times, BUT for middle schoolers with only a week or so of training, they did a pretty good job. I'm always critical but for two young kids completely new to sword fighting they definitely put up something presentable.<br />
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<b>Full set with the rope ladder and mast in place</b></div>
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<b>The windows unfinished. These were flown in for the house scenes at the start and end of the show. They ended up stained a golden brown.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77mTMliiedpYmeC_CmmCk1YpwqIAcG8DCl77OhtfdVtWwKgGXHIqAq-LvJ20hyphenhyphenYPgQz8mdmJdGcNskyUsCtE5J5CNlBjmXOwjf8uXg1K7q0Opt66vNWMamd1pd-qG0NtTqNuhqEURxu4/s1600/photo+4+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77mTMliiedpYmeC_CmmCk1YpwqIAcG8DCl77OhtfdVtWwKgGXHIqAq-LvJ20hyphenhyphenYPgQz8mdmJdGcNskyUsCtE5J5CNlBjmXOwjf8uXg1K7q0Opt66vNWMamd1pd-qG0NtTqNuhqEURxu4/s640/photo+4+%25281%2529.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<b>I took this chance to build a lockbox for on site storage. The big sword is my Hanwei hand and a half sword. We did not use this. The other one however is an Amfence blade, we had 3 of these for the show.</b></div>
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<b>My shop on assembly day, this was the easiest part of the job. Glue, staple, flip, staple, move on. </b></div>
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-22021836722089668202013-10-17T14:48:00.003-07:002014-10-07T09:11:28.883-07:00The Pirates of Penzance on Treasure IslandIt was a busy season at the ACTSA Summer camps this year. We had our usual camp classes and small shows but this year we took on <i>The Pirates of Penzance</i> as our musical which is no easy task for children under the age of 14. Our Tour took us out and about with an adaptation of Treasure Island with music added by our wonderful director, Laura Minadeo. Needless to say, we had a bit of a pirate theme. When everything was finished, we had done <i>Pirates, Treasure Island, Macbeth, When the Mountain Meets the Moon, Rats</i>, and a few junior classes as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDqogivrlL9tiNApbqRop_AFTQOg4P291FhLxWlxJGwVR74Ljd48KjLAelyrJRW0uVX-rmWkP97Ca4jc54Xh1w4yXvcd2s4BrEgJdH1nHPLfN8m0VkRt2dJYbE7HQBw_S0Na9gqRA3Lo/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDqogivrlL9tiNApbqRop_AFTQOg4P291FhLxWlxJGwVR74Ljd48KjLAelyrJRW0uVX-rmWkP97Ca4jc54Xh1w4yXvcd2s4BrEgJdH1nHPLfN8m0VkRt2dJYbE7HQBw_S0Na9gqRA3Lo/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a>For Pirates, we really needed a universal style set because it was going to serve as set for every other camp production. Normally that's not a big deal but we also had a rock musical called <i>Rats, </i>written composed and directed by David Tessier. Luckily it fit his needs as well. Stage right was just a 4x8 tower with stairs which was supposed to be cave like. Given my lack of time and help I decided to create a rock face with some 2x4 scraps and a drop cloth stapled onto it all and then painted. Certainly not perfect but I think it looked alright.<br />
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Stage left was a bunch of 4x4 platforms and scrap pieces from the shop combined to make ruins. I didn't spend much time on this at all since I still had some foam bricks and half walls sitting around. Throw a couple of painted flags into the mix and a silhouette of the Queen of England and I was just about done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eRHhjtuBsMahhGT2sn25DsuZSDLyu_nIGLVCs7XVMl6G9qVy8aFrXcTpVrdYDj0N4_MzMSNzOvRmQKVLt09smsB-TZSUw3lTaRYoEUKvj-MCByOJ4KDm9jHiossjSmuRdr__SEiB5l4/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eRHhjtuBsMahhGT2sn25DsuZSDLyu_nIGLVCs7XVMl6G9qVy8aFrXcTpVrdYDj0N4_MzMSNzOvRmQKVLt09smsB-TZSUw3lTaRYoEUKvj-MCByOJ4KDm9jHiossjSmuRdr__SEiB5l4/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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We also had just replaced all the cyc gel, which made for some awesome color, though after doing the math, to replace all 3 colors for all the fixtures cost $140. ouch. But oh boy was it worth it<br />
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Our Tour had to pack into a short school bus and we decided on keeping the layout the same as our last tour since the support pieces were all there already. I swapped out for a new backdrop, which I'm pretty happy with, but as always wish I had a bit more time for, framed by palm trees. The disaster piece that I hated and didn't have time to do anything about was the side tall landing boat flat, it was just done quick and ugly and I was less than pleased with how it turned out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXzfKxdO8DkGylJp1EbXH0n3RsXV8lqJSeFcAsI0OJJ9r_DdZGOG4HMgMuh5Y87XQmsPXIhbnYBjwgY12Bg7heOqWMAxurTe6ACU9jFqxARwyK5Lk__Z9Rvlh84FczC2Qf79jLUOrhTs/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXzfKxdO8DkGylJp1EbXH0n3RsXV8lqJSeFcAsI0OJJ9r_DdZGOG4HMgMuh5Y87XQmsPXIhbnYBjwgY12Bg7heOqWMAxurTe6ACU9jFqxARwyK5Lk__Z9Rvlh84FczC2Qf79jLUOrhTs/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Balancing the stage out we had a magic treasure chest which I built from the ground up, far larger than I had intended. I got going and about half way up I realized how huge it was going to be, but it was all made from scrap material and I didn't have enough to start over so I went on with it. The chest turned out pretty well though and I was definitely happy with the end results. The chest stayed on stage the whole show and contained all the props that were needed. It clearly held no treasure, but that's where the magic came from.The lid had a built in shelf that was was held in place by two handles so when it was time for the big reveal, they closed the lid, pulled the pins, and when it opened had a pile of treasure sitting on top which was worth all the hassle if only for the crowd reactions when it happened.<br />
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<b>Here's how the chest worked. This was my test run</b></div>
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<b>Projection speeds things up greatly. I took my rough sketch, </b></div>
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<b>made a transparency and went to work. </b></div>
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<b>Drop in progress</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5qoPrWBClMh-f6Ztcn53gEw0m_GCXw5IAEQmdDKgQqdg1FUKjak8K9Bm8pYmVRFZPopDxVmvYiWVHe4ssSkqZZIsLIwHvzEJD01VWxnTUr6R3I6o1V8LTalGqLNc1sdEuGGZZ6uCqyc/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5qoPrWBClMh-f6Ztcn53gEw0m_GCXw5IAEQmdDKgQqdg1FUKjak8K9Bm8pYmVRFZPopDxVmvYiWVHe4ssSkqZZIsLIwHvzEJD01VWxnTUr6R3I6o1V8LTalGqLNc1sdEuGGZZ6uCqyc/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Almost finished</b></div>
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<b>Pirates tower, in process</b></div>
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<b>Before painting SL, some of it was usable without any work</b></div>
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<b>A dowel rod, piece of linen and some paint and I've got a flag.</b></div>
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Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-55734160572903451412013-10-17T07:22:00.000-07:002013-10-17T07:22:04.054-07:00A post of Backlogs and busy-nessI realize that my last post was about an eventual update, which never came. I have a literal backlog of things going on right now. Heavy into construction for our production of Grease. One of these nights I will in fact write out posts and get them published. Since the last update I've added a few projects which are in limbo due to my schedule, but they include;<br />
