Soma Cube
OK, so I've finally started on my puzzle making. I thought I'd start with something simpler than a burl and the book I have also has the < href="http://www.puzzlemethis.com/cgi- bin/puzzle/SQR00014"/Soma Cube (not from the book, just an example image.)
The pattern I have builds up the pieces from individual squares. So, I think to myself, how hard can it be to make squares? All I need is 27 of them, all identical.
Ok, you can stop laughing now.
The author shows a jig (a sled) in his book and so I make that first. The first cubes aren't nearly as cubical as I thought they would be. I check the alignment on the table saw and it looks OK. Hmmm. Ah, here's the problem - the front of the sled isn't quite square to the blade. Not wanting to rebuild the sled I fix it by turning it upside down and running the front face against the blade, just peeling off the minimal amount.
Since this is a practice piece, I want to go large with it. We replaced all the dark stained pine in our house with oak, so I have the 2x2 balusters from the steps to play with. I run them through the planer to get them square and peel off the old finish.
I change the blades in the planer because I missed a nail.
I said you could stop laughing. Any time now.
Thank you.
No giggling either.
I now have 27 (well, actually 30) identical (or very nearly - some will need a small amount of touchup sanding) cubes.
If there's any interest I can post up a picture. Not much to look at now, just some pine cubes.
I think I'll donate this one, when it's done, to the long term care facility where my wife works since it's made out of fairly large cubes. Easy for older hands to handle.
Not sure what kind of finish to put on it - I'm thinking either a wood stain, or perhaps a color stain (not paint) of some kind. Suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks for listening.
And for quietly chuckling and avoiding laughing out loud until I left the room :)
The pattern I have builds up the pieces from individual squares. So, I think to myself, how hard can it be to make squares? All I need is 27 of them, all identical.
Ok, you can stop laughing now.
The author shows a jig (a sled) in his book and so I make that first. The first cubes aren't nearly as cubical as I thought they would be. I check the alignment on the table saw and it looks OK. Hmmm. Ah, here's the problem - the front of the sled isn't quite square to the blade. Not wanting to rebuild the sled I fix it by turning it upside down and running the front face against the blade, just peeling off the minimal amount.
Since this is a practice piece, I want to go large with it. We replaced all the dark stained pine in our house with oak, so I have the 2x2 balusters from the steps to play with. I run them through the planer to get them square and peel off the old finish.
I change the blades in the planer because I missed a nail.
I said you could stop laughing. Any time now.
Thank you.
No giggling either.
I now have 27 (well, actually 30) identical (or very nearly - some will need a small amount of touchup sanding) cubes.
If there's any interest I can post up a picture. Not much to look at now, just some pine cubes.
I think I'll donate this one, when it's done, to the long term care facility where my wife works since it's made out of fairly large cubes. Easy for older hands to handle.
Not sure what kind of finish to put on it - I'm thinking either a wood stain, or perhaps a color stain (not paint) of some kind. Suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks for listening.
And for quietly chuckling and avoiding laughing out loud until I left the room :)
