What is the piece you are "PROUDEST" of?

[scottp55]

Think I asked this before when I was a TOTAL newbie. But what piece that you have ever done that made you feel the best, that you were proudest of at that stage of your skill? I just took a hand tooled piece off the wall I did 14 years ago and noticed the oil had turned white since I last rubbed it(it was 14' up and I'm in a wheelchair so I have an excuse"I'm not good with ladders")
I was looking at all the things I did by hand, compared to a 1 day project that turned out nice and I could not carve in ten years and compared the two.
Not sure which I prefer. One took 3 weeks plus and the other a day (finishing not included Joe C.) With two pieces in my hand tonight, wondering if making several hundred of something is worth the pride of one of kinds that most people will never see. What's the best you have ever done from YOUR viewpoint?
I like what I've done but worried about my values and satisfaction vs. SALES.
At this point I do NOT have to do this, but having second thoughts about pursuing batch production even if it helps kids but takes over my life. Selfish I know.
What's your best piece in your estimation, and keeps you going? Will post pics of the two pieces that got me going in the morning with Natural light, so apples are apples. Rambling, very long day. scott

[rcnewcomb]

This piece was done for the grandson of a Lakota Elder on the Rosebud reservation. I remember his face and the face of his grandparents when he received it. The original image was purchased but I did a lot of editing including removing an element I didn't care for. The glazing was done very carefully to keep the contrast crisp. I can see every flaw in it, but it is still my favorite.

[gene]

Thats a very good question

[carl_vallance]

This is one of my Best.

[dana_swift]

Scott- what an interesting question. With me its as much about HOW I made a part, than the part quality itself. Each time I create a technique that makes a quality part possible my satisfaction is just as great as it is in the part.

When I get one of those moments where I think to myself "what I really need is..." and then answer that question with something I can create. That is deep satisfaction.

I was looking at Mr Burkhardt's exploration of mazes. Quite likely the process of coming up with the software to create the mazes is more satisfying than the maze. Obviously he speaks for himself, and doesnt use those words, but I suspect the feeling is there just as it is for me.

Scott probably the best answer I can give, is the software I write to create SBP files is the most satisfying. The cutting is one step in the production process, but creating the design software is just awesomely fun! When somebody admires the final part, I have a deeper sense of how it came into existance.

:) D

[Bob Eustace]

Truly beautiful work Carl and Randall.

[roney c]

Hand carved by me when I was 9 or 10 (don't really quite remember). Was my most prized possession. Until I gave it to my wife as a wedding present five years ago.
As I don't know how to post more than one picture at a time, I'll post again showing my best work using my Bot. 19411

[roney c]

30 person conference table for the corporate Hqtrsof The International Union of Elevator Constructors in Columbia, Md. 19412

[Burkhardt]

.........I was looking at Mr Burkhardt's exploration of mazes. Quite likely the process of coming up with the software to create the mazes is more satisfying than the maze. Obviously he speaks for himself, and doesnt use those words, but I suspect the feeling is there just as it is for me...........

Ha....could not have it said better. The road is more fun for me than the destination. But I seem to suffer from permanent ADD and once I got something working I have already the next thing in mind. Needless to say that I sometimes don't finish a project when another interesting idea comes along. Getting the dovetail software to work in principle I consider an achievement for myself and it took a lot of discipline to do the next step to debug and package it for distribution.

Otherwise I have realized a few nice ideas that I like. If they look like useful for others or pretty like the Lazy Susan or trigger new ideas I like to share them. Other projects may be a bit exotic. Not sure if somebody would for instance be interested in my motor-less CNC table tripler (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fClejhSXwoM)? It is very machine specific and probably more relevant for the CNC-Zone forum.

I got interested in CNC work about 3 years ago and built my own machine from scratch. Since then it has given me fascinating opportunities for new projects. I also hope it will give me something meaningful to do (and make some money?) when I retire in a few years. Maybe I can afford a Shopbot by that time :)

P.S.: I don't mind if you guys use my first name (Gert). I usually prefer pseudonyms for forum handles due to privacy reasons (big brother Google and Co.)

