Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Chess Prototype
After I finished the 3-Way Chess Board, I tried to think of a way to make a better one. Instead of paint or stain, I wanted a classic, two tone wood board. Naturally, with the irregular square sizes and different angles, it would be very difficult, if possible, but I was determined to find a way to work it out.
This was only a test run, so I didn't want to spend more than a day or so on it.
Like any sufficiently insane person, I decided to make a scale model of the board, and work out the problems in advance. I cut up a board of wood into 1/4 scale size (though proportionally extremely thick).
To simulate using two different types of wood, I stained half of the pieces. To keep things moving, I dried them off quickly and went with what I had.
I measured out the angles, which was far more difficult at such a small scale and cut out the pieces. I had to use a hacksaw for these fine, small cuts, and I really can't convey just how boring it was for however long it took. I glued the pieces together, and the result was not too bad.
It doesn't look great, but each saw cut was made freehand, so to speak, at a small scale where precise degree measurements are very difficult.
After the first piece was finished, I decided I wasn't going to bother with the other two, or a border. I worked out a few good methods to facilitate the tedious parts and whatnot, and determined the project was possible. However, I also decided that a full scale version of this is beyond the realm of typical hand tools, and I will need access to at the very least a table saw before I can start the real board.
This was only a test run, so I didn't want to spend more than a day or so on it.
Like any sufficiently insane person, I decided to make a scale model of the board, and work out the problems in advance. I cut up a board of wood into 1/4 scale size (though proportionally extremely thick).
To simulate using two different types of wood, I stained half of the pieces. To keep things moving, I dried them off quickly and went with what I had.
I measured out the angles, which was far more difficult at such a small scale and cut out the pieces. I had to use a hacksaw for these fine, small cuts, and I really can't convey just how boring it was for however long it took. I glued the pieces together, and the result was not too bad.
It doesn't look great, but each saw cut was made freehand, so to speak, at a small scale where precise degree measurements are very difficult.
After the first piece was finished, I decided I wasn't going to bother with the other two, or a border. I worked out a few good methods to facilitate the tedious parts and whatnot, and determined the project was possible. However, I also decided that a full scale version of this is beyond the realm of typical hand tools, and I will need access to at the very least a table saw before I can start the real board.
Poker Chip Tower
I needed a break from what I had been doing, so I allowed myself a few minutes with the poker set conveniently near me, and made this.
Not a big deal by any means, but I like it and it has to come down so I can actually play poker, so I figured I'd get a picture of it.
Not a big deal by any means, but I like it and it has to come down so I can actually play poker, so I figured I'd get a picture of it.
3-Way Chess
Many of you are probably familiar with the famous 3-Way Chess board that circulated around the internet a while ago. If not, it is absolutely worth a look.
I instantly knew I wanted to play this weird game, so I scoured the internet for any store selling or importing these boards. Sure enough, all the sites I was able to find were either out of stock or out of business. The obvious solution then became to make my own. I drew up the basic plans, calculated some measurements and degree angles, and got my supplies.
First off I needed 3 boards of high-quality wood of specific dimensions, a ruler/T-square, protractor, dark wood stain, and a few other miscellaneous items. I cut them to the right shape, sanded them down. It's worth noting that one should never use pencil to mark certain woods. It makes a depression that requires heavy sanding to remove, making chalk the ideal marker. I wish I knew that before I marked up the 'squares,' because now the pencil marks are here to stay. Painter's tape was used to keep them separate during staining.
I picked this moment to screw up monumentally. I neglected to remember just how much stain bleeds, providing a serious setback.
Of course this prevented me fron continuing with the course of action I originally planned on. I instead elected to stain all three boards a universal dark color and paint in the squares. Fortunately, I had a large bucket of available white paint. I taped it right back up and slapped on the paint.
The paint dried very quickly in the hot sun, so I was able to do a second coat for all squares that same day. I ordered two sets of chess pieces, two black, two white. I went with a medium slate blue and painted one of the white sets.
I broke it in with a few games that went pretty well, but the rules get confusing very easily.
I like how it came out, but I'm not satisfied with it as a final project. There are a few flaws I'd rather not point out, and I would like to create a higher quality board at some point, but that's another project for another time.
I instantly knew I wanted to play this weird game, so I scoured the internet for any store selling or importing these boards. Sure enough, all the sites I was able to find were either out of stock or out of business. The obvious solution then became to make my own. I drew up the basic plans, calculated some measurements and degree angles, and got my supplies.
First off I needed 3 boards of high-quality wood of specific dimensions, a ruler/T-square, protractor, dark wood stain, and a few other miscellaneous items. I cut them to the right shape, sanded them down. It's worth noting that one should never use pencil to mark certain woods. It makes a depression that requires heavy sanding to remove, making chalk the ideal marker. I wish I knew that before I marked up the 'squares,' because now the pencil marks are here to stay. Painter's tape was used to keep them separate during staining.
I picked this moment to screw up monumentally. I neglected to remember just how much stain bleeds, providing a serious setback.
Of course this prevented me fron continuing with the course of action I originally planned on. I instead elected to stain all three boards a universal dark color and paint in the squares. Fortunately, I had a large bucket of available white paint. I taped it right back up and slapped on the paint.