-modifying a cheap cold steel blade into a small seax and dagger<br />
-various Grease projects<br />
-Going to the Ohio Renfest and talking briefly with Guido Crescendo, also known as David Woolley<br />
-Buying a car, a Valiant Armory blade and a Starfire dirk, not sure which one I enjoyed more haha.<br />
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These are coming, with pictures, and will satisfy the couple of people that actually check my blog occasionally, if they even still do.Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-42728633843890092652013-08-29T10:57:00.002-07:002013-08-29T10:57:43.560-07:00An overdue updateLong time no post. I'll keep it brief and slowly catch up on a little backlog of summer work and projects to be posted in the coming weeks. We finished out a busy summer at ACTSA and packed it away until a undetermined point in the future. Classes are sneaking up and will start in a little over a week. This year's musical is Grease. Not super excited about the story since it really isn't my favorite, but the set I think (knocks on wood) may be my best yet if everything goes according to plan.<br />
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Planned posts that should be upcoming:<br />
-Coverage of Macbeth<br />
-Summer camps (Pirates of Penzance and Treasure Island)<br />
-Harry Potter style magic wands<br />
-Peter Pan and the related Fight Choreography and scenery<br />
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Thats what comes to mind at the moment. Keep an eye open for the updates!<br />
<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-9740294748334710282013-04-22T13:52:00.001-07:002013-05-09T09:49:58.363-07:00Curved Shields and Captain America<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsfnkicQakxB2DFw5U2iLe_qtWeWqtE0HhrVJw5T-i9I2vzGkfB1N5YafOJcbN8VzUgGRDuLiUMaUCoN80wd_fQszUeUmem9c49DBHyNvb3p0cGzTIZsqBQcLhND08Yaw5Kov1vi0ggQ/s1600/535487_10101114434476380_2100349333_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsfnkicQakxB2DFw5U2iLe_qtWeWqtE0HhrVJw5T-i9I2vzGkfB1N5YafOJcbN8VzUgGRDuLiUMaUCoN80wd_fQszUeUmem9c49DBHyNvb3p0cGzTIZsqBQcLhND08Yaw5Kov1vi0ggQ/s320/535487_10101114434476380_2100349333_n.jpg" width="238" /></a>I recently decided to start looking into making wooden shields. As a quick side project I built a round buckler just as a test run. It was a simple 20ish" planked shield. Assembled from 1x3 furring strips, the whole thing only cost about $10 worth of materials.<br />
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This started me further down the path. I was in the middle of working on a production of <i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe </i>and the director asked for a shield for the battle. So I started doing some research for methods to make curved shields. So I got online and found plans and instructions for a shield press which I built in the shop with some scrap material. I called for hardwood in a couple of places which I should have listened to. under pressure it popped and I wrecked the first sheets. Reinforced for the second time it all worked.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How the press works</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMEBUne3Mo7DhKx2mjbEiv42XjYU1fsXBamq3O5pVM1pbD7clx-jE9vG94XzKg7AjPF3jR7Y7FWPo_Fm9RFfkBlCIYD0WrG1RZUwrcLVjjsL3fZxgDeGUoHIWAbBR4njHh-n_e_JtLmU/s1600/63019_10101133507718450_1296131544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMEBUne3Mo7DhKx2mjbEiv42XjYU1fsXBamq3O5pVM1pbD7clx-jE9vG94XzKg7AjPF3jR7Y7FWPo_Fm9RFfkBlCIYD0WrG1RZUwrcLVjjsL3fZxgDeGUoHIWAbBR4njHh-n_e_JtLmU/s400/63019_10101133507718450_1296131544_n.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
So what you see here is the press, the material inside it is 2 sheets of 1/4" ply. I cut both sheets into 4ths so this is about 2'x4' which leaves a shield anywhere up to that size. You cover the sheet with PLENTY of wood glue and then put it into the press. the 2x4's on top spread the pressure around and then ratchet straps press it all down and hold it in place. The 2 sheets of ply make it easier to bend and once the glue in the middle sets it holds the curve like a rock. I left it for 2 weeks but that's because I was out out town, after about 24 hours it would have been fine to release.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">After the Press</span></b><br />
After they are free take the jig saw and cut out your shield shape. Its much easier to draw the shield on before you curve it.Cut it out and you've got your rough shape. Sand all the edges to smooth it up and I like to round everything over just because it looks a little bit nicer and makes things a bit less rough on the skin if it hits you at some point. After cutting them out you end up with something like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERDMjUW6dlMxPvINf4Qu_Y7n_pfcRsgzttYOq5UoNVCk62up7z2lcCNtk9-M87z-B9DH7ysBW0uOMcg4w3HqdZ9uDAmSt1LQKJLTClZG7eQ4SFIxG7rirCJhW6PXru2-pMST0br3C3Oc/s1600/533953_10101159709879110_2026495653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERDMjUW6dlMxPvINf4Qu_Y7n_pfcRsgzttYOq5UoNVCk62up7z2lcCNtk9-M87z-B9DH7ysBW0uOMcg4w3HqdZ9uDAmSt1LQKJLTClZG7eQ4SFIxG7rirCJhW6PXru2-pMST0br3C3Oc/s400/533953_10101159709879110_2026495653_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now I had the cut I needed to do the shield for LWW and I had an extra larger one sitting around. I wasn't sure what to do with it. I kept looking at it and eventually I realized it wasn't too far off from Captain America's World War Two shield. So that's where I went. Note the picture, on these kind of things photo references always rock and you really sort of need them for anything that already exists otherwise it just won't be accurate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BqdLz0iEEOtcZsSKHvHTkVnJSmFBMZFCx8Xi5TAUxB6YLm2NGXO5U73F2eN1ixUmYFyQZE6WYqfSqj15UQI2XXCAzv9PbmYZie344VOBb88KWxYSOsj2JbFKyXdnwB7daKdm1gmQM0g/s1600/528444_10101160096160000_200466153_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BqdLz0iEEOtcZsSKHvHTkVnJSmFBMZFCx8Xi5TAUxB6YLm2NGXO5U73F2eN1ixUmYFyQZE6WYqfSqj15UQI2XXCAzv9PbmYZie344VOBb88KWxYSOsj2JbFKyXdnwB7daKdm1gmQM0g/s640/528444_10101160096160000_200466153_n.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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The white on here was just a primer, which is nice to add once sanded just for a basic shield blank. For added strength and paint-ability people cover the blank with canvas just for another layer. I skipped that here. First step was to measure everything out and figure out spacing. If you look at the center stripe I wasn't perfectly centered but you don't notice it much in person. I'll also note that I use carriage bolts for the handle and straps mostly for ease of repair. If something breaks I can just unbolt it rather than using a rivet which is much more permanent. So I striped things out and hit the red stripes. I won't show it, but let things dry, pull the tape up, do the blue, do the white etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCeZ3SFs1db-1sGKfkVOlNewuhdwaEEkkWn6mVDn9s3i54ETi9g2EQ2ZW2E2htL29dkl30HfpV3sfWliUZB064u37xzCgsdADTF8EWvi0Yn3aXwEa9Tkhq1MADvXvTK05rqky76Y2jnQ/s1600/527257_10101161268181260_1331980252_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCeZ3SFs1db-1sGKfkVOlNewuhdwaEEkkWn6mVDn9s3i54ETi9g2EQ2ZW2E2htL29dkl30HfpV3sfWliUZB064u37xzCgsdADTF8EWvi0Yn3aXwEa9Tkhq1MADvXvTK05rqky76Y2jnQ/s320/527257_10101161268181260_1331980252_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
