Close…but no cigar.

The goal for today was to complete the construction of the hobby tansu.  Leaving just the decorative elements, hardware and finishing.  I almost made it.  The only construction element left will be to trim and finish plane the top rail of the removable panel.

In reality I accomplished quite a bit today.  I realized that it would be much more efficient, if not easier, to add my planned decorative details to the removable panel before I assembled it.  So the day started with the fabrication of a template for the scroll detail of the front panel.  I simply used a piece of scrap 6mm ply and followed my drawing.

Early on I hatched the idea for the unifying decorative element for this project.  That being the use of texture stamps with those areas being darkened with a wood burning tool.  the first example of this was the recessed area of the handles.  The scroll will continue this idea.  Create an outline with the kolrosing technique and
stamp in some texture.  Then have at it with the wood burner.  Its far too complicated to explain so I’ll take the lazy way out and just show you a photo.

Since I had the wood burning tool out and heated up, I went ahead and burned in the detail for the beads on the drawer fronts.

Then I got a little carried away with the wood burner…

All the wood burning detail is complete.  Trust me, the hardware will bring it all together…at least I’m pretty sure it will.

The last detail that was completed today was the cove for the feet cutouts.

Tomorrow may actually see the first coat of BLO go on.

Greg Merritt