[nailzscott]

This was mine. I never made an instrument before and this bass guitar took a year and a half - a few hours on many weekends. I've been playing it for about a year and am just about to start on serial number 2.

[gene]

Dana
Thank you for bringing up the question i have . Using a CNC , does that make you a better woodworker or a better computer programmer ? I find it hard to say i created that , so to speak if a machine did all the work. Does that equate to i am a better assembler ?

[Burkhardt]

Dana
.....Using a CNC , does that make you a better woodworker or a better computer programmer ?..........

I would not think it makes you a "better" woodworker. But it gives you a tool that allows you do things that would be either impossible by hand or extremely time consuming or requiring extraordinary skill or would wear you out by repetition. I consider myself a rather mediocre woodworker compared with the fabulous things I see other folks do. But the CNC enables me to overcome some skill gap.

I happen to "program" a bit myself to do specialty things. Otherwise I would see a CNC machine and the related pre-packed programs like the CAD or CAM tools just as that...they are tools.

Don't know if I answered the question.

[Brian Harnett]

My first carbon fiber bike it was before the bot I designed it in solid works and printed patterns, Made the plug and molds. Have many thousand miles on it now.


Since then I have made molds on the bot for other bike projects like my
recumbent.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/brianharnett/Picture042.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/brianharnett/media/Picture042.jpg.html)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/brianharnett/snowbMedium.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/brianharnett/media/snowbMedium.jpg.html)

[steve_g]

Gene…
Your CNC definitely makes you a better woodworker… Just like the circular saw blade made the Shakers better woodworkers, the wood plane was an improvement over the adze and made the Romans better woodworkers and the lathe, in a primitive form, made the Egyptians better woodworkers!

Think of it as a tool… It’s still your creativity that makes you a better woodworker or anything worker. Anytime a new tool comes on the scene, the slow adopters cry “foul” and claim you’ve departed from the “true” craft, which is only the way they do it!

In one more generation, those that don’t use CNC tools will be the Luddites and curiosities. Thomas Chippendale wasn’t the best woodworker… he just used the most modern method of sales, a published catalogue!

Be creative!

SG

[phil_o]

At the new ballpark, in one of the lobbies there is a beautiful bronze medallion. I was very impressed with the artwork. It's sort of a baseball version of the presidential seal. I believe the original version was above the main gate at the old ballpark, actually there were two, one on either side of the text "Yankee Stadium". This was one of my first attempts at a complex project using Aspire. I made many mistakes but I learned a lot along the way. This was my 4th attempt to make the plaque the way I wanted it. It's 18" in diameter and 2 1/2" thick.

Phil

[gc3]

4m x 5m x 100mm thick ceiling, 8 panels total, 200 hrs machine time in 11 days.

[chiloquinruss]

I WAS a lousy woodworker! However having spent my entire working career doing computer related stuff, having a bot is a blast! Then you add in Aspire and well let's just say that woodworking is really a lot of fun NOW! Russ

[rej]

our best sign to date, made for my shop as a show piece.
4" thick, hdu, painted by us, measures 27" across.
all done in aspire.
cut on my 2001 prt.

[Burkhardt]

4m x 5m x 100mm thick ceiling, 8 panels total, 200 hrs machine time in 11 days.

Wow, that is an impressive piece. It looks great!

According to my quick estimate it must weight almost a ton. How did you mount it to the ceiling? Is that in your location, earthquakes and all?

[harryball]

That is a good question... for me I'm not sure. I've done so much and so many various things and I like a lot of them. I think the oddest thing I did was a 18' long cedar 3x18 "over the driveway" sign for a couple. I built one heck of a plasma TV stand for a guy, and dyed it black with a gloss coat. Several antique type tool boxes. ALL of the bat houses I've built.

I don't think I can pick just one.

