workshop-oga

The makings of mural, (1)~(18), from [ workshop diary ].

Exterior Project (1) I have started on a project that has been in the planning stages since earlier this year. Preparation - Western Red Cedar[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_plicata ]
↓scroll down 16/8/2007

Exterior Project (2) work in progress

↓scroll down 22/8/2007

Exterior Project (3) Detail Study

↓scroll down 27/8/2007

	Exterior project (4) Balance Study
↓scroll down 9/9/2007

Exterior project (5)          Joinery Study
↓scroll down 13/9/2007

Exterior project (6) Reference Books - These books cover most aspects of Japanese traditional joinery. I'm finding them very useful for the joints for this project, especially since I've decided not to use any glue or nails.

↓scroll down 15/9/2007

Exterior project (7) Marking and Cutting 17/9/2007

You can get a fairly crisp joint with simple jigs and a router. I usually square off the round corners of mortises with a chisel. The slight recess around the mortise is for the end of the horizontal member. This slight recess prevents any gaps showing with seasonal movement of the timber.

Exterior project (8) Routing mortise   20/9/2007

Exterior project (9) work in progress   2/10/2007

Exterior project (10) work in progress   9/10/2007

Exterior project (11) walnut pin   12/10/2007

Exterior project (12) test assembly   15/10/2007

Exterior project (13)    20/10/2007

Exterior project (14)    24/10/2007

This shape is purely functional rather than ornamental. The simple pyramid shape should encourage rainwater to drain off quickly.

Exterior project (15)    25/10/2007

Exterior project (16) 27/10/2007

Exterior project (17)  7/11/2007  I left the piece in a sun-room, above my workshop, about a week for further drying. I checked any shrinkage on wedged-through-tenons and lightly tapped the wedges again to tighten the joints. After tightening up all the joints, I cut off the excess wedges and started preparing for staining. I chose Sikkens Cetol HLS and Filter7 as a finish for this piece. The instructions recommended degreasing all timber prior to coating using Sikkens oplosser, but I was having difficulty finding this particular product locally. Then the Sikkens distributor helpfully advised me that white-spirit can be used instead of Sikkens oplosser. So I wiped all surfaces of the piece with white-spirit. The long drying time of the stain gave me plenty of time to correct my brush work. With the combination of the colour of the stain (light oak), and the reddish hue of western red cedar, the piece's appearance became more like cherry.

[Top Right Photo] After 1 coat of HLS and 2 coats of Filter 7, the piece has a considerably richer colour. It has been safely delivered to the owner's house and is waiting for attachment to the entrance wall.

Exterior project (18)   Completion  21/11/2007