Here's what I'm working on.

[OCtoolguy]

Ok, most everybody has seen the votive candle holders that I've made in the past but for those who might not have, I'm including a picture of a finished one. I'm also posting pics of all the parts for the 4 that I'm currently making for my wife to give away. She likes this particular thing more than any of the other stuff I've made for her and so it has become her "go-to" gift. The original pattern called for a glass of some sort with a votive candle in it but my wife went to Hobby Lobby and found the flameless candles that just fit so she includes one of them along with the holder. The pics show all the parts both cut and still to be cut. The 8 side panels for each one take about an hour each to cut out. They are compound cuts and just take a long time to do. I've tried every way I can think of to speed up the process but it just can't be done any faster. Lots of taping and re-taping to hold everthing together while cutting. Time consuming to say the least. The other pieces are 4 tops, 4 bases and 8 supports. 4 of the supports are recessed into the tops and can't be seen but the other 4 go at the bottom and are attached to the base unit. The bases still need to have the outer edge routed. I should have done that when I routed the underside of the 4 tops but forgot. I hate routing anything because of the noise and the mess but it's a necessity sometimes. Anyway, I hope you understand what all this is about. Please don't pay any attention to the 4 base unit patterns. When I scanned them in, there was a shadow on the pattern and I could not get rid of it so it just came out this way. 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by OCtoolguy

[CharleyL]

Impressive. So you "are" doing 3D cutting.

Charley

[crupiea]

Great work.  

[kmmcrafts]

Ray, your work always amazes me.. the quality of products many folks do on here and the uniqueness of some of the projects. A lot of folks say they envy the people that can do what they like for a living and I am thankful to be able to do that but at the same time I envy those that can take on and create unique projects. Dave Monk with his inlay work is another that I like to see. I wish you all would post more of your works and some of the process to get those beautiful results.   

[OCtoolguy]

39 minutes ago, CharleyL said:

Impressive. So you "are" doing 3D cutting.

Charley

Oh yes. I love doing it. 

[Wichman]

Very nice.

 

[old sarge]

Thanks for sharing.  I truly enjoyed looking at your lineup.  And the finished candle holder is wonderful.

[pet-design]

Great Work...fine cutting and the candle holders are beautiful

[preprius]

Wow, taking on mass production with 3d cutting, in retirement. !!!!

That looks like a job for many of us. That is having the village pitch in.

 

 

 

[Dak0ta52]

You're quite a busy man, Ray. Great work!

[John B]

That'll keep you out of trouble for a while Ray.

[Paladin]

Those look great.  I remember seeing this pattern somewhere, but can't recall - who is it by?  On the top rings, are you using a router to make the recess for the other piece to fit into?

[stoney]

Nice work Ray.  I hope the people that receive them appreciate the amount of work you put into them.   Thanks for showing us.

Edited April 27, 2022 by stoney

[daveww1]

very nice job

[rjweb]

Very good job, it looks like you have a production line there, thx for sharing, RJ 

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, Paladin said:

Those look great.  I remember seeing this pattern somewhere, but can't recall - who is it by?  On the top rings, are you using a router to make the recess for the other piece to fit into?

Yes, a 3/8" rabbet 1/4" deep.

[barb.j.enders]

very nice work.   

Have you considered using a jig to hold the pieces together instead of taping & retaping.  Steve Good has a pattern for a jig on his site.  Might speed things up a bit.

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

very nice work.   

Have you considered using a jig to hold the pieces together instead of taping & retaping.  Steve Good has a pattern for a jig on his site.  Might speed things up a bit.

Thanks Barb. I've tried using the clamp but it just didn't work out. Maybe I'll give it another try or figure out a better clamp. One of the 2 long cuts on the side either starts or ends in such a way that the clamp side is in the way. Maybe a small relief cutout on the clamp wall would help. Now you have me thinking. Thanks. My brain gets fogged often so I need folks like you to blow away the haze. Lol.

[Dave Monk]

Looks like a big project. Looking good!

[OCtoolguy]

Update! I have now completed all the cutting and it's on to the sanding, assembly and finish. This represents about 40 hours so far. I can't do more than 2 of the sides at a time or my eyes fall out onto my cheeks. Very intensive up close cutting. I used a combination of # 1, 3, 5 Pegas MGT blades for all of it.

 

[preprius]

Wow 40 hours so far. At $20hr ...

10 hours per candle holder. 

The friends gotta be very good one. I hope they appriciate your work. 

I like your work.  ..  hint hint .

 

[OCtoolguy]

18 minutes ago, preprius said:

Wow 40 hours so far. At $20hr ...

10 hours per candle holder. 

The friends gotta be very good one. I hope they appriciate your work. 

I like your work.  ..  hint hint .

 

Come over. I also give lessons.

[don watson]

That really is a lot of work there Ray. This is a very big project to take on and I wish you well with it, you look as if you have it covered and the recipients will be truly grateful for them I think.

Don W

[rjweb]

So it is a production line, nice work Ray, RJ 

[Blaughn]

Ray, that is a project that calls for top level skill with a "dash of masochism"  .  You have executed it beautifully - the skill, that is.