Those are sweet Robin. I'm sure you could make a side business out of these.

 

Can I put an order in now for when you decide to sell? I'm already used to waiting.

 

I've been also playing around with some metal flake in resin. Here is an experiment for those who like the over-the-top look. This is shown on my Integra. I'm thinking of using resins with pearl or metal flake for some inlay in wooden *****.

 

My plan is to put up a gallery after I've made a bunch, but knowing what you want might influence what I decide to make.

 

Well, shoot, they all look great. Although I'm not all that partial to the metal shavings, but that's not to say Elton won't be buying a MINI!

The ***** with the real character to the wood, I have to say, look the best. The Koa, the African Burl. But then again the simplicity of the cherry is good too. I just can't decide...

If you keep makin'em and are willing to sell, we'll start buy'in'em'em... 'em. I'd rather turn money over to an entrepreneur like you than some shop.

 

As a drummer of 20+ years, I've always had a fascination with exotic woods. The Koa and African Burl from above are my favorites, but would love to see something in a Birdseye Maple, or Mapa Burl.

 

I'll have to keep an eye out for some good Birdseye Maple. I have a piece, but I don't think it is good enough. Haven't seen any Mapa Burl anywhere. I do have some other burls that are quite nice.

Just got some African Blackwood that looks promising. Now I need some more brass inserts from Doug.

 

Good old Walnut might be fun . . .

 

They are all beautiful and I liked your idea about laminating the light and dark woods to make checkers!

 

I've been working with some walnut burl that looks promising.

I've got some nice ebony and white holly for the checkers. Just need to sort out some of the technical details of getting a good solid lamination. Should be fun -- or crazy making.

 

Here is a rendered CAD drawing of something I had in mind. Think it can be done?

 

In theory, I see some ways that it could be done, but it would be a lot of work -- lots and lots of work.

 

You have to build up the checkerboard with a series of laminations, cuts and re-laminations.

- first you cut flat strips and lay these up to make a cube with alternating colors.

- cut that striped cube against the laminations, reverse and laminate those slices. Now you have a cube with checkerboards on the top and bottom, stripes on the side.

- cut again through the stripes, rotate or flip the checkerboard slices so they alternate again, re-laminate. Now you have a cube that is checkerboard on all sides, and no matter how you slice it (or turn it)

 

Looking at the ChubbyChecker design I thought it involved making multiple check cubes as you describe, then turning some into cylinders and inlaying those into a square cube. It seems, however, that the circular patterns are just an artifact of cutting the check cube into a sphere. So, not as difficult as I imagined. It is actually what I planned to do, I just didn't realize the resulting pattern would look quite like that.

 

Here is a finished **** in African Blackwood. This is the wood that is used to make clarinets. Gromitt sent me a link to a source of blanks for clarinet bells that were rejected by the instrument maker. For instruments they cannot have curly grain, knots, or any trace of white, even if it would be cut away. This **** was made from one of those bell blanks. The curlier the grain, the better for my purposes.

 

Schweeeeettt!

 

I'd be happy just to find a shift **** that looks right with MINI's English Oak interior trim. Does such a thing exist??

 

I suspect there are a number of woods that look decent with the MINI's English Oak. IIRC, it was pretty much an oak grain with a walnut stain. I guess it depends on whether you think it important to match the grain. The color should be easy.

 

I think you have to start making matching dash board pieces.

 

You mean veneers for putting over the Piano Black, Brushed Aluminum, etc.?

 

african burl looks nice , i still prefer the whalen


pimbeche

 

i still prefer, JCW shifter....i just enjoy the anatomical feel better. My opinion may change, if i received that black african bural **** in my mail box a bit from now.....


****WHALEN----SEND HIM R56 PARTS SO I CAN BUY ONE

 

I'd love some black/grey bird's eye maple

 

Wow, your work is just stunning. Great work!

 

Actually, my ***** are part Whalen. We are collaborating. He provides the adaptors.

Send me your MINI before Friday. I'll install an African burl **** and return your MINI sometime after mine arrives.

I plan to experiment with a variety of shapes, but will probably stick to lathe turned -- at least until I buy a belt sander. I've done some chisel carving, but finishing would be a lot of work without a machine.

Brass inserts arrived from Doug today, so I can make more *****. I believe he is working on more adaptors.

I'm not sure what "black/grey" bird's eye maple is. The birdseye maple I know is quite light in appearance. Do you mean you want it stained black? I'm not sure how well maple takes a stain. It is very dense. I did order some maple burl today. The birdseye I've seen lately (have one piece) doesn't have a lot of eyes, and they are spaced far apart. Might end up with a one-eyed ****.

Thanks. I have a long history with fine crafts. I made a living as a jeweler/metalsmith before starting the software company.