Here is a printed out star I used to figure out spacing and size, the center star on Cap's shield is a bit larger. partially because the top bumps up a bit as well, mine was cut straight across the top but there was still space for the larger star. I had to do this for both shields but I HATE HATE HATE painting white over colors. it takes so many layers to get good coverage, it just sucks. I still needed to do the white for all of this, but the primer was white and clean enough that I was able to just to small touch ups and call it good. After the stars are traced and painted I'm just going to add a coat of poly or clearcoat of some kind just to give it a nice shine. I doubt I'll ever use the cap shield for fighting since I want it to stay nice.<br />
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Last but not least here's the almost final product. It needs another coat of white on the stars but its basically done. After it I'll add in some more pictures just so you can see other in progress moments and what the other shield ended up looking like.<br />
If I haven't covered everything real well or if anybody wants more details on how I did something just let me know and I can go into more depth. Also let me know if there is interest in any of these I've got the press now and I'm thinking about doing custom shields for people if enough people want them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNb6tBcTZz4SO84vP8WhkVvJzrjt_uDfedU_QMQPMDcUOqxb6t6KF8lnGNkEbemikslYdywfrObrs8bUVMfqG3weamN8CI2huu794ZC3zApMi-lkTxAompR0OKEX2COD-4n5v2HrHOL4/s1600/28153_10101162842566180_541875340_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNb6tBcTZz4SO84vP8WhkVvJzrjt_uDfedU_QMQPMDcUOqxb6t6KF8lnGNkEbemikslYdywfrObrs8bUVMfqG3weamN8CI2huu794ZC3zApMi-lkTxAompR0OKEX2COD-4n5v2HrHOL4/s640/28153_10101162842566180_541875340_n.jpg" width="477" /></a></div>
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<b>Nearly the final product</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dn6XUQWjcUudmmeuSR8fHY5qLyRhyphenhyphenUv6xafCUzaz4ZVeGEQO3c5Qb0fIgnrGF1NPbta1HE8cYF_03ppyfr5dHla1m48VoQYpSyQsKvKz8Xch7FIE-7nZaDA0qMekE2euBIy95Ab5ym0/s1600/305994_10101159704744400_392218109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dn6XUQWjcUudmmeuSR8fHY5qLyRhyphenhyphenUv6xafCUzaz4ZVeGEQO3c5Qb0fIgnrGF1NPbta1HE8cYF_03ppyfr5dHla1m48VoQYpSyQsKvKz8Xch7FIE-7nZaDA0qMekE2euBIy95Ab5ym0/s640/305994_10101159704744400_392218109_n.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>
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<b>Size difference between the two shields. The bottom is the Cap shield. These both came out of the 2'x4' sheet I pressed.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfwhqQ7oPrLYr0jBPTqcAqzqHxUqZQt0WJjmZm_FcrXVLxVQuMDTyV8ZNIb_dvDpYHaqfy8J_DZvDp8qaVoVDQ0LK5fpZzoUDeDbe6DOaN1o5e36vJZzexDNYEhSUMlfmMtSzz1esFuw/s1600/36598_10101160095042240_808506965_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfwhqQ7oPrLYr0jBPTqcAqzqHxUqZQt0WJjmZm_FcrXVLxVQuMDTyV8ZNIb_dvDpYHaqfy8J_DZvDp8qaVoVDQ0LK5fpZzoUDeDbe6DOaN1o5e36vJZzexDNYEhSUMlfmMtSzz1esFuw/s640/36598_10101160095042240_808506965_n.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<b>The back of the cap sheild. I use a solid metal handle for the grip. Some people use crossed leather straps I like the metal just because its rigid, I don't care if its not accurate. The pad in the middle is nice to soften blows and make it more comfortable to hold.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqaM-WK2ZulfQF9u-TJCW9-ZLKmsRZBKKqxNYWjytHg8B4Mwmx36RUURX88csfkBQI9ZJXab0mpaFHfqEYknktPUy3vGdWGaR7yjLYBRHP65yj_uI5q2_ncyX05DnbnQrMdxaVg6KpF0/s1600/64438_10101162662586860_1489878984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqaM-WK2ZulfQF9u-TJCW9-ZLKmsRZBKKqxNYWjytHg8B4Mwmx36RUURX88csfkBQI9ZJXab0mpaFHfqEYknktPUy3vGdWGaR7yjLYBRHP65yj_uI5q2_ncyX05DnbnQrMdxaVg6KpF0/s640/64438_10101162662586860_1489878984_n.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>
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<b>The final shield for LWW. It was a little quick so my hand was rough in a couple places but this is basically what the custom shields would be. Give me a picture, colors, design of whatever and I'd make and paint them. The next ones I think will just have a coat of arms type center image</b></div>
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Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-82919269265586631042013-04-18T19:24:00.002-07:002013-04-20T16:23:33.282-07:00Time for a wedding! ...almost.Well it's getting to that point in our planning that we are needing to get on top of save the dates. Being a creative type that knows photoshop and our wanting to save money, we decided to design them ourselves. We had already talked out what we were thinking about doing so Heather sat down one day while I was at work and made a rough sketch. I got home and went from there. Our general wedding plan is do slip in the nerdy stuff we love without it being an overtly nerd wedding. Basically we're taking the classy parts and certain styles and building on them, if you know what to look for you will likely see the patterns and references but they'll be loose enough that we're expecting some "...did you guys mean to do this? is this _____?" and the answer is probably yes. Then we're fleshing it out with our love for art deco looks and we've got what is, (in my opinion) a pretty stylish wedding. Without further ado, here is the front of our save the date for what promises to be a rather.... timey wimey wedding.<br />
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Showing this around to a couple of people (the non nerd types) they immediately (thank god) picked up on the art deco theme. The fanned shape, the rays of light at the top, the background and of course the font helps sell that. But I'm sure all the Whovians out there probably noticed the tardis sitting in the middle and the Galifreyan on the edges. We'd both seen the real Doctor Who save the dates that are floating around, thanks to pinterest, but we both agreed that they were a little too overt for what we were doing. We, ironically enough, are hoping for a real timeless feel here. I suppose if you don't catch the references it could look like the music stand for a big swing band and you'd never know the difference.<br />
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For the most part this is our color scheme too, the tardis blue (though this is a bit darker for the purposes of the save the date), yellow, and grey.<br />
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The Galifreyan and background continue on the back side of the postcard just to help tie it all together and to keep the style consistent.<br />
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While it has been quite a time since I last updated the blog, expect there to be more wedding updates like this as we keep going through the planning. Now that the school year is slowing down I'll have some more time to get into a backlog of posts about my various projects through the year, the next one will likely be covering making curved wooden shields for a show, and a WW2 Captain America shield, so check back for more!<br />
