Creative Woodworks & crafts 2003-08, страница 59

SUPPLIES

Wood: pine or other wood light in co/c—one piece 3/4'' ' ^: x 8-1 (T x 12-1 /?.": Baltic biich piywocd—o' ie piece 1 /4' x8~i/2' x 12-1/2" {.for the- backer), one piece t/4" x . 6-1/2" x 11" (for the-isei) Topfs: scroll edw; No. 5 bloces: drill p-ess: 1 /4"-D^:a. drill bit;

flex-drum sander; spring clamps Temporary-bond spray adhesive Double-sided tape

Tack cloth . ."'■■'■' .-'! . - -

Oid paintbrush ;

Acrylic paint—Orange

Rif* dye*—Black, Purple

Wax paper

Wood glue : - :

1/4"-Dia. x 1" dowel (for the eye) Very fine sanding sponge Finish of choice

*For more information on Rif" dyes contact Rif Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 21070. Indianapolis, IN 46221-1070; (317) 231 -8044. 9:00 to 4:00 Eastern Time.

anemone and the fin that appear to be in front on the plywood for the riser, matching up the wood grain to place them properly. Using a ballpoint pen refill (it fits in the tight spaces easily), draw the outline of the pieces. Cut out just to the inside of your drawn line.

Shape with a medium-grit sleeve on the flex-drum sander. Sand the front pieces first, the fish second, then the pieces behind the fish, using the shaped pieces to determine the height of other pieces. Make some of the anemone fingers look like they are coming from under or behind, make a depression in some of them so they look like they are flowing, and round the edges. Taper the fin toward the front of the fish. Taper the fish toward the top, bottom, and front. Make the tail fin look like it is curving around to the side. Take enough wood off the bottom fin so that it appears to be under the fish. There is a piece to the right of the bottom fin- toss it. Mark the height of the top of the fish along the edge of the top fins. Taper them down to that point, adding a bit of concavity to them. Round the mouth and dowel for the eye.

Sand all pieces with increasingly finer grits, finishing

with the 220-grit sleeve. Clean up any rough edges. Use tack cloth to remove the dust.

Finishing

Stain the orange pieces with a wash using 1/2 orange acrylic paint and 1/2 water. For the black pieces, mix 2 tbsp black dye into 1 cup hot water. For the purple pieces, mix 2 tbsp purple dye into 1 cup hot water. Allow to cool. Use an old paintbrush to apply. I also stained the riser purple. Allow to dry thoroughly. There will be some raised grain; however, if you sand now, you risk exposing some bare wood, so don't worry about that now.

Fit a 1 /4"-Dia. dowel into the hole for the eye so it sticks out from the surface. Cut extra from backside. Glue pieces to riser. Glue all the pieces together on top of a piece of wax paper with a copy of the pattern underneath to help with placement. Allow glue to set.

Trace the outline onto the backer. Don't cut out the open spot from the piece you tossed-stain that spot purple. Cutting at an angle, cut out backer just to the inside of the outline.

Spread wood glue on the backs of all the pieces. Secure the backer to the project with spring clamps. Remove the clamps after 20 minutes or so.

I used Deft semigloss lacquer finish for my project. I spray on two coats, then sand lightly with a very fine sanding sponge. This will take care of the fuzzy grain and protect the color. Remove any dust and spray a third coat, and even a fourth if you like. Attach hanger to back.

14 • Creative Woodworks S. Crafts August 2003