LIGHTHOUSE

Having finished the Marquetry Rose Wreath project and given, we are about to leave on the great Australian road trip, so only have a few day up my sleeve. I have a couple of ideas for future projects, the first is a lighthouse, and the other is two small boxes with butterflies on the lids.

The first of these projects I'm about to try is a Lighthouse, this is a special request that sounds challenging, and as everyone knows I can't resist a challenge. I don't know how far I'll get before we leave on the great road trip, but here we go.

A gentleman sent me some photos of lighthouses, from which I, with a lot of artistic licence came up with a rough pattern the final result will probably way different but its a starting point.

I'm trying to imagine, late evening, looking east, with the sun low on the horizon behind my back, the sky getting dark, but with enough sun reflecting off the ocean to light up the water and lighthouse, well that's the theory anyway. 

First I clean up the face of a piece of Camphor Laurel, using a small scraper, I think I've explained before being in a wheelchair makes it nearly impossible to use a hand plain.

Then using the band saw I cut a veneer from the block of wood.

Then using the poor mans thicknesser, (router on a sled) thickness the veneer to just under 1mm (around 1/32"). I have a piece of veneer for the sky already cut, I think its Tasmanian Oak but am not sure as it was given to me by an old gentleman, and he wasn't sure of it's origins.

Glue the two pieces of veneer together, this joint becomes the horizon.

As the veneer is very old and quite brittle, I have painted a couple of cotes of PVA glue on the back for strength and to stop the wood splitting.

Sky, horizon and water, well with some imagination it could be.

Using the scraper I ensure the surface of the two veneers are flat and level.

Cover the back of the veneer with painter tape (low stick masking tape).

And the front of the veneer, I always try and use different coloured tape for the back and front. Mark where the horizon is and the top and bottom.

I scan the pattern into the Brother Scan N Cut. This could be drawn straight onto the veneer.

Then print the pattern directly onto the tape covering the front of the veneer.

Tape the first piece of the inlay veneer to the back, for the red stripes I'm using New Guinea Rose wood and for the white I'm using Australian Black Bean, salvaged from the bush out the back of our home.

Glue the inlay into position, and allow the glue to set.

Using the Dremel with modified base I clean off the back of the marquetry.

I often use a magnifying light, as my doctor says "your eyes ain't 20 anymore".

This is the Australian Black Bean, as you can see, I started using it for another project, but changed my mind.

After each inlay is glued into position I use a small chisel to press down the veneer to ensure the surface of the marquetry is flat. A note at this point people think I'm left handed, I'm not I can't use my camera with my left hand.

I don't know how it happens, but I always finish with a mess of tools around me.

I'm not happy with the base, so after the glue is properly set I'll come back and re-do it.

I don't know what the veneer for the rocks is, I found it in this years fire wood, It is some sort of gum but which, it would be impossible to tell.

I re-did the base, and with some boors and windows, I think it will be ok.

Another cote of PVA glue to hold everything together.

Well that's it for the trial, after the big trip I'll get to work and finish, i'm still not happy with the base of the lighthouse and will probably change it again.