<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-39248060302893110442012-07-09T18:17:00.001-07:002012-07-09T18:17:32.027-07:00Of Julio Mata, Charlie Brown, and Summer campsA recap!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFCiRtesb3nDzx5HU1Brtjy9Z4OfDM_nGoX_FFBPwZWypAJ0DBouxLobjyY0uSgivU4OBwogFImtaMc-_F2M6u9j7DjfVJFHuqvIyNzXw6LJN9EvyjLqEML28y5h4nS7_W7vHaoi2vx8/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /> This past weekend we had our wonderful college friend, Julio Mata come up from Florida to stay with us. Ok in reality he came to see Norah Jones and profess his love for her and the staying with us was a side effect. If you don't know who Julio Mata is I'm surprised because everybody does. It seems like whenever he is around people from everywhere are yelling HI JULIO! I expected it to happen in Providence. The nice thing is I got to slum around town for a day and we discovered things I hadn't seen despite having lived here for a year. One example is the Providence Athenaeum. It happens to be a library. It also happens to be awesome. Example: <br />
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It's pretty neat. It has push button light switches in all the stacks and it has a basement level that has a rare book vault that is pressure sealed and apparently anybody can go in it. Julio and I just looked through the door. There was more exploring and gallivanting and then on the 4th of july he flew home.<br />
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The past week or so I've been balancing prep for the ACT summer camps, the ACT Rapunzel Tour and Heather's YMCA production of Charlie Brown.<br />
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This is what we settled on between each of these 4 flats there will be 2X4 boxes creating open panels between them so that actors can literally step out of or into the comic. This was the end result of a marathon day of painting. After this picture everything got outlined in black to give it that pen inked comic quality. Today I built the doghouse for snoopy. Time consuming but surprisingly easy if you just build a giant rehearsal cube and slap triangle roof sections on the side to imply a roof that comes to a point. It still needs more work but it will be easy to bounce back and forth between my camp work and it because I can work on it while things dry. switch back while the doghouse dries. Let the next piece dry, and so on and so forth. A great, if not tiring, use of my time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg6W-PI-RNH9zCP3OniDQLipY_X3rGdGPnvHfZjZ_5HVUEfVAt4SmDdtsDD91kpg0gshDiIDp2Vf9LjBkT02AoO58nmgJoOCNaqojRgGaZDpTxMHbrtAZUVf449ecbUG5zlV_t0KNNmo/s1600/0707122149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg6W-PI-RNH9zCP3OniDQLipY_X3rGdGPnvHfZjZ_5HVUEfVAt4SmDdtsDD91kpg0gshDiIDp2Vf9LjBkT02AoO58nmgJoOCNaqojRgGaZDpTxMHbrtAZUVf449ecbUG5zlV_t0KNNmo/s320/0707122149.jpg" width="320" /></a>Last but not least today was the first day of my first ACT summer camp. We've got 2 classes going right now and I've got finishing touches on the set to do this week, rehearsal cubes to paint and the Rapunzel tour to build. Saturday was a nightmarish day almost 13 hours long of me trying to play tetris with my platform stock until I had an arrangement I liked. After that I blasted through the painting by just using my air sprayer which saved me a bunch of time and a lot of back hurt. Not a terrific picture but after that many hours working by myself to finish it, that was the best it was going to get. Once its touched up and the ground row for behind is it done I'll snap some better pictures. Sometime before the end of next week I'll have also made a cityscape sort of ground row, sort of hard backdrop type set up for upper stage left and right to give it a little more depth and balance the height in the center. Also as a final note, I've been listening to the soundtrack for the American Idiot musical and I really like it. A couple of great new songs and I love the sound of extra orchestration and a female voice to compliment the Billie Joe Armstrong style voice.<br />
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Time to breathe yet? Not quite. As they say, No sleep till Brooklyn.<br />
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-7689007357479466622012-06-26T18:23:00.000-07:002012-06-26T18:23:04.732-07:00Pallet Shelves for the Shop<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F36aGEm8yA-zw3DfYgdIiNDTo8oifB-vS5b4HipexRVEyDZbJ1kL2x5NfgeYvPbtMGjZhG8shIScurm4eeNDIX30K1MZWD-CFnI-rDbyixiKzRFE4mFxU_qVwC4OkjYw65PkrZGl-Ww/s1600/IMG_0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F36aGEm8yA-zw3DfYgdIiNDTo8oifB-vS5b4HipexRVEyDZbJ1kL2x5NfgeYvPbtMGjZhG8shIScurm4eeNDIX30K1MZWD-CFnI-rDbyixiKzRFE4mFxU_qVwC4OkjYw65PkrZGl-Ww/s320/IMG_0412.JPG" width="320" /></a>Well, what's been going on since the piano you ask? A short trip home, and now enjoying some down time before starting summer camp work. With this time I've been sorting out the scene shop, junking some stuff, recovering from the ballet I had last weekend, and FINALLY after a year getting around to reorganizing it all as I'd like it.<br />
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This as included building some new shelves. While I've got a lot of lumber I need to get rid of for various reasons, I saved it and decided it was easier to use the pallets I already had stacked up in the shop. Since this is going to be paint cans sitting on it, it didn't need to be solid and I've built a solid top shelf for other stuff. The pallet on the floor you can see here surround by tape is because I've sprayed a yellow box on the floor in an attempt to hopefully get the paper deliveries I get stuck with dropped in that spot instead of all over.<br />
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The important thing for making something like this easier on yourself is to measure them and find some with matching rails. I had about 10 of them to choose from and those two were the only one with the same dimension, so I didn't have to match supports and add extra 2x4. That pallet of paper on the left is exactly what I was talking about. Right in my way, as usual.<br />
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While technically all of that rack is finished, except for a top long shelf that will run along that wall, I may still take it outside and spray it so it's all the same color. Partially because it's mismatched and because I want to use my new Husky air sprayer. We'll see what happens.<br />
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ALSO, construction on the new dorm addition/renovation are right on schedule, I snuck in this past weekend to look around and see what they had going on, the rest of the pictures are on facebook.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCIilJVv5Z7HBlNXCZUkD7VifwyMxAGRnotpVlnLNsaHeI9ogh3I0zEBXDeL76VcsAy18G5PChvwlBa6COkmDeriWfnyBQZLMDp3MY5tPju9Y1rRyGW-jgsX43HYIxkFM1yeNZ0wivPU/s1600/IMG_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCIilJVv5Z7HBlNXCZUkD7VifwyMxAGRnotpVlnLNsaHeI9ogh3I0zEBXDeL76VcsAy18G5PChvwlBa6COkmDeriWfnyBQZLMDp3MY5tPju9Y1rRyGW-jgsX43HYIxkFM1yeNZ0wivPU/s320/IMG_0408.JPG" width="320" /></a>This is actually par of the old dorm that they've gutted to the bones.<br />
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I assume this will be the new entry way with a big open tower like my building as on the one side.<br />
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It's looking pretty nice. So far I'm just enjoying the weather and working at my own speed. Production meeting tomorrow for the Rapunzel tour we're doing this summer, then I suppose I'll work some more. Also, as a last thought, GO SEE BRAVE. Pixar rarely lets me down, but with this one they really knocked it out of the park. It was an awesome, fun movie. They continue to excel in bringing characters that can't speak to life and making it clear without the dialogue. This also holds true for the short at the start, it may be my favorite Pixar short to date.<br />
