Creative Woodworks & crafts 2005-09, страница 18

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Introduction

I live in beautiful South Africa where the climate is warm, the landscape is varied and verdant in summer, and there is an abundance of wildlife. Ncture inspires me and, being a devoted cat lover, I would like to share with you three of the many wildcats I have captured on wood.

Cheetahs are often thought of as African and pumas are thought of as Americcn, yet the two cats have a lot in common. Because the cheetah hunted in the open plcnes and the puma hurled in stealth in thick forest and tall grass, the twe cats were net in competition and were able to live together in the New World. Both make trilling sounds, chirps like birdcalls and whistling noises. They also heve pupils that stay round and dc not form slits like the pupils of wild cols or house cats. They rely on their long-distance vision, usirg high places as lookouts, for their inlor-matior. Both types of cats have extremely long, heavy tails to give them balance and both are extremely fast. The cheetah is, of course, the fastest land anlrrat anc' can rcach speeds in excess of 60 rrph.

The leopard, which is classified as one of Soulh Africa's "Big Five," is most easily recognized by its rosette-patterned coat and extremely lorg, dark tail. It has powerful limb and neck muscles, enabling it to carry a fully-grown male antelope or even yc.ung giraffe, weighing up to three times its own body weight, high into treetcps. This is to keep ils trophy away from scavenging packs of hyencs ard opportunistic lions. The leopard is a versatile hunter and is generally nocturnal in its pursuit of prey.

Patterns for all three of these big cats are provided with this project.

INSTRUCTIONS

Using the palm sender, sand the wood. This not only reduces the crncunt of hard sanding to be done later but also the risk of breaking eff fragile pieces when sanding after cutting. Photocopy the pattern at 100% and attach to the wood, using temporary-bond spray adhesive or method of choice. (Note: To prevent tear-out underneath when cutting c portrait, attach some carton paper such as an empty breakfast cereal box, to the bottom ot the wood with thin double-sided tape. Cover the carton with packaging tape.)

Drill the blade entry holes usirg the l/8"-Dia. bit. Carefully drill the holes in the small areas using the 1/16"-Dia. bit. Use sandpaper or a scraper blade held at o slight argle to remove any burrs created by drilling the hcles. Be sure 1o follow the grain of the wood.

Threcd either the No. 2 or No. 3 blade through the blade entry holes and cut all the black orcas on the pattern. Slow down the speed of your saw when cutting fragile par's like the eyes ard whiskers, and use c zero clearance insert to reduce the risk of breaking these parts. (Note: You can use a piece of your cercal box carton to make a zero clearance insert. Simply drill a small blade entry hole in it and tape it to your saw table with masking tope.)

Remove the pattern end, using'150-grit sardpapor, sand the back of the piece by hand or use a sanding block to remove all burrs. Sand the front of the piece startirg with 320-grit sendpoper and working up to 500-grii sandpaper until you have a smooth firish. Be careful not to catch ard break any fragile pieces. I prefer to use a three-finger-sized piece of sandpaper without a sanding block because it

gives me a bettor sorse of the cmount of pressure required.

Square the four edges of both the portrait and the backing piece using the disc sander. The two pieces can be done separately and dry-fitted to ensure that the two work pieccs line up nicely. Alternatively, attach the pcrlrait to the backing with thin double-sic'ed tape or hot glue on the four corners before straight sanding the edges. Detach the I wo pieces immediately afterwards, as the tape becomes stickicr and more difficult to remove if you leave it or for c day or two. Remove all sanding dust. (I block-mount my portraits on pointed MDF bcckings. If ycu prefer, back the piece with black matting beard and mount in an 8" x IC" ready-made frame.)

Use a medium-size artist's brush to apply deep penetrating furniture wax liquid to the portrait front and edges. The brush mokes it easy to reach all the nocks and crarnies ct the picrce cuts. (Note: In cold conditions, I pour some wax liquid into an c.ld ceramic mug and heat it in the microwave oven for 15 seconds to allow the wax to liquefy. This way, the wcx penetrates the wood without leaving c waxy layer.) Lei the portrait dry for c day or two. To speed the process, place the portrait in the sun to dry, or use warm heat from a hairdryer. As an alternative to the furniture wax liquid, you can epply Darish oil, following the manufacturer's directions. Carefully wipe surfaces with c dty lint-free cloth.

Spray the front, back, and edges of the MDF backing with three thin doats of spray paint, allowing it tc dry completely between coats. (Note: Tile edges absorb the paint, resulting in a "rough" appearancc. To ensure a smooth-edged finish, spray as above and when dry, sand the edges of the MDF backing with 150-grit sandpaper. Remove sanding dust with a clean paintbrush, and then spray an another two to three coats of paint, allowing it to dry between coats.)

Workirg quickly, epply wood glue to the back of the portrait. Use only small beads of glue near the edges and on the fragile pieces. If you apply too much glue, il will seep out once clanped. Place the portrcit on top of the MDF backing, "square up" the two pieces on a flat surface, and apply clamps. If glue seepage occurs, wait until the gtue starts tc thicken before using a toothpick to remove excess glue from a smell area at a time. Once ihe glue has dried, remove the clamps.

Apply several thin coats or clear spray vamish, allowing the project to dry thoroughly bcKvecr coats. Attach the saw tooth hanger, and you're ready to present the portrait to your favorite wildcat enthusiast. Or, add the portrait to the collection on your wall. IF you hove run oul of wall spcce like I have, try Ihe following display oplion. Make a pelmet for a v/indow in your house or workshop by attaching a selection of portraits to the curtcir rail; secure the pcrtrcits with bendable wire attached to the saw tooth hargers.

t live in Pretoria, South Africa and have been scroMng for about fO years. My hobbies include photography, assorted crafts, and wctercolor painting. As u motorcycle enthusiast I enjoy touring with my RMVv' and acting as a marsbuf a/ Ihe annual motorcycle economy run. I scroll logos, frophies, and desk stands for corporate companies, and I combine seroMing with painting ard decoupage, using fhe techniques to create coforfuf clocks and children's bedroom accessories. I can be contacted of 27 12 460 J013 (tele phone), or E-mail: suem@storage.co.ia. To see more of my work, visit www.geoc/fies. corrr/rne/ctenhart ^