/RB

[kevin]

http://www.kdunphy.com/angleokitch.htm

This was made 12 years ago in montreal out of a garage no bot

Gene looks killer
the bike wow
the sign amazing

[scottp55]

Thanks everyone. Sorry for the hissy fit that started this, but not the results. Beautiful work and comments. Woke the next morning and found both computers hooked to the net "FRIED" by viruses, just got this design computer working but laptop still firing on one cylinder. Good thing to be "Unplugged" as the time got my head straight. The Desktop is just another tool in my shop but allows me to do stuff I never could do before. When I finally got back on line 3 hours ago, was pleasantly by the feedback. Thanks people. I could do this pic by hand but the 10 year old would be driving by the time I was finished.:)

[myxpykalix]

If you go back and look at Randall Newcomb's picture he posted of the indian. We could all buy that file and carve it and come out with fairly the same results.

HOWEVER...it is the post cutting detail that makes a piece stand out like this. I'm not that good at finishes but when you look at his piece and the way it's finished it accentuates the details in the carving where you can clearly see the muscle structure in the horse and the indian and other details. That's the difference in some like him that go to the amount of detail after the cutting which makes it stand out so nicely.

I think he, or someone wrote a tutorial on this finishing technique which was quite good.:D

As for me, this is one of my favorite pieces because i wrote the spiraling app (with a lot of help) that allowed me to do things with my indexer that couldn't be done at the time (2006) and i had to figure out how to make jigs to hold it in such a way that the downward and lateral pressures wouldn't just break it.

I think the next one i make is going to be a hollow spiral with intertwining contrasting species (not just two different species glued together)

[scottp55]

Jack, What's the dark wood you used in the outer spiral? Still can't wrap my Brain around the indexer and on the Desktop the size of the piece and setting it up just doesn't seem worth the bucks yet. Have to research the probe now as Dad wants to buy one, but I seem to remember problems with them. Maybe save the bucks and use it for Aspire? Is the probe any good just using the VCarve and cut3D. Good work everyone. Time to warm the spindle up and try to copy our carvers climbing "cookie monster". Latest is visiting a Vets home in Van Buren,Maine next week and see if any of the new Vets would be interested in becoming Carving apprentices or would like to work on the Desktop when it moves up to Presque Isle. The carving community up there is strong and they are interested in what we are doing and are already offering blank designs for hand carved finish work if the vets are interested in one-on-one apprentice work. These are recent hard-core vets that had severe difficulty fitting back in "The World". Hope it works. Might be another way for the 'bot to blend skills.

[myxpykalix]

The inside spiral is maple and the outside spiral is walnut. It may have been a piece of wormy walnut, hence some of the design in the wood.

As to the probe, I had one and i didn't find it worth the money vs. my usage. Keep n mind if you have to probe something it could take several hours to do and your machine is tied up the whole time. Their are easier alternatives. I'd save my money for something more efficient.

As to the indexer, i can't speak to spec for your machine re:size but indexer in general is one of the most creative addition you can make for your bot. I've made all manner of cylindrical types of carvings and you can do the same thing...(only smaller!)

Other guys have set up indexers for their machine putting off the shelf parts together, i would recommend you look into that. I think you would be very pleased to add a indexer to your tool box:D

[scottp55]

Thanks Jack, Will pass along to the BOSS :) Need more ammo so still searching probe vs. laser scanning items as needed.

[cowboy1296]

Of course the one that does not warp. This one comes to mind but i cant take credit for the finishing, which was done by a furniture maker.

[myxpykalix]

Rick,
That is real nice:) Where did the file for the frame come from? We have some high end frame shops around here and they just have frames that look like they were cut on profile cutters, nothing custom carved. That might make a good intro piece to walk in to show them (the frame).

[scottp55]

Just going into these in more detail while Desktop runs a celtic border for the second time to clean it up(vac isn't running and music turned down-25') Amazing work. R?what was the finishing technique? Can't find it yet. B. ran and owned bike and ski shops in 70's and 80's -BEAUTIFUL(tourng frame guy myself- $500 mountain bike would NOT sell in Maine in '81!!! Did sell $1,200 monocoque time trial bike left over from Mexico City record trials-the back-up.How many spokes on a two-flange wheel? infinity OR two?). Beautiful work on everything.
Cutting cherry today- Celtic cats. Thanks for getting me back in the groove. Scott:)

[cowboy1296]

If that question was directed at me, I am not really sure. The finishing was done by someone else. Alder normally is spotchy and if it is splotchy in this job its blended in well. I have a feeling that the top coat was sprayed on but again i am not sure.

