Quick wooden dice

A group of our community health doctors was planning some activities for the tribal children in Javadhi hills. One of the activities involved an outdoor game that required dice. This had to be visible and had to be large.
I made this from a cuboidal beam of neem wood. I cut it out with a jigsaw to get rough cut cubes. This was then sanded down using a belt sander. The edges rounded with a router and the holes drilled with a drill press.
It was left unfinished as it was going to be thrown a lot on the ground.
It was quite useful in the field.

Cuboidal block of neem wood 

The humble jig saw used to cut the wood. Humble because this is possibly the cheapest power tool to own. 

Rough cut blocks

Smoothened blocks

edges rounded with a round over bit

Finished blocks ready for shipping

Beta testing

Wooden dice

Some wooden dice made from karuvelam wood. The white dots are made from finger jointed rubber plugs.
The outer box: made from 12 mm rubber.
The lid is made from two layers of 3mm veneer.
Why I made four of them, I have no idea, but it looks good as a set of four.
I left this project unfinished.

wooden dice box made from karuvelam wood (babool)

Wooden dice made from karuvelum wood

A set of wooden dice made from Karuvelum wood. 

Wooden toothbrush stand

Here is a wooden toothbrush stand made by a member of our woodworking club. It is made of 12 mm
 finger jointed rubber wood.

Wooden toothbrush stand made from 12 mm finger jointed rubber wood

Farm set

This is a farm set that is made from finger jointed rubber.
It is cut out with a proxxon DS 230 E scroll saw.
The wood : 12 mm finger jointed wood.
The markings are burnt with a soldering iron. A wood burner would be ideal, but I do not have one, so a soldering iron does the basic job.
Finish : Asian paints PU interior gloss finish.
The animals are modeled after one of my daughters story books.

Farm animals made from finger jointed rubber wood

Wooden farm animals made from finger jointed rubber wood. 

Bunk bed build 3: Bunk bed from karuvelum wood

This is a bunk bed made from Karuvelam (babool wood), made for a friend. This is my third bunk bed build. This is based on the design by Matthias Wandel available here . It is made such that it can be dismantled.
Very simple joinery (only butt joints) but can be done with a lots of patience.

Cutting the planks

Kids helping out sanding

Applying the PU finish

The final product

The bunk bed in use

Staining wood

On this post I will be including the stains that I come across. This is information that I have just gathered by use. I will be modifying this page as I get new information and new insights. 

1. Sheenlac Stains

Sheenlac Stains

What I have found : Sheenlac stains are soluble in NC thinner or other such organic solvents. 

Sand the wood, and then apply the stain. 

If you apply the next coat such as sealant that is soluble in NC thinner, the sealant will wash out and become thinner.
Aquadur PU is water based and this can be used over sealant without a problem. 

Using the regular varnish is another alternative. Regular varnish is soluble in turpentine and this does not wash away the stain.
Available colors : Black, red brown, teakwood, rosewood, oak yellow, walnut. 

My favorite: walnut stain. 

Indoor gate

This is an indoor gate that I made six years ago when my son had just begun to crawl around. I needed to prevent him from getting into the kitchen. 

I made this gate from electrical casing. It is very light. I needed to use a bit of insulation tape to make sure the casing fit in tight. 

Door made of electrical casing preventing my son from entering the kitchen

Electrical casing can be used for many handy projects.
The walker that my son is holding is actually made by a village carpenter. It was very very useful for him, and he really enjoyed zooming around with it.

Scroll Saw project : CMC Woodworking club

This is a project made in the CMC Woodworking Club by one of its members.
We used the Proxxon scroll saw.
Foreground : 6mm MDF, stained black with Sheenlac stain
Background : 12 mm Finger jointed rubber.
Finish : Asian Paints PU Sealant and then PU
Foreground stuck to the background with Araldite Clear.
Some pictures

The Print out

With Holes cut in for the enclosed cuts

Scroll sawing in progress

Partially finished scroll saw work

Scroll saw complete, sanding yet to be done

After sanding, the 6 mm MDF

Finger jointed rubber base

Stained black

The finished product