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-7746155232198786632012-06-15T19:07:00.003-07:002012-06-15T19:22:28.916-07:00A Piano Desk Finale (part 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_KqLRiZD9w1G9buNaBF_DV5YTtiMX2t167KTVzXkvE8KfrSobt1z3LyS3Vyhw3Ic6l_KEtzYK3GA_J8wMx_0uw8PlSk1XTgyPTWP6Tv9uRfh4xBcc9HobZsBHt0toLMNZnCoDqdowvI/s1600/Before+and+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_KqLRiZD9w1G9buNaBF_DV5YTtiMX2t167KTVzXkvE8KfrSobt1z3LyS3Vyhw3Ic6l_KEtzYK3GA_J8wMx_0uw8PlSk1XTgyPTWP6Tv9uRfh4xBcc9HobZsBHt0toLMNZnCoDqdowvI/s400/Before+and+after.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Part 1: <a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2012/06/piano-desk-project-part-1.html">The Piano Desk Project</a></b><br />
<b>Part 2: <a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2012/06/piano-desk-project-part-2-day-from-hell.html">A Day from Hell</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF6McqAhNpWHMlJ4QxpepSEMgOrUL0SilRA1RrwK-RFGNlFEVwxiopxTB8ZIeVLDT2S6gaaoPipqvbxZeZJxV7wtOG3eFWeO6LnrTvNVyR_ppqcugxtxfM4y2XxStxy9RPyx2xBxtJy8/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF6McqAhNpWHMlJ4QxpepSEMgOrUL0SilRA1RrwK-RFGNlFEVwxiopxTB8ZIeVLDT2S6gaaoPipqvbxZeZJxV7wtOG3eFWeO6LnrTvNVyR_ppqcugxtxfM4y2XxStxy9RPyx2xBxtJy8/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a>Well it was roughly a week's worth of work on and off and a couple of things changed but generally speaking I've reached a final product. One aspect I scrapped was doing a drawer under the desktop, the reasoning behind that is, the materials that were left after I had used the good pieces were mostly chipboard that had been laminated with nice stuff on the outside, if I were to cut into it, I'd have rough edges that I'd then have to laminate and I just didn't want the extra time and expense. In the future I may still add one, I'll have to see once I start using it as a desk if I need the extra storage. When last we met I had just declared victory over the cast iron piano harp after spending about a day and a half trying to remove it. That was tough boring work. After that I moved on to easy boring work, removing the finish from the piano. Now I didn't <i>REALLY</i> have to do this because it looked alright from the start but it had marks from paint on it, things carved in, and various other blemishes I wanted to get rid of. I also wasn't a huge fan of the color, so I started to sand pieces down. I used a combination of hand sanding, power sanding and stain/varnish stripper to remove everything.<br />
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A warning about the stripper, when I worked in paint we always warned people that unless you get the orange goopy "safer" stripper, it can be pretty caustic and you should wear gloves. I got a ton of the heaviest duty stuff on my hands and arms without even a tingle or burn. So I don't know if I'm just desensitized from years of working with chemicals or if it's a symptom of the over safe-ification of the country. In either case, having gloves couldn't hurt. <br />
The varnish softens and scrapes off looking kind of like used oil or in some cases shed snake skin. it's nasty, having something to scrape it out on is important.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLmY3nfHlEpNsKvzQQXSO5q73d3BuDtkxT0Lo5AMvXXHYxpPFlCCiPIt3QpfbR09dx6rn2m3Bvaa7fg9BhGqW0jUe_l8TfzxmrIMGaQ_dJRZNr3m-YpaS3rFV92PyD47w5vEqRgO79Is/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLmY3nfHlEpNsKvzQQXSO5q73d3BuDtkxT0Lo5AMvXXHYxpPFlCCiPIt3QpfbR09dx6rn2m3Bvaa7fg9BhGqW0jUe_l8TfzxmrIMGaQ_dJRZNr3m-YpaS3rFV92PyD47w5vEqRgO79Is/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qCilK_awDeOY7UfXJFCRWuT96JHdk9ykxSZkWZckyyFq3ZepNA3jEmvRHPh0kztBH0yIatJeHoskUqEkLGhfbBuRZi-CQgQCtDB8bWMBuKohiOgK9rQkJfJNEj80HULKtGGzhWMca-E/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qCilK_awDeOY7UfXJFCRWuT96JHdk9ykxSZkWZckyyFq3ZepNA3jEmvRHPh0kztBH0yIatJeHoskUqEkLGhfbBuRZi-CQgQCtDB8bWMBuKohiOgK9rQkJfJNEj80HULKtGGzhWMca-E/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a>Here's everything sanded down. It looks like the legs had a little more do to but that was what it looked like. Now in this picture you can see the back panel, its clearly lighter in some places and still a little yellow in others. The yellowed sections still have a clearcoat sealing it in. I decided I didn't care enough to take it off and get that intricate so I gave the whole back panel a quick rough power sand and I'll show you why later. From here on out it's easy going you just need some patience. At this point you should pick a color of stain you want. I went with Jacobean since I wanted something really dark. I was really hoping for an almost black chocolate brown, but the water based mixed by the paint desk was really dissapointing. I'll stick with oil based stains thanks.<br />
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Like I said, just stain away, you can brush it on, you can rub it on with a rag, you can use a foam brush. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes (the longer it sits, the darker it ends up because more stain can soak in). I took the desktop off to get into the sides and back more easily. Here you can see what I was talking about. The back ended up with a great rustic look, you can see scratches from the sanding giving it a great texture and the areas that are more heavily sanded and varnish free soaked in the stain better. Again, partially to save time and because I really liked the sort of raw look this had, I didn't varnish this piece because it looked great as is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZlEfy5VpEUIQNEvdxhuUCcwbATBf574umVlghKEHe2e1EniEMN1rd_KIM2R8HLWr1bvNHlU8IgxUaZb2spvCkgiqxRfhM-PMOjrtWZdSv16CW8MiJ_TFK0LEq2Lv9ykr2HL8gQOgmTE/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZlEfy5VpEUIQNEvdxhuUCcwbATBf574umVlghKEHe2e1EniEMN1rd_KIM2R8HLWr1bvNHlU8IgxUaZb2spvCkgiqxRfhM-PMOjrtWZdSv16CW8MiJ_TFK0LEq2Lv9ykr2HL8gQOgmTE/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkxbomOKRqIFk8TGRSeQnPqdc_ZxBgvh25_OxjkFz6MYtO2t9DccVQsOMei3y1r7x10tPQmCqcAbCNH8r18BBeTX3Q8s4cchExdaTWBPo3E4deU6lTvWUiqOfLIlDwoLp_HfZrZNX0hs/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Here you can really start to see the difference in color on the areas that got a heavy sanding (the top and sides) they took it much better and have a deeper reddish color to them. I think I only did one coat of stain on everything, but if you get done staining something and don't think it's dark enough, let it sit for 24 hours and go over it again. You can see the pedals here. I left them just because they are a nice look, they don't depress anymore since they aren't in tension anymore, but its a nice reminder of where the desk started. After this step I reattached the desktop and I was all set to varnish. I chose to go with a gloss finish because A: I like shiny the best and thought it would be reminiscent of the upscale glossy shiny grand piano type look and I thought it would be a nice contrast with the unfinished sections. And B: because gloss is the purest varnish. Essentially what happens with semi gloss and satin is that as you work towards a lesser sheen they actually add in material to dull it. So it's like adding milk to water until it becomes opaque. This extra material can actually cloud up later in the pieces life and dull the finish sooner and I don't like that. Also gloss is ends up the thickest, most durable surface.