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Hey Guys,
I finally got my accent strips mounted, that I've been talking about for way too long now.
I've got all my pics on my post in the Project Directory. A special thanks goes out to John Michne for showing me how to build the blank for the strip and Glen Smith for putting up with me. :
Last edited by Dean in Eureka, CA on Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks Guys!
Very nice words. I'm just relieved that I was able to pull the accent strip off without any major failure happening. I am looking forward to getting on with the stripping and getting this thing closer to completion. My kids are looking forward to that also.
Hey Dave,
Click on the Project Directory and click on my post called Redbird. I have a jpeg with the layout and cut list if anyone is interested. I could email you the diagram in MSPUB also, but you will need Microsoft Publisher to open it, that's why I made it a jpeg. I started out by cutting 40 pieces each of the four different shapes and the one full length piece. I made them 2 1/8" wide. I had to glue up each layer full length first. (I tried glueing up the whole blank at once and got about 4' into it and pieces started moving all over the place) After I got the whole blank glued up, I ripped it in half and planed the the two halves accordingly to get my offset for the bead and cove, which BTW wasn't a full 1/8". It worked out to be closer to 3/32", probablely because I cut the coves just a tick shallow to avoid the knife edge. I ended up with 3 strips each (upper and lower section) so I have an extra set for paddle inlays and or leeboard inlays.
Take a look at the jpeg and if you have any questions let me know, OK?
The little triangles were fun to cut. I had to raise my saw blade high enough so that when the cut was finished, it just dropped onto the side of the spinning blade. I then carefully picked them up off of the blade. If any part of the triangle came into contact with the teeth, it would just explode into debris.
I cut extra pieces of the four shapes and I saved one piece each just for the heck of it, I could take a picture of those also.
I hope this helps.
Those pics on the Project Directory answer my questions....I wish my work was as neat. I'm cutting the forms on a Rice Lake Skiff now, collecting wood, and spending some time contemplating a pattern that is appropriate for inlaying on a skiff. I am hopeful that I can do something "traditional" to a 30's vintage design (ie.. painted below the waterline, floor boards, transom knees, keel etc.) Where did you get the idea for your design? It's creative and very nice!
Hey Dave,
I did the glasswork for the Lucky 7 Casino in Smith River, CA for the Tolowa Tribe. I stayed in a travel trailer right on the jobsite for about 3 months, so I got to know some of them pretty good. It took a while for them to accept me because I'm not an Indian. Later on I did a big stained glass job for them and that's why I got into finding as many of the Tolowa designs that I could. It was a trip doing all my research on the tribal artwork. The typical response that I would get from someone was something like, "Well my grandmother knew all about that, but she past away." I did find a few small basket collections in local museums and that is where I found the friendship design. It is really sad that the tribe has lost a lot of its history. One other thing that I found out that really stunded me was, back when the Indians from different tribes were gathered up by the whites, many designs got intermingled from tribe to tribe. My best friend is a full blooded Tolowa Indian and we got accqauinted during the construction of the casino. Turns out that we competed against each other in different sports back in high school. So that's the story of how I got the design.
Cool...I didn't expect that! Maybe on a skiff, there aren't any traditional designs except what you think looks nice. I can't wait to see how you canoe turns out...Dave
Dave,
I don't think I could bring myself to covering up the wood with paint for the sake of being traditional. To me, the paint would make it look, "just like another boat". If I lived up in your area, I would scope out all the different Indian designs I could lay my eyes on to get some ideas. Isn't there a lot of totem pole art work up there?
Sometimes when I'm drifting off to sleep, I get these visions in my mind that show me how to design or build something I'm working on. Only problem is, sometimes they are really quick glimpses and I'm not fast enough to see the whole picture or get all the details.
I know what this canoe is going to look like, but only in my mind for right now. Man, that is one thing about this boat building thing that is going to take some time to get used to; The amount of time it takes. I sure wish that I could get more time in big chunks to do this.
BTW , I really liked your choice and use of wood colors on your canoe. That Alaskan Yellow Cedar is just so beautiful! When you were building that, couldn't you already see it finished in your mind?
I was rolling the bevel some more last night while listening to some good music and I realized that I am just begining to get a little taste of what an art boat building really is.
Thank goodness there are guys like John Michne, that showed us how to roll the bevel with sanding sticks. Someday, I hope I figure out how to use a spokeshave and get good results.
I'll say one thing; I'm finding that it is a great escape for me, almost like doing art glass. Time just flys by too fast when I'm out in the shop working on the canoe.
I'm really looking forward to doing a sea kayak next. I think they give you more of a pallet to work with, at least that's what I've been seeing, looking at pictures on the internet. Glen emailed me a picture of a kayak that this guy in Japan is building; The decks are a dragon's tail and all the scales are individual pieces of wood and they are all separated by a strip of different contrasting wood. Holly Molly!
I can only wonder where this journey is going to take me. I've had thoughts of building a steam boat like the African Queen or a nice pleasure yacht someday. Why did I wait so long to even try it?
Best wishes Dave, deciding how you are going to do your skiff.
Hey Dean,
I was looking at your project pictures. Nice kids! And, you're not too shaby yourself. Had to add a little humor. I think that most of us are impressed by the quality of your work. It is obvious that you are a seasoned craftsman. Even your strongback and molds are beautiful. Until now, I was wondering about the stained glass piece in back of one of your pictures. When I first noticed it, I had a suspicion that it might be your work. You seem to have such high passion for boat building, it's amazing.
Thanks for the pictures. Have fun building.
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