[dlcw]

Of course the one that does not warp. This one comes to mind but i cant take credit for the finishing, which was done by a furniture maker.

That is one heck of a beautiful project. I think Jack was asking where the file for the frame came from. The frame around the eagle and text is fantastic!

[cowboy1296]

there are about 1100 differant files on ebay, 97% i have never seen before

[shilala]

I'm probably the odd guy out.
My proudest piece is usually the one I just finished. I usually don't get too jazzed about what I did, because by the time I'm finished, I usually hate the project. ;)
The part I enjoy the most, and I'm not sure if it's pride or what, is when I give it to whoever I made it for. If they're tickled, I'm happy.

I did do one piece that really had an impact on me and taught me a lot.
An old-timer who was a friend of my FIL wanted a sign for his produce stand. I quoted it, and it was very fair, but he wavered about it. Since it was a request that came through my FIL and the old boy was his very best friend for years, as well as a friend of mine, I just went ahead and made it for him as a gift from my Father in law.
Rick died just a few weeks later. Turns out he was terminal, but I'd seen him and talked to him and I didn't really think he was all that bad.
My father in law later told me that he had gone over to hang the sign for his friend, and Rick wouldn't let him. He had set it across from his chair where he'd been enjoying it for a week or so, showing it off to everyone, and he wasn't ready for it to go up yet.
It was his proudest possession and made him very happy in his last days.
Taught me I need to think a bit more.

[scottp55]

You done good Scott.

[bleeth]

I built this before Shopbot days, but it will likely be one of the coolest things I have built forever.

[scottp55]

Wow Dave that looks like one of the mahogany Chris-Crafts one of my old bosses had "The Dark Lady". Beautiful. .stl PLEASE?:)

[bleeth]

Thanks Scott.
That ain't no stinkin' Chris Craft. Deep V entry with chines and lifting strakes below, a graduated keel forward of the prop so it turns on a dime like a ski boat and a 350 inside. No STL available. This was designed in Dave Vacanti's Prolines software to handle waves like a Cigarette. CC also never put a tumblehome like that on their boats either. It's West System cold molded so the entire hull and deck is essentially one piece with no fastenings. Interior rolled and pleated marine vinyl. Honduran Mahogany hull skin and deck over douglas fir superstructure and around 5 coats of AwlGrip Foxfire catalyzed linear polyurethane hand blocked to wet 2000 grit before final 3-M Finesse buffing. Propped out to hit 45 knots. I still have all the lines and think about building another one but more likely will do a little cabin cruiser to suit my more sedate older age.

[scottp55]

Dave, Showing my ignorance, but my old boss (Dave) always spoke of his boat with the same affection as the Luddwig yawls we kept up to snuff in Northeast Harbor after the little punks in their Dad's Whalers tried to go under the transoms on dares. Meant to ask who that young dude is?:)

[bleeth]

That's OK-Everybody says "Like a Cris Craft" when they see a mahogany runabout. Like what they still make today, they were popular priced boats. A couple of the "good" brands were Gar-Wood and Hacker, both of which I think have been resurrected and being re-produced. The closest in design to the Red Arrow, which was an all new design, was an Italian job made by Riva. They were and still are one of the only ones actually built for open water. The US made ones were all pretty much lake boats with low angle bottoms.
I'll let the guy in the shot go nameless.

[steve_g]

I’ve been thinking about this thread ever since Scott posited the question of “what we were the proudest of”. I guess I have a character flaw in that I’m never happy with a project when it’s completed… I see everything that “could have been” rather than what it is. It’s not unusual for me to go to a friends or customers house, see a really fine wood art object and realize it was something that I made sometime in the past!

I’ve decided to post some things that taught me something… and that others enjoy!

The first is the “infamous” fish… It hangs in our hallway on the way to the restroom and never fails to get comments by our guests, it always draws a crowd if I take it to a show. It taught me two things… The joy of “Sculpt Nouveau” and that you can’t get the detail you want with Big Box MDF.