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkxbomOKRqIFk8TGRSeQnPqdc_ZxBgvh25_OxjkFz6MYtO2t9DccVQsOMei3y1r7x10tPQmCqcAbCNH8r18BBeTX3Q8s4cchExdaTWBPo3E4deU6lTvWUiqOfLIlDwoLp_HfZrZNX0hs/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkxbomOKRqIFk8TGRSeQnPqdc_ZxBgvh25_OxjkFz6MYtO2t9DccVQsOMei3y1r7x10tPQmCqcAbCNH8r18BBeTX3Q8s4cchExdaTWBPo3E4deU6lTvWUiqOfLIlDwoLp_HfZrZNX0hs/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here we are before varnish. The top is still on hinges and flips open if for some reason I wanted it to. What I did with the old keyboard cover is use it for the middle shelf. I wanted to preserve a piece completely original, it just got a clearcoat so the sheens match up. It's still the original color and still has the logo painted on the front. The flat desk surface ended up a little like the back panel in that I didn't get it all sanded down perfectly but up close the color variation it has is gorgeous. I also cut a bottom shelf to sit above the pedals where you can see bare wood in this picture. I used the panel that was vertical in that position blocking off your view inside the piano and since it matched nicely on it's own, after I cut it I was done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYUNut_uq1P0bN0iealef0e5E1HUvG8r9St3Mo42HUpikkAAWiaIOMZ3bgJcGBbs2iJYCcp57FUBagDvBffgwfYOfCNtq-x9bp15tb5-tVmrFKwc4nj6jnpMEhbzNr0Zsxb9EOETTvzA/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYUNut_uq1P0bN0iealef0e5E1HUvG8r9St3Mo42HUpikkAAWiaIOMZ3bgJcGBbs2iJYCcp57FUBagDvBffgwfYOfCNtq-x9bp15tb5-tVmrFKwc4nj6jnpMEhbzNr0Zsxb9EOETTvzA/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a>That leads us to today. This is after 2 or 3 coats of varnish. The key to a nice surface is twofold. First BRUSH it on. Don't use the cheap foam brushes and don't use cheap chip brushes, buy a nice natural hair varnish brush. It makes for a better application and it won't shed junk hairs onto it that you'll have to pick out. The foam brushes add too much in the way of bubbles that it's not worth it. The second part is, after every coat sand it lightly to take out all air bubbles that form. each coat after that will be smoother. What I tend to do is finish one surface and move onto the next, once I'm done with the next I go back to the first one I did and brush it all again lightly. That gives it time for the air bubbles to rise to the surface and then a light drag across the top after it's sat for five minutes breaks the bubbles and smooths the whole thing. Then let it sit. Ideally you'll need at least 3 hours, I like to let a coat dry for a whole day. It will depend on humidity and where you're doing it. As a rule let it sit for 3 or 4 hours and then you can touch it to see if it's tacky or if it's ready for another coat. I also say you need at least 2 or 3 coats. That's where you start to really get the best coverage and the smoothest surface. Sometimes the shine doesn't really show up till the second coat, then the third is what give it the nice glow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlqWcaP-TOTqGuKcpDbVIZkU1DfQxbfTdtOWqIJrQG544qz0ttIXzSfAVGk2LodsniF2fvr9-YfBvzCLvtideMXiUa5w4ER55TPcQCRCz0oL7YSxEPQOH-l0ATj8ijreSd5gyyjquUbU/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlqWcaP-TOTqGuKcpDbVIZkU1DfQxbfTdtOWqIJrQG544qz0ttIXzSfAVGk2LodsniF2fvr9-YfBvzCLvtideMXiUa5w4ER55TPcQCRCz0oL7YSxEPQOH-l0ATj8ijreSd5gyyjquUbU/s320/040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
There's the original registration plaque that had been on the back of the piano. I left the outer frames for the keys in place because they looked nice and this seemed to fit just about perfect here so now it's on the front and you get to see the information about it. The picture below it is the keyboard cover shelf, with the Chickering logo that was so nice I just left it all. It's attached with a couple of L brackets into the bottom of it, that are screwed into the back and then then ends of it are supported by two pieces of wood so it's nice and solid.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1P4yWWKrRUj9Vv8Gjw4rbTowlp2u6IPetuuumGd5Fm9M-hHDJdSYUW8MiYUcu6493AmsExIMi4i9fDhPMFeNCWPDALQ717XT6cxng4oSs4-8bnaBbODEIi-qLBODgiEov7SZ8nDVJtdU/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1P4yWWKrRUj9Vv8Gjw4rbTowlp2u6IPetuuumGd5Fm9M-hHDJdSYUW8MiYUcu6493AmsExIMi4i9fDhPMFeNCWPDALQ717XT6cxng4oSs4-8bnaBbODEIi-qLBODgiEov7SZ8nDVJtdU/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And there you have it. A week long project refinishing a piano and giving it a new life as a desk rather. Saving it from the junk pile. Sometime next year when the innards get used in our art classes I'll post and show what the rest of it turned into and maybe even a picture once it's buried under my paperwork and living in it's new home on campus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuoSR37NGxvTRrvdR5OwPt3L37BXmAlPTJq_fpsyVQm_lhus4JSjD7n_0zYhMKBKEzO_herha-N02rFA3dOwkuP6gbXr2u6UD9_laUvpzB77q1ocU4Z2aeii5ar2NXjzyKVmAbk0QS2w/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuoSR37NGxvTRrvdR5OwPt3L37BXmAlPTJq_fpsyVQm_lhus4JSjD7n_0zYhMKBKEzO_herha-N02rFA3dOwkuP6gbXr2u6UD9_laUvpzB77q1ocU4Z2aeii5ar2NXjzyKVmAbk0QS2w/s400/042.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYUNut_uq1P0bN0iealef0e5E1HUvG8r9St3Mo42HUpikkAAWiaIOMZ3bgJcGBbs2iJYCcp57FUBagDvBffgwfYOfCNtq-x9bp15tb5-tVmrFKwc4nj6jnpMEhbzNr0Zsxb9EOETTvzA/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-40325058385189258202012-06-12T20:41:00.005-07:002012-06-12T20:45:41.621-07:00A Filler PostSo this is a filler post, sort of. I figured since I'm bouncing off the wall, which makes no sense because I've been working on this piano project for 4-6 hours a day, I'd fill people in on what's been going on in life. Like I said, I'm working on that, it's almost finished, I just have coats of poly to put on it, which take 3-12 hours to dry fully so it's a lot of down time. My biggest problem is twofold. One, I'm done with school so I'm not teaching from 8 till 3 every day. The other part of the problem is knowing that I'm moving to Barrington at the end of summer, which is brutal for me because it's just like being in the town I grew up in. It's gorgeous, its quiet, it's a place you can walk around and sit out in at night. It is almost completely opposite of where I am right now. I'm anxious to move and be in a new place and unpack and redecorate and rearrange everything. The school owns kayaks, but to be able to do that I have to drive down there. 20 minutes isn't too bad, but I know that in September or next summer I'll be right there able to do it already. So this whole not being there already thing is sort of driving the crazy. I just described to Schyler on facebook that basically I run myself ragged during the year, so I'm always exhausted so once summer hits I'm like HEY! THIS IS AWESOME! for a couple of days. Then it wears off and my body wants to be doing things again, wants to be creative, wants to make something. The problem is that where we currently are in Providence that can't really happen, so I have to drive to Barrington to do it. Once we live there, if I get hit by this feeling at 11 at night I could actually go over to the shop and do something, my being productive could reorganize the shop, or bang out some furniture, or something. I'm just ready for change. I need a break from my break.<br />
