My first 2 projects in the new flat, using my new Bladerunner X2

Yeah, I will have to get other wood in the future; I can definitely see where it would look much better longer. Unfortunately, I had to cut it that short because of the damage by the delivery man-I had bought 12 boards for the old flat and he dropped the entire box on the concrete porch and the box busted open, severe damage-IKEA shipped a whole new set. But I decided to hang onto the bad ones "just in case" and now I have a couple projects I can use them for in the time-being.

Thanks, Theo! Yeah, those stupid whiskers! hahaha And had I not freaked and put the tiger's chin down in the blue area, I think he would have really looked 3D.

Charles, I just took a look at that site. Looks like some good safe stain, only 1 coat?? I am really digging some of those non-wood colors, I guess whatever I do, it should probably be a lot lighter than the tiger to make him pop?

The white primer really made the tiger pop, and at first, I thought to just paint it white, but holding it up to the wall, it made the walls look really dirty because they use the ugliest off-white paint I have ever seen. I think it's like Dutchboy eggshell -the maintenance man correctly called it smoker's yellow/tan! haha

The blue around the tiger was my own color recipe and I used it on several paintings I experimented with - now I can't find the paper that I wrote it down on! lol

I think the shelf mounting on the flanges look pretty darn good. Inventive. The tiger is very well done, and I agree including the full chin would have been a little stronger, particularly if you kept the bottom line of the painting with the chin extending over that line just a bit. Carrying an image over the frame line accentuates the 3rd dimensional quality.

Cutting accurate miters is one of the most demanding parts of woodworking. As to filler, try the stuff in the picture. It is by far my favorite because after sanding, you can apply finish to it. It comes in a variety of colors on Amazon. You generally only use a bit of it for filling.

BTW, you saw cuts on the downstroke, which often produces a little wood blow out. You can often reduce that by working good face up, and applying green painters tape to the cut line. Doesn't always work but really reduces the problem.

You can get really good quality Baltic Birch plywood via mail order an small sheet sizes, or by finding a woodworking store or wood supplier. Baltic birch is a much better choice than MDF or particle board. It has many layers and the internal voids are all filled in so you get a nice, multilayer edge. I can tell you're having a good time with wood. That's reward enough.

All of my paint needs anymore are taken care of with latex paint. I do mix custom colors at times, but don't keep the recipe. I use medicine bottles to keep it in, the straight ones, that the lid comes off with about a quarter turn. You could always write the recipe on tape and put it on the bottle. I tried screw top bottles, but the paint 'welded' the tops on. The paint keeps well, so when I mix a custom color what I don't use keeps until I want it later. No smell, water cleanup, can't beat that. I get one small can each of, black, white, red, yellow, blue, green. I can never get a mix for blue or green, so just buy dark blue and dark green.

I also use latex as a stain, which works out well for me. Just thin it down, maybe 10-1, whatever looks good for you. Can clearly see the wood grain, and I like it over store bought stains. Holds up very well for me too, lost a piece of stained wood outside my shop, and found it a year later. Still looked good.

Hey Paul, thanks for modeling the tiger in different colors! I was like OH! with the blue and then OH!!! with the green. I knew I wouldn't like the brown or wood colors for it. But now I have to decide on those other 2 for sure!

Thanks Tom! I just felt I needed something different for the kitchen. Yeah, this is funny, I have astigmatism in both eyes, and even though I can see 3D, I have a hard time focusing in on it. Yet, I know a woman with ONE eye, and she can draw/paint 3D marvelously! Go figure! LOL But I am going to practice some more drawing trying to get that look over a edging/background/fence. I am just now figuring out shadowing a little bit. That will be a huge help! Thanks for the cutting tips! I am going to try that way, next time. And I found the filler and have bookmarked it for my next Amazon purchase. Yeahhhh, I AM having fun with doing all this stuff!

Now you tell me Theo! I just recently bought some more cheap acrylics! But, I am going to go for the latex in the near future. I kept asking myself if I could do this successfully and never even thought of asking that question. DOH! But thanks for the advice, this will make things cheaper and easier. Funny about the wood still looking great a year later! But good!

Ha! That's so clever, Rick. Looks great, too. My poor weights have been sitting in a couple piles on the floor. If I can find a good space to utilize, I just might steal your idea!

