What to do with beautiful 3/4" Walnut and Maple boards.

[FrankEV]

I just obtained a Walnut board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" thick by 17" wide by 8'feet long having a usable length about 7 feet as there is and open knot hole about 2 inches in diameter near one end.  The rest of the board is nearly flawless and has a beautiful tight grain.  I also obtained a Soft Maple board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" by 12.5" wide by 5'9" long  also with very nice tight grain 

My question is - from a scroll saw project perspective -  what kind of projects should I, or would you, consider using this wood for?  

I normally like to do portrait type patterns that lend themselves to using a very thin 1/8" or 1/4" cut panel attached to a thin backer amd mounted in a frame.  I have previously done two portraits cut from 3/4" material that I carved, painted and mounted in a frame.  I'm contemplating using a piece of the Maple to do another but have not found a suitable pattern as of yet.  Otherwise I'm at a loss for the kind of project I should consider for these beautifull pieces of wood. 

And, BTW, since I'm 78 years old (and quickly approaching 79) I don't want just to put them away somewhere "for when the right project happens to come along" , as I would probably never see that "right" project in my remaining years.   

So any suggestions, and/or even specific pattern suggestions, would be welcome and appreciated.

If there is a pattern maker out there that has an idea for an appropriate cut project just let me know.

Thanking you in advance, 

 

 

  

 

Edited February 5, 2021 by FrankEV

[Scrappile]

I would plane them down to 1/2" and then do more of Fiona Kingdon's patterns.... great wood for that...  I am 76 turning 77 real soon,,, so do what you want, old man!! 

[Dan]

Wow! It's saying "make me an end grain cutting board." But for scrolling, maybe some hanging lanterns or wall sconces. I like to use maple for wall decor. You could cut the edges to imitate a natural edge, with some aggressive sanding, and do a portrait. Wildlife portraits always look good like this. Or, you could just send them to me to store for you. lol

[spirithorse]

I really love seeing beautiful scroll saw boxes with the walnut and maple contrasting woods.
You could choose any shape and size you want.
Alternate slices of both shades of wood for a layered box  scrollbox2.jpg (400×357) (bp.blogspot.com)

or something like this

7038_4595_large.jpg (325×300) (thewinfieldcollection.com)

or perhaps a Yin Yang Box similar to this  yinandyang1.jpg (400×340) (bp.blogspot.com)

Looking forward to seeing what you make, Frank!

God Bless! Spirithorse

[OCtoolguy]

On 2/5/2021 at 12:10 PM, FrankEV said:

I just obtained a Walnut board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" thick by 17" wide by 8'feet long having a usable length about 7 feet as there is and open knot hole about 2 inches in diameter near one end.  The rest of the board is nearly flawless and has a beautiful tight grain.  I also obtained a Soft Maple board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" by 12.5" wide by 5'9" long  also with very nice tight grain 

My question is - from a scroll saw project perspective -  what kind of projects should I, or would you, consider using this wood for?  

I normally like to do portrait type patterns that lend themselves to using a very thin 1/8" or 1/4" cut panel attached to a thin backer amd mounted in a frame.  I have previously done two portraits cut from 3/4" material that I carved, painted and mounted in a frame.  I'm contemplating using a piece of the Maple to do another but have not found a suitable pattern as of yet.  Otherwise I'm at a loss for the kind of project I should consider for these beautifull pieces of wood. 

And, BTW, since I'm 78 years old (and quickly approaching 79) I don't want just to put them away somewhere "for when the right project happens to come along" , as I would probably never see that "right" project in my remaining years.   

So any suggestions, and/or even specific pattern suggestions, would be welcome and appreciated.

If there is a pattern maker out there that has an idea for an appropriate cut project just let me know.

Thanking you in advance, 

 

 

  

 

I just watched a video yesterday on how to fix a knot hole or blemish using clear epoxy resin. I was easy and seemed to work very well. Maybe you can save that board this way. In the video, the guy had purchase a piece of pine from Low's and it looked good until he got home and saw that it had a knot hole right where he didn't need one. So, he took blue painters tape and surrounded the knot hole and poured the resin into it and let it set up really good. Then he removed the tape and sanded the board/resin and got it to the point where he could apply the stain he wanted and it took the stain and looked really nice. I'll see if I can find the link.

 

[OCtoolguy]

Here is the link to that video.

https://thepowertoolwebsite.com/fill-knot-holes?utm_source=cont_eng1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blog_articles&utm_content=e12_knot_holes

 

[OCtoolguy]

On 2/5/2021 at 12:41 PM, Scrappile said:

I would plane them down to 1/2" and then do more of Fiona Kingdon's patterns.... great wood for that...  I am 76 turning 77 real soon,,, so do what you want, old man!! 

And here I thought you were older than me. Nope. I'm older. 77 going on 78 in April.

 

[amazingkevin]

On 2/5/2021 at 8:39 PM, spirithorse said:

I really love seeing beautiful scroll saw boxes with the walnut and maple contrasting woods.
You could choose any shape and size you want.
Alternate slices of both shades of wood for a layered box  scrollbox2.jpg (400×357) (bp.blogspot.com)

or something like this

7038_4595_large.jpg (325×300) (thewinfieldcollection.com)

or perhaps a Yin Yang Box similar to this  yinandyang1.jpg (400×340) (bp.blogspot.com)

Looking forward to seeing what you make, Frank!

God Bless! Spirithorse

Bob i would die to make the middle box!!