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Ok, back to what I've been up to other than going crazy, and piano desks. Last weekend I had the ballet company of doom show up again (the same group that did Nutcracker in December). They were just as bad as last time and left the place a mess. So I've had it, I'm done and I said as much to the guy who does the rentals. SO I got an extra $5 an hour added to my pay for the event and I'll be getting an extra 10 if they come back again. BLARGH, I said I don't want them back, but knowing how things work, they probably will be. That being said I have a different ballet coming in next weekend. Things are already looking up for this group. They've gotten in touch with me already, have a guy who is going to do lights for them and it looks like all I'll have to do is sound, which should be an easy pay check. Even if they have other requirements, we're still almost 2 full weeks out and we're talking, so I'll have plenty of time to take care of it. And that's that for now.<br />
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Piano update in a few days, by then it should be done.Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-87544332326427969632012-06-07T19:06:00.000-07:002012-06-15T19:23:23.685-07:00Piano Desk Project (Part 2 Day from Hell)<br />
<b>Part 1: <a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2012/06/piano-desk-project-part-1.html">Piano Desk Project Part 1</a></b><br />
<b>Part 3: <a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2012/06/piano-desk-finale-part-3.html">The Finale</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFg7zEFiXhFgz98kx6DzkivMsWK2q1KJU7otPDK7tqE4RQb8CKpt1gtDD1FFQH0oTVjhhFhYTE6SrAKbuz6Q-3_AlOZ-LFvPn_UvOE9VrzDKb-EplcU5fhfibADSvirWfiAyepMBnDns/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFg7zEFiXhFgz98kx6DzkivMsWK2q1KJU7otPDK7tqE4RQb8CKpt1gtDD1FFQH0oTVjhhFhYTE6SrAKbuz6Q-3_AlOZ-LFvPn_UvOE9VrzDKb-EplcU5fhfibADSvirWfiAyepMBnDns/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a>Another day down, very little accomplished. With how fast the first days worth of work went I had high hope for finishing up the breakdown quickly today. That was not the case. After 6 hours of work I finally had my one major goal for the day accomplished. With some research my knowledge of piano innards has probably tripled, I still don't know enough to speed up removing a harp. For those who were in my boat here's an explanation. I've found that (generally speaking) the cast iron piece of a piano with the strings attached is referred to as a harp, because essentially that's what it is. If you could tune it and keep it in one piece, outside of the piano you could set it up and sort of play it. Dates back to harpsichord days. Once you remove it all and take the strings off it's usually considered a "plate". Also, being cast iron... it's pretty darn heavy. This one I'm guessing was somewhere between 200 and 300 pounds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWesBly_aF_O5Lm_CN45ezprBIxgQ4KNcqGvb7T4ER5LVevVDfhsVjC-8P_aIrZK_ksu0G1DnRW4rSpYcOm5mvCCrCYh0R-_dci9UZWMKY6AD7h2Wgur4nvPx7Sq_yfv0pJHehi-mdGG4/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWesBly_aF_O5Lm_CN45ezprBIxgQ4KNcqGvb7T4ER5LVevVDfhsVjC-8P_aIrZK_ksu0G1DnRW4rSpYcOm5mvCCrCYh0R-_dci9UZWMKY6AD7h2Wgur4nvPx7Sq_yfv0pJHehi-mdGG4/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a>So the first few hours were slow going, I was trying to figure out how it was all attached. Finally I got it laid onto it's back with the desk removed and had access to lift it straight out once I had it loose. There were about 30 giant lag screws and I removed all of them and it still wouldn't budge. I had been trying to keep all the strings intact if I could but that didn't happen, which ended up making this the more dangerous day. I had snipped a couple of strings in this picture to access the covered screws but it was still solidly attached. It was around now that I decided to try to loosen one of the tuning pins to see if I could just take the strings off without cutting it. That's when I realized they were almost 3 inches long and went into the wood, serving as screws to hold it all on. There were about 300 of them. The danger here is that now I knew I had to snip all the strings, some of them were under pretty serious tension, so if I didn't put anything on top to dampen the snap they would shoot about 30 feet out the shop door or until they hit something. Safety first here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI_F4PzF8kcfGiDWIvwjaDJJ4gZvh6K3NpxI91IxoMgLLHEJ00d6QSxEY_oC4qk9LTHTMF1Ya4ui6b1gXdDnwEVll2rjgpxivLUQffxRJCMRG4IJejTK8fu5Or-flrXw5_vHh5r8wJUI/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI_F4PzF8kcfGiDWIvwjaDJJ4gZvh6K3NpxI91IxoMgLLHEJ00d6QSxEY_oC4qk9LTHTMF1Ya4ui6b1gXdDnwEVll2rjgpxivLUQffxRJCMRG4IJejTK8fu5Or-flrXw5_vHh5r8wJUI/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgQOIpOYtvI2ZjNUJU9yMyrdX_u6Yw7W0E92nOW9zSaz-EfLaLShLNnXpXPYuSZJrnGEiLPxGjal5LDQGL3bLNhyRTpFBTtzdFCjK_oqTXp6fR25Xo7KyPeXXXtVWhx3vtlpckyi1odA/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgQOIpOYtvI2ZjNUJU9yMyrdX_u6Yw7W0E92nOW9zSaz-EfLaLShLNnXpXPYuSZJrnGEiLPxGjal5LDQGL3bLNhyRTpFBTtzdFCjK_oqTXp6fR25Xo7KyPeXXXtVWhx3vtlpckyi1odA/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a>Now I started to remove the pins one at a time, but they are square headed so I had to use vise grips and spin one at a time. I did about 15 of those and thought "there has to be a better way" I sat and thought for awhile, I had already tried sockets, but they didn't fit because it was square. Then I had the idea to turn it upside down because a ratchet is square, and it fit! But I still didn't have a way to turn it any better. Then I had the bright idea that I could reverse a bit in the drill so it would fit the socket end, and magic, now I had a powered way to remove the pins. Thought it still took about an hour.<br />
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Here you've got square peg, square hole.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSYYC2Ipawb2Z6LNthQC4tj7AVzdK5yAXernThcYf3mc0pjx8SU85V9V4v5IZuemGkE_uQG_jZK4HDt9fcPAunl7dO9eUAQyzsZKyFMyHKl79mMmaj1OSONL4dTfn-uDyNof7LrCVPLs/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSYYC2Ipawb2Z6LNthQC4tj7AVzdK5yAXernThcYf3mc0pjx8SU85V9V4v5IZuemGkE_uQG_jZK4HDt9fcPAunl7dO9eUAQyzsZKyFMyHKl79mMmaj1OSONL4dTfn-uDyNof7LrCVPLs/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here you have round peg round hole?<br />
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I just matched up the right size socket and put it in a a corded drill (if you're actually doing this you need the extra power)<br />
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About an hour later I finally had everything removed and the harp free. Then I could just lift it out, which was awkward because of the shape and weight, but not too bad compared to how tiring the rest of the day was. If it weren't so heavy it would be a great piece of something. I'll ask Nancy if she wants it for her class to use, but it's so heavy you can't have it stand up on it's own, can't hang it on a wall, can't do anything much with it except sit it on the ground and be glad you don't have to take out another one. With that out I decided to call it a day and stop working since technically the breakdown is done now. Anything else that get's removed will be because I want to change the shape or put in shelves or do something along those lines.<br />
