Brief history of the drive behind the project. Last summer, 2023, I severed my left thumb (on 6/10) on my table saw working with some acrylic. Don't ever try to thumb wrestle a table saw, it'll win! Luckily the doctors were able to reattach it partially due to the calluses giving the stitches somewhere to bite into and mainly because of how amazing the doctors were! This set me back from working in my shop for awhile only gaining function near the end of the year. Then this past summer (almost exactly a year apart) I had a full distal bicep tear moving a sofa effectively breaking my left arm (on 6/6). Horrible way to spend a birthday. Had to have surgery and couldn't use my arm for three months. In those three months my AC unit went out, the fridge leaked causing water damage, the roof got damaged (somehow not covered), van broke down, kids lost their healthcare because of government changes, and my wife had MRI's due to her MS which is the cherry on top of trying to hold it all together. All in all I'd say one of the worst summers of my life both physically, mentally, and financially. Fast forward to the Secret Santa for 2024. I knew I wanted to do something with wood working as a way to get back out there and also as a giant "FU" to everything life's been throwing at me this year. I digress, bitching over, now onto the fun stuff!
This lead to making Hera's Kalikori from Rebels as the main part of the gift. Found a 3d model that was fairly accurate (there's a few small details I'd change in hindsight.) Using screenshots from the show and the 3d model to get the sizing down (much larger than originally thought) I was able to begin cutting.
First the rough cuts, some of which were recut later on.
Then some sanding to get the bevels right, this is where some of the pieces were recut, sanded, and the base pieces redone to be more accurate.
Next was time for carving, using screenshots I sketched on ideas of what needed to be carved in. Using various tools I began carving. It was at this point I realized my thumb doesn't work well in cold temperatures and just how weak my left arm had gotten.
Also came adding Kanan's triangular piece. After a bit of math and figuring out the angles, I managed to get something close. It was more of a challenge than I thought it would be but was fun to figure out. Using a miter saw I set the correct angles both in rotation and tilt. It wasn't until afterwards when I was talking to a fellow woodworker did he ask me why I didn't just use a scroll saw. I didn't have a good answer other than forgetting I had one in the back of the shop and felt like a fool and laughed.
With the pieces carved, magnets installed so Kanan's piece was removable, beads and tubes also cut and ready, it was time for paint and assembly. As well as finishing up the base with a small peg to help hold the piece in place while on display.
Unfortunately I didn't take too many pictures of either painting nor the finished project. Focusing on getting it done and shipped caused me to forget to stop and take pictures right at the end. Luckily the recipient took some great pictures of it which I've stolen for this post!
It was a good project and was definitely a success in that it got me back out to my shop working. Long way to go before my thumb and arm are better but it's a great start! There's been a few other smaller projects and I'm always grateful to this community for the support y'all show and advice/knowledge you share! Thank you!!
This lead to making Hera's Kalikori from Rebels as the main part of the gift. Found a 3d model that was fairly accurate (there's a few small details I'd change in hindsight.) Using screenshots from the show and the 3d model to get the sizing down (much larger than originally thought) I was able to begin cutting.
First the rough cuts, some of which were recut later on.
Then some sanding to get the bevels right, this is where some of the pieces were recut, sanded, and the base pieces redone to be more accurate.
Next was time for carving, using screenshots I sketched on ideas of what needed to be carved in. Using various tools I began carving. It was at this point I realized my thumb doesn't work well in cold temperatures and just how weak my left arm had gotten.
Also came adding Kanan's triangular piece. After a bit of math and figuring out the angles, I managed to get something close. It was more of a challenge than I thought it would be but was fun to figure out. Using a miter saw I set the correct angles both in rotation and tilt. It wasn't until afterwards when I was talking to a fellow woodworker did he ask me why I didn't just use a scroll saw. I didn't have a good answer other than forgetting I had one in the back of the shop and felt like a fool and laughed.
With the pieces carved, magnets installed so Kanan's piece was removable, beads and tubes also cut and ready, it was time for paint and assembly. As well as finishing up the base with a small peg to help hold the piece in place while on display.
Unfortunately I didn't take too many pictures of either painting nor the finished project. Focusing on getting it done and shipped caused me to forget to stop and take pictures right at the end. Luckily the recipient took some great pictures of it which I've stolen for this post!
It was a good project and was definitely a success in that it got me back out to my shop working. Long way to go before my thumb and arm are better but it's a great start! There's been a few other smaller projects and I'm always grateful to this community for the support y'all show and advice/knowledge you share! Thank you!!
