Creative Woodworks & crafts 1999-04, страница 58

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut the pattern

Stack one piece of wood over one piece of cork, securing the edges with masking tape. Transfer the leaf pattern to the top of the wood. Bore a very small blade entry hole on the pattern line. Tilt your scroll saw table 2 degrees and, cutting in a counterclockwise direction, saw around the leaf pattern.

Remove masking tape, then remove the cut-out leaf from the wood. Sand with very fine sandpaper and seal the wood. VERY carefully remove the cork cut-out from the bottom section.

Finish your coasters

How you finish your coasters is up to you. I have finished them two different ways: painted leaves, or simply left plain with a clear finish. If you would like to reverse the coasters, try painting one side and leaving the other plain.

If you want to leave the coaster plain, seal the wood and allow to dry, then rub with a brown paper bag until the finish is smooth. Gently insert the cork piece into the wood from the bottom, and press until it fits snugly. If your table was tilted exactly 2 degrees, and you did not change the size of the blade, you will not need to glue the cork piece in place.

Painting

If you want to paint your coasters, do not insert the cork until after all paint and varnish has dried. Paint as follows:

Red leaf—basecoat with a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part Maroon. Float shade around the outside edges of the leaf with Maroon as shown in Fig. 1. Stipple Tangerine in the center (see Fig. 2). Green leaf—basecoat with a mixture of 3 parts water and 1 part Leaf Green. Referring to the technique shown in Figs. 1 and 2, float shade around the outside edge with Pine Green.

Multi-colored leaf—wash entire leaf with Maroon. While still wet, stipple Burnt Umber around the center of the leaf, making sure not to get any paint in the center of the leaf. Float shade with Leaf Green around the outside edge of the leaf. The end result should be a

SUPPLIES

Wood: baltic birch plywood—four pieces 1/4" x 4" x 4" Tools: scroll saw with No. 1 double tooth blades;

drill with very small bit Decorator cork board—four pieces 1/4" x 4" x 4" Black feit, 8" x 8"(optional) Tacky glue (optional) Temporary-bond spray adhesive 1/2" wide masking tape Sandpaper, assorted fine grits Brown paper bag

Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paints: Burnt Umber; Leaf Green; Maroon; Mocha Brown; Opaque Yellow; Pine Green; Red Iron Oxide: Straw; Tangerine Delta clear wood sealer Delta exterior varnish

Loew-Comell American Painter paintbrushes: 3/8'"

angular shader (series 4400); 3/4'' wash (series 4550) Paintbrush of choice

Maroon center, gradually blending into brown, and heavily highlighted at the edges with Leaf Green (see Fig. 3).

Yellow leaf—basecoat with Straw and stipple down the center with Mocha Brown as shown in Fig. 4. While still wet, stipple Red Iron Oxide over the Mocha Brown. Next, stipple Opaque Yellow. Finally, floatshade Red Iron Oxide on the tips of the leaf as shown in Fig. 5.

Assemble the painted coaster When the paint is dry, insert the cork leaf into the wood Remember, it has been cut on an angle so it will only fit properly one way.

Apply three coats of exterior varnish over the cork and the wood. Allow sufficient drying time in between applications.

If you have chosen not to make your coasters reversible, a piece of felt can be glued to the underside of each coaster.

See what other pretty shapes you can find to make these inlays. Mother nature provides endless beauty for us to work with! You may even want to cut an initial in the cork for a real personalized touch. |jrj

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