The second is a wall hanging that to me represents my discovery of V-Carving! It has many sisters and cousins hanging on walls across the country, but I kept the first.

The last one is my first “furniture” project done for my 101 woodworking class while getting my teaching degree. It has certainly outlived my short teaching career! I was extremely proud of it when I presented it to my new bride 42 years ago but time has told some tails… Some poorly sanded areas show “Character” or what I see as mill marks, one area where glue squeeze-out wasn’t cleaned up well and has “darkened” a different shade and some compromises made due to my skill level (or that of my instructor!) bug me terribly now. This well-loved “family heirloom” has flaws… just like me!

SG

[scottp55]

Steve, is that fish WOOD? Never really understood Sculpt Nouveau. Saw Joe talking about it,saw they were bringing to the Maine camp this year, didn't know what the whoora was about.That brings it home and I'll have to check it out. Thanks all, was in a burnt-out funk the night I first posted this but straightened now(well,sort of:). Got to go make some sawdust with cast iron while it's warm enough to feel my fingers. Dave,chicken! :)

[scottp55]

I WAS going to put this on my "First Cut" thread, but that's in the 2013 folder.
This one's NOT rocket Science.
NOT fancy.
Not even mostly CNC.
BUT the customer's satisfaction, the fact that it's my first requested set of Blocks, and all the proto Blocks I did my first year lying around the house led to it....
Are gradually making me proud, even though I'm aware of all the imperfections. :)
AND it cheered Dad up!! :)

LONG rambling thread on Vectric Forum;
https://forum.vectric.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30765

But here's a couple pics.
scott

SURELY someone in the intervening 5 years has done something they are PROUDEST of? :) :)

[tri4sale]

Going from these:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32161&stc=1

to this:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32164&stc=1

Had to take apart the doors, removing panels using the shopbot:
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32163&stc=1

then a track saw to take the rest of the door apart, avoiding nails (only hit 1) and then plane the old finish off, glue up, and then carve the NC shape out on the shopbot.

[joe]

Looking back this is one of my favorite projects. With this one I first began to develop posts as part of the concept. Then there was the selection of the script letter style.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32169&stc=1

[jerry_stanek]

There are 3 that I am proud of and one being a cross for the church around the corner from me it is a real small church and they didn't even know I was donating it to them. Another was for our local firehouse a new sign and the lettering for a monument that the Boy Scouts worked on. The last was a Plaque for 5 of my friends that was killed in a steam engine explosion but that one was done on my laser.

[waynelocke]

Here is a chair which I made last year. Every part was primarily shaped on the SB.http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32170&stc=1

[ron_moorehead]

Here is a item I am proud of.
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32177&stc=1

[bking1836]

This bench is by far the most unique piece that I have designed and cut on the shopbot. It's a bit of a pain in the rear -- 96 pieces, 2 threaded rods and 2 inner support rods -- but it has been well received.

32176

[chiloquinruss]

I have many that when completed turned about even better than what I had imagined. Two things make that possible, first of course is the great tool we all share and next would have to be Aspire from Vectric.

So here are two of my 'proudest' pieces. I am a model builder and I am always so surprised at what a 48x96 bot can do. First up is a model stock car, think Lionel size. That's a nickel in the pix.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32182&stc=1

Next up is an eight foot diameter logo cut on my bot.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32181&stc=1

Great question thanks for posting. Russ

[bleeth]

I am so proud of so many of the pieces that my Bot helped me produce that the "one" is totally impossible. I'm posting here the first serious piece that I did on my bot. In this case it cut all of the curved parts of different radiuses, from the parts actually used in the piece, such as the top, shelves, and bottom curved parts that all had different radii to the pieces for the bending jig for the doors and template for the glass cutters. At that time the bot was a PRT. The Veneer was, and always shall be, hand work. I have always seen my Bot as one tool among many that contribute to a finished product.http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32183&stc=1

[Burkhardt]

I guess I am most proud of building a functional wooden spoked cart wheel with the help of a CNC machine. I know that skilled craftsmen did that routinely by hand (or with specialized machines) for 100's of years but nonetheless this was kind of an achievement for me.

32184

32185

32186

[scottp55]

Wow! Glad I posted on this thread again!
It was fun going through the 5 year old pics now that realize what was entailed!
Lots of new pics I hadn't seen before:)
Back then, I was writing in a blue funk as I didn't realize how much work went in before....and after the CNC!
NOW I can SEE how much gratification can come from the process of going from Concept to Completion!
Lousy description in my post if you didn't read the link.

THE point I was proudest of, was when the almost one year old walked her VERY FIRST steps to SNATCH a block from her Mom's hand:)
In this pic they were trying to repeat it, BUT she already HAD the block in her hand!!
She hasn't walked again since my house that day. :)
She also had 4 teeth coming in...good thing I had so many distractions for her in the house as it was a 2 and a half hour cutting lesson for Mom who owns an Axiom Pro as well (BUT she loved my finishing and attention to detail and wanted ME to make them).
The blocks also cemented a friendship! :)
Wonderful work all!
Keep it coming I love a positive thread!
scott

[bill_l]

This would one of mine. 48" x 22" (average). Glazed maple. Took just over 7 hours to carve.
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=32189&stc=1

[bill.young]

This is not nearly as artistic as the things you guys are showing, but I'm probably most proud of the Shelter 2.0 project that my buddy Robert Bridges and I do. It was designed and toolpathed in VCarvePro and is freely shared for personal and do-gooder use. There have been a pile of them built around the world, but I'm especially fond of this one that was cut by Zack Owen's class at Andover Central School on their Buddy and donated to the House of Mercy Homeless shelter in Rochester NY.

32190

[chiloquinruss]

Bill_L that is one great looking piece. I have done some mantle panels but nothing like that one, well done. Russ

[scottp55]

+1.... I Thought you'd like that one Russell:)

As BMW says Bill "Form follows Function", and I'm sure the inhabitants think it's GORGEOUS!! (especially that one that looks Winterized!)
Must be a really good feeling to do something for so many people! :)

BUT one of the things I'm proudest of that I DIDN'T make was that You and TJ, who didn't know me from Adam, and yet made a wheelchair adaptation to MY MakerCrate on a cold January day with absolutely no request or need to do it!!
(minute 11:11)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuh4rkmoaQw
Made me proud of Shopbot AND you two!!
Saves me back pain almost daily,and let's me Easily use my Desktop!
Never be able to pay you back!

And the OTHER thing is you're Wedging Top for the Desktop!
Haven't had to make any "Custom" screws, or even use screws for 4 years , and can clamp almost anything I do fast and easily! Got 4 other people out there now with my adaptation of your kindly offered file!

Only for a few people, but you should be proud! I get comments and complements on both every time a new person comes in my shop(and then I have to say it wasn't my idea):)

Maybe five years ago I should have said "Proud" instead of "Proudest"....We'd get more pics! :)
I love watching OTHER people work.

scott

(Joe, I'm used to the saying "Going from pillar to post"....Must have been a good feeling when you had the idea of going "From post to pillar"

[woodshop]

32197

Fun project around here. A little ragged around the cuts and in need of cleanup.

[bill.young]

We were more than happy to do it Scott...it was an opportunity for TJ and I to spend some quality time together!

[scottp55]

That's NOT what TJ said Bill:)
You guys did it during a January "COLD Snap", and afterwards he dreamed of making INFINITE MakerCrates in his sleep for WEEKS :)

The "Crate" keeps looking better and better, as everytime I have my hands/wet rag/foam brush with a suitable finish on it...the Crate gets another small portion Oiled.
I'm up to about 15 coats! :)
ALL dovetails still as tight as the day I assembled it. And considering I Yard it around all the time by my 34" cantilevered computer "shelf"..That's saying something!
You design RUGGED! :)
scott

[bill.young]

That was a big trip for TJ...he got to work with me and to eat his first raw oyster!

[gc3]

Ceiling 4 meters by 5 meters 4" thick Alder. 8 panels total machine time 211 hours.

[bleeth]

How can you eat just one oyster?:D

Gene: I don't recall seeing the finish shots of those panels installed-Looks FAB!!