Sidenote: I finally finished repairing one chair and it's rock solid (3 to go). I am not refinishing them, though, since I am going to be turning my dining table into counter height, eventually. I have to confess, even though I enjoy making things, I found out very quickly, I find furniture repair extremely boring.

DerSchuhmacher said:

Now you tell me Theo! I just recently bought some more cheap acrylics! But, I am going to go for the latex in the near future. I kept asking myself if I could do this successfully and never even thought of asking that question. DOH! But thanks for the advice, this will make things cheaper and easier. Funny about the wood still looking great a year later! But good!

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Of course, it's always more fun to tell someone too late. Not advice, not advice, I don't advise, just tell what or how I do. I use acrylic latex, not the ones labeled just latex. About the same price, but the acrylic latex works out a bit better for me. And definitely cheaper than tubes of paint. Look on-line and you'll find people saying using latex paint is a terrible thing to do, it won't last, etc., etc. Then others say it works fine, and is less costly than acrylics. Actually latex paint has developed where it is equal to, or better, and oil based house paint. And if you can pant a house with it, and the paint will be outdoors 24/7/365 and last from 30-40 years, that's pretty darn good. It has worked very well for me, and I'll continue using it.

Yeah, that handle surprised me too. I have a picture of it somewhere, an after I found it one, but I don't recall where I put it so it wouldn't get lost. My guess is that it held up so well that long because of the paint - well, it was actually thinned way down, to check it as a stain, which wasn't bad.

Forgot to mention, acrylic latex is at least as good, or possibly better, than textile paint for painting on cloth. And it is loads less expensive. And cloth is loads less expensive then canvas.

I likely mentioned it before, but will repeat myself if so. Probably any wood glue would work for this, but I use Titebond II, and to repair holes in jeans or such, just glue on a patch. Works great, but when you wash, do NOT pull at the glued on patch, instead just toss the piece in the dryer, and when it comes out the patch is as good as new. Among other things I glued my carry pocket in my vest and at least two jackets. Sure beats sewing.

Ah, speaking of sewing. Stopped wearing a belt years ago, switched to suspenders. The first suspenders kept popping loose. Got a pair with larger clasps, would tear up my pants. So, got a pair of suspenders from Lowes, 3 clips, designed to hold tool belts up. Got some D rings, and sewed them on. Worked great, until the thread started breaking. OK, stronger thread, still broke. Got some monofilament fishing line, worked great, a pain to sew. Then got the idea of gluing a strip of jean material to hold the D rings. Worked, but started to tear. So, when to two layers of material, and now been using that for several years and have had no problems at all. By the way, really hate sewing, just wish I could figure out some way to glue buttons on too. I did have two riveted buttons on a coat come off - made two hooks out of a coat hanger, glued them in place with a few strips of jean material, and still working out great - just ugly.

DerSchuhmacher said:

I love it Theo! HAHAHA Yeah, I should experiment with the natural items to dye with just to see...will the natural like coffee and tea stay a long period of time or are they going to fade a lot faster than typical dyes? Turmeric is great for a yellowish dye! But I also don't know the longevity. What would you suggest to use to seal it?

I'll have to share your solution with the suspenders to my dad! LOL

I ought to try your jeans patching idea. I have 2 pairs with a tear in the same identical place. So it's worth a try to see how it comes out.

I was going to suggest riveted buttons instead of sewing buttons. But you can still have tear out... hangers, eh? LOL Now that is creative!

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Well, they used natural dyes for centuries, and you can still see the colors in most easily. Don't know if sunlight would dim them or not. Moved on to other projects, so didn't pursue the natural dyes. Still need to do more with thinned acrylic latex, but that seems to last really well, but my next tries will be like 20 to 1, instead of 10 to one. I'll likely try thinned Titebond II, but if not that probably water based poly.

The suspenders is one of my better ideas.

I use the glue to patch holes in the pockets of my pocket T shirts too. Plus make a variety of bags from, usually, pants legs - shooting rest bags, tool bags, bag with handles for taking rolled coins to the bank, a really ugly thingy based on a glasses case to hold my sketch pens and pencils and a flashlight.

And a picture of the hook. The coat is now pretty much patches, so been trying to find a similar one for a reasonable price. It's fake fleece lined, nice and warm, and ran me about $30 years ago. Now even ones I don't like are usually about $100, the ones I like way more. Bah. Humbug.