Finger Dice (or Dicey Fingers)

[Burkhardt]

I am working on a few demo pieces for my finger/box joint software and made this dice with asymmetrical finger joints all around. At 6 inch side length it does not have any practical purpose but I think it is quite pretty as a decoration object. Well, somebody might put a flower pot on it.

It is made from 3/4" maple, walnut and zebrano with dot inlays of contrasting wood (I believe cocobolo and alder or whatever I had).

Yes, I know I screwed up the number sequence.....

As cut:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U52ZcV97EMA/U_vec1f66DI/AAAAAAAAFAU/TEAnERG_aeY/w1013-h853-no/DSC02641.JPG

Clamping 12 joints at a time is not trivial. Next time I give it more slack to require less clamping.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4UKeb5Ccdxo/U_vefhcEF4I/AAAAAAAAFAc/FGKEW9P1XKc/w640-h853-no/DSC02642.JPG

Hung up for lacquer finish:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-58aH9B5ox8A/U_veiUS7hxI/AAAAAAAAFAk/pZVIDMWvC4A/w1065-h853-no/DSC02646.JPG

[srwtlc]

Cool, 5 more and you can play Yard Yatzee! Gonna be a big dice cup!

[genek]

Still very nice

[ssflyer]

Wow Gert,

Turned out beautifully! Any time frame on your software release"

[Burkhardt]

Wow Gert,

Turned out beautifully! Any time frame on your software release"

Well, ahem....I think I am suffering from feature creep. But I am pretty sure I can finish this up within 2 or 3 weeks.

I just added the cube/dice/brick option, although I know this is not really according to good woodworking joinery practice. But it was fun anyway and maybe some use for decorative pieces.

But one thing that is holding me up is a cut angle error when doing 45 degree miter cuts like in the cube example the corners and the first short finger. You may notice that I cheated and used wood filler to close the gap. It is a minor thing but I want to get that out of the way before I release it.

[scottp55]

NEAT G! Going to be a nice feature as already had a request for 6 sided funerary? box from an Aunt who saw the walnut/maple first box I did,but wanted cherry/walnut, but she wanted the joints on all sides and I was scratching my head(think I'll leave the dice feature off:).
Would be nice to leave the wood filler out as she mentioned $400 if it was perfect, and 2 other Aunts and Mom (ages 72-Mom 83) are asking when they can see Suzie's :(
Not as exuberant and whimsical as the dice(and not sure why they want wood), but if they love it and they feel better. What the Hey.
Great work as usual:)

[myxpykalix]

Hey G,
Not everything we make has to have a functional purpose...you're allowed to make stuff that is just "purty":D

Even though they are 6" in size you could always send them to Jim McGrew so that his life size chess pieces can play "craps" while they sit in his shop with nothing to do!:D
Can you just imagine it might be like in the movie "Night at the Museum", i can hear his King as he rolls the dice..."C'mon 7, baby needs a new pair of shoes"!:rolleyes:
OOOOH...Snakeeyes!!

[Burkhardt]

..... Would be nice to leave the wood filler out...

I think I found the mistake that led to the corner gaps. Fixing it maybe a bit more work.

In the meantime I finished the finish (so to say). I had to do that over again because of my impatience not to let the laquer cure properly before trying to polish.

But now it looks good. Not quite French Polish quality but pretty close. You can see the mirror reflection of the deck on the "3" surface.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OxJRV1XB0Tc/VAZ0JuEGbPI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/-aHPIR_Xnic/w862-h853-no/DSC02650.JPG

[scottp55]

Almost hate to see what you'll do when you retire and have MORE spare time:)