[OCtoolguy]

On 2/5/2021 at 12:10 PM, FrankEV said:

I just obtained a Walnut board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" thick by 17" wide by 8'feet long having a usable length about 7 feet as there is and open knot hole about 2 inches in diameter near one end.  The rest of the board is nearly flawless and has a beautiful tight grain.  I also obtained a Soft Maple board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" by 12.5" wide by 5'9" long  also with very nice tight grain 

My question is - from a scroll saw project perspective -  what kind of projects should I, or would you, consider using this wood for?  

I normally like to do portrait type patterns that lend themselves to using a very thin 1/8" or 1/4" cut panel attached to a thin backer amd mounted in a frame.  I have previously done two portraits cut from 3/4" material that I carved, painted and mounted in a frame.  I'm contemplating using a piece of the Maple to do another but have not found a suitable pattern as of yet.  Otherwise I'm at a loss for the kind of project I should consider for these beautifull pieces of wood. 

And, BTW, since I'm 78 years old (and quickly approaching 79) I don't want just to put them away somewhere "for when the right project happens to come along" , as I would probably never see that "right" project in my remaining years.   

So any suggestions, and/or even specific pattern suggestions, would be welcome and appreciated.

If there is a pattern maker out there that has an idea for an appropriate cut project just let me know.

Thanking you in advance

Edited February 23, 2021 by octoolguy

[new2woodwrk]

I'm with @Dan it is screaming to be anything but planed and scrolled IMO.

If it were me, I would do several projects - maybe a cutting board and end table, or perhaps a coffee table. Cut in half glue together and keep the end grain. I'd also fill the hole with Epoxy resin like @octoolguy suggested and put an epoxy finish over the whole thing.

Very nice wood you have there.

Can't wait to see the end products you come up with

[Roberta Moreton]

Boxes, and more boxes. 

[Gene Howe]

You could re saw if you wanted to make thinner stuff. I wouldn't plane it down. wastes to much good wood. Just plane the re sawn stuff. 

[preprius]

Well no one said bowls yet. So I will and to make a bottom with inlay. Palm tree bottom  , Hummingbird, Dolphin or Harley Davidson inlays. 

3/4" thick makes good bowls.  

Any shape can be a bowl.   So you can actually use the above idea as bowl shapes also.  17" wide bowls will give you many bowls at 7ft long. 

also cut out the knot hole and replace with inlay shape. 

Ok.  Last on the the list...  I can send you a curve tool to wrap around your head.  The you can scan it into the computer to make a pattern for your cowboy hat.  Ok you dont have to make a cowboy hat but you can make a bowl of you head shape.  A Brain bowl?  

When you are at the gallery showing your artwork, you can wear a wooden TOP hat. 

bottom line. 

bowls. 

Me.

Mark Eason

[preprius]

sorry I just checked the date very old post.  

[flarud]

2 hours ago, preprius said:

sorry I just checked the date very old post.  

Yes, old post.  Gene keeps bringing these old posts back to life and messing with my head!  LOL  A couple of them has posts from RockyTime, who has since passed away.

[kmmcrafts]

3 hours ago, preprius said:

sorry I just checked the date very old post.  

Right, I'm sure this board he acquired two years ago is probably been used up by now.. 

[barb.j.enders]

But what did he make???  @FrankEVwhat did you make with the boards???

[FrankEV]

16 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Right, I'm sure this board he acquired two years ago is probably been used up by now.. 

Not Quite...still have a nice about 4 foot piece of the Walnut left.

15 minutes ago, barb.j.enders said:

But what did he make???  @FrankEVwhat did you make with the boards???

You know, I should have kept this post updated, but out of sight out of mind.  

I have done a number of sculptures you might remember...Bodies Entwined, Boy-Girl and Abstract Cat.   

Unfortunately, I did waste a large 14" long piece  of the Maple on an unsucessful project.  Can't remember what else I may have use it for, but, other than some small cut offs I've saved, the maple is all use up. 

 

[MarieC]

I still vote on boxes.  I made this one last month, and I plan to make another out of maple and walnut...maybe my grand nephew Toy box without the lock and key ...

[Jim Finn]

On 2/5/2021 at 2:10 PM, FrankEV said:

I just obtained a Walnut board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" thick by 17" wide by 8'feet long having a usable length about 7 feet as there is and open knot hole about 2 inches in diameter near one end.  The rest of the board is nearly flawless and has a beautiful tight grain.  I also obtained a Soft Maple board that is planned 3 sides and is 3/4" by 12.5" wide by 5'9" long  also with very nice tight grain 

My question is - from a scroll saw project perspective -  what kind of projects should I, or would you, consider using this wood for?  

I normally like to do portrait type patterns that lend themselves to using a very thin 1/8" or 1/4" cut panel attached to a thin backer amd mounted in a frame.  I have previously done two portraits cut from 3/4" material that I carved, painted and mounted in a frame.  I'm contemplating using a piece of the Maple to do another but have not found a suitable pattern as of yet.  Otherwise I'm at a loss for the kind of project I should consider for these beautifull pieces of wood. 

And, BTW, since I'm 78 years old (and quickly approaching 79) I don't want just to put them away somewhere "for when the right project happens to come along" , as I would probably never see that "right" project in my remaining years.   

So any suggestions, and/or even specific pattern suggestions, would be welcome and appreciated.

If there is a pattern maker out there that has an idea for an appropriate cut project just let me know.

Thanking you in advance, 

 

 

  

 

I use wood like you described for doing inlay.  I re-saw it to 3/8". I inlay it into cedar or ash.