Maple Compass

[user 922]

Here's a compass I made for my grandson's high school graduation (he'll always know his way). It's turned from an exceptional piece of curly maple that Ron Luckenbill gave me. I left it natural - just sanding sealer and friction polish. The insert is a copy of a 1795 Dollar coin. When polished the "silver" plating rubbed off exposing the brass base metal on the high points.

 

[hoochiepapa]

i'll be first. beautiful.
you can get imitation silver leaf at hobby lobby, might be a way to fix that coin.

 

[Archie]

I like the contrast on the coin. :2

 

[tenngun]

lordy tats just too cute,I'd leave the coin as is looks sharp and as it tarnishs it will even look