The paint dried very quickly in the hot sun, so I was able to do a second coat for all squares that same day. I ordered two sets of chess pieces, two black, two white. I went with a medium slate blue and painted one of the white sets.
I broke it in with a few games that went pretty well, but the rules get confusing very easily.
I like how it came out, but I'm not satisfied with it as a final project. There are a few flaws I'd rather not point out, and I would like to create a higher quality board at some point, but that's another project for another time.
Small Statue
I was bored, and for whatever reason there was a bottle of Elmer's glue next to me. A very long time ago, I discovered that when glue is partially dried, it can be worked with one's hands into a clay-like substance. It dries very quickly unless you add water periodically, but is otherwise a perfect molding material.
I made a bunch of balls of glue, worked them into a humanoid shape, and used a needle for the details. It couldn't stand on its own very well, and it was a little plain, so I made a it small tail. Once it was done, I gave it a coat of white spraypaint.
It has more than its share of imperfections, but I like the look.
I made a bunch of balls of glue, worked them into a humanoid shape, and used a needle for the details. It couldn't stand on its own very well, and it was a little plain, so I made a it small tail. Once it was done, I gave it a coat of white spraypaint.
It has more than its share of imperfections, but I like the look.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Snaking Wooden Sculpture
I order Chinese food a lot. It's cheap, delicious, and greasy, so how can I go wrong? Unfortunately, I am not much of a chopstick user. The restaurants don't know this, so they continue to ship the things in each and every delivery, never knowing that I have a kitchen drawer dominated by the good sticks.
Waste issues aside, I can never bring myself to throw out chopsticks because they are so incredibly useful in everyday life. I can't count all the times I've needed a small instrument for stirring something, holding something up, etc., perfectly accomplished by one or many chopsticks. the other day, in a fit of rabid boredom, I took a handful of chopsticks and a razor blade, and cut them up into roughly uniform sizes. I broke out the hot glue gun and cemented them together again in winding, snaking patterns.
After an hour or two, I was content with the weird sculpture I made and put it aside for the day. Upon further inspection the next morning, I ceased being content and looked at the roughness of it, and resolved to do something. I located an aging can of cheesy gold spraypaint, and gave it a healthy coat. This was the effect I was going for, and I was happy. I left it out to dry and returned in a few hours.
Some combination of the liquidity of the paint and the heat of the sun wreaked havoc on the glue, and successfully tore it into the tiny pieces it started as. I neglected to take a picture of it before the meltdown, so all I have left is a pile of gold woodchips covered in glue.
Pictures to show the senseless destruction:
This was never a major project, and took almost no time, but it's still depressing to see it fall the pieces. It would be more work to repair it than it took to build it in the first place. The remains have been relocated to my garbage bin.
Waste issues aside, I can never bring myself to throw out chopsticks because they are so incredibly useful in everyday life. I can't count all the times I've needed a small instrument for stirring something, holding something up, etc., perfectly accomplished by one or many chopsticks. the other day, in a fit of rabid boredom, I took a handful of chopsticks and a razor blade, and cut them up into roughly uniform sizes. I broke out the hot glue gun and cemented them together again in winding, snaking patterns.
After an hour or two, I was content with the weird sculpture I made and put it aside for the day. Upon further inspection the next morning, I ceased being content and looked at the roughness of it, and resolved to do something. I located an aging can of cheesy gold spraypaint, and gave it a healthy coat. This was the effect I was going for, and I was happy. I left it out to dry and returned in a few hours.
Some combination of the liquidity of the paint and the heat of the sun wreaked havoc on the glue, and successfully tore it into the tiny pieces it started as. I neglected to take a picture of it before the meltdown, so all I have left is a pile of gold woodchips covered in glue.
Pictures to show the senseless destruction:
This was never a major project, and took almost no time, but it's still depressing to see it fall the pieces. It would be more work to repair it than it took to build it in the first place. The remains have been relocated to my garbage bin.
About Cheap Time
At this moment, I join millions of other people with no lives on a seemingly endless quest to share with the world things that the world isn't all that interested in. Today, I start a blog. This is not just any blog, this is a blog full of all the weird and pointless side projects I spent my ill-gotten spare time making a reality.
I don't have free time, because time is not free. Time is money. My time is just dirt cheap.
You can quote me on this.
If I enjoy this experiment, I'll be writing up all of my more interesting projects, which include forays into art, music, carpentry, investments, and various other hobbies and interests. I have plenty of completely projects to write about, but I plan to write about new projects step by step, as I complete them. This includes crushing failures, projects that would be put to shame by an infant with play-do, and whatever else I can think to do.
There isn't much more to say in an introduction like this, so I'll leave it at this. I hope everyone, myself included, can find something worthwhile in my past and future exploits.
I don't have free time, because time is not free. Time is money. My time is just dirt cheap.
You can quote me on this.
If I enjoy this experiment, I'll be writing up all of my more interesting projects, which include forays into art, music, carpentry, investments, and various other hobbies and interests. I have plenty of completely projects to write about, but I plan to write about new projects step by step, as I complete them. This includes crushing failures, projects that would be put to shame by an infant with play-do, and whatever else I can think to do.
There isn't much more to say in an introduction like this, so I'll leave it at this. I hope everyone, myself included, can find something worthwhile in my past and future exploits.
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