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Here it is, standing back up, with the desk back in. The "lid" to it, the top piece on hinges actually fits pretty nice still and makes a good top shelf. I'm not sure what to do about the back still. I kind of life the curved soundboard pieces that are left over, and the curved holes from the tuning pins, but I may open all of that up to expose the support beams on the back and have it open completely<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLrUsALL6SyJ6u6voOmDrnwywH0wgfCk_0GvtvK2oaAAcunS-joTE-um9vY186ONmyGXIjtxmYLrHBIDGOdoXtqOSbfAgLBnyCxpWm1WiVWJ_u4JB3XIYYBZfRF-ReNvbq_8UTaAxc3c/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLrUsALL6SyJ6u6voOmDrnwywH0wgfCk_0GvtvK2oaAAcunS-joTE-um9vY186ONmyGXIjtxmYLrHBIDGOdoXtqOSbfAgLBnyCxpWm1WiVWJ_u4JB3XIYYBZfRF-ReNvbq_8UTaAxc3c/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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I like the look of the supports from the back and think that seeing those open from the front would look really nice. Pros and cons of that are:<br />
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A: it would lighten the whole thing even more which is good and<br />
B: I think it would look nice<br />
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BUT:<br />
I'd lose the curved pieces.... though I'm not entirely sure that bothers me. The bottom is the cracked one that started this whole project and I cracked the top right corner of the curve trying to pry the harp up.<br />
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Something to think about. I'm also leaning towards stripping it all down and staining it an almost black brown, that would let just a show the wood grain on it, the downside of that is I'd lose the fancy script name, but I'm not sure how I'll be using that piece anyway. I'll give it some thought while I start to lay out the actual desk tomorrow.<br />
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771046014864683095.post-56674129206674752142012-06-06T09:34:00.001-07:002012-06-15T19:24:01.919-07:00The Piano Desk Project (Part 1)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQL3wSY0yyuQNHfcWOynwfSsHfKqORU81PkvpB0n1d-BL2XG0JEHZOgMQ0ZJt_OIEOBd1jf7EIIzAuXvBhsWa6sMHywLEZX7JmBDzarbGRxY-R0jwWyUInvlREtlmLtgvQCPhMqQ4Hf2w/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQL3wSY0yyuQNHfcWOynwfSsHfKqORU81PkvpB0n1d-BL2XG0JEHZOgMQ0ZJt_OIEOBd1jf7EIIzAuXvBhsWa6sMHywLEZX7JmBDzarbGRxY-R0jwWyUInvlREtlmLtgvQCPhMqQ4Hf2w/s200/080.JPG" width="200" /></a> <br />
<b>Part 2: <a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2012/06/piano-desk-project-part-2-day-from-hell.html">A day from hell</a></b><br />
<b>Part 3: <a href="http://mywaytonormal.blogspot.com/2012/06/piano-desk-finale-part-3.html">The Finale</a></b><br />
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Here's the background, the school has 4 or 5 pianos, 2 of them are always in our practice rooms and aren't in great shape. We've got one of those however that simply can't be tuned anymore, the soundboard is cracked and there are various other issues with it that we decided it has reached the end of it's life. So, because we're a crafty bunch we've decided to save as much of it as we can. Which is where I come in. Yesterday I started to strip the piano down and take out the guts inside. All of the keys/hammers/etc everything I can pull out will go to Nancy and Janet and be used in 3D art pieces. The rest they've left to me. Once I get it all apart I'm going to turn the frame into a desk (which may be a little less work than I had originally thought, more on that later).<br />
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Here is where I started, around 2pm yesterday. I have a picture of the registration tag on the back, and I've saved it to reapply to the new desk when I'm finished, but I can't figure out how old the piano is. Partially because Chickering and Sons doesn't exist anymore, they were bought out by Baldwin, and Baldwin is owned by Gibson guitars, so there are a few layers of obscurity there and I can't just enter the number anymore and find out the details.<br />
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Though once I get back down to school I can check the serial number and have a general range that should give me the approximate age of the piano and then I can do some more research.<br />
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This was an easy level to get to because all of the pieces here that are gone are made to come off. The face just clips in and out and the bottom section just slides in and out, the nice part is I think I'll leave the bottom open for storage which means the front panel will make nice wood to turn into shelf pieces or drawers.<br />
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Here you can see all the pieces I've laid out. I've got them sorted with all the hardware I've removed and even though I'm almost done breaking it down I'm 90% sure I could reassemble it all successfully and have it back to working order again if I had to. The keys here are on a sort of tray, it's part of the mechanism but once you remove a couple of screws the whole thing can lift out.<br />
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This is what the frame looked like at the same point in time. (almost) the green felt and frame are the tray I just mentioned. In the previous picture the keys are all resting back on top of that frame. The only pieces left to remove at this point really are the hammers which you're staring directly at, and the cast iron (that's where the weight comes from) Plate that the strings are attached to. I haven't really figured out how I'm going to remove that. It's screwed to the frame with big lag screws and some of them fall under the strings so I don't have access to them. I'd like to keep these all intact and not have to cut any strings so I may try to drill out the screws that I can't remove. If that works the only remaining hassle will be actually pulling the cast iron out. Though I may sit the piano down on it's back which would allow me to pull the iron out the top.<br />
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Here's what it all looks like with the key frame removed as well as the hammers. The hammer mechanism is pretty complicated but it also is one solid unit. So it's held in by a couple of thumb screws for adjusting (which will make nice pull knobs for drawers on it) and once they are removed the whole thing lifts out. I was actually pretty surprised at what a solid desktop it already makes. I thought I'd have to make a new top, but other than some screw holes in it, that is a solid smooth piece of wood. I'll sand it down and find some stain that matches the rest of the piano and the top may be done. I'll leave the rest of exact what I'm planning to do a secret for now since I haven't gotten around to testing any of it or sketched anything with measurements yet. I am however, confident that I'll be able to reuse about 98% of this piano. In this picture and the last you can see 3 strips of what I think is poplar which connects all the pedal mechanisms, I'll even be able to use those. The only stuff I'll be throwing out is some of the old hardware and maybe some small scraps once I start cutting pieces down. ALL of the rest will become art projects and so this whole thing will get a brand new life. I'll leave here with some final pictures of pieces. Everybody may have seen them on facebook already but I think I'll have to print and frame a couple for my office because of how they turned out. I only wish I'd had my real camera and not my ipod camera. Boooo.<br />
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<br />Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12061393857153748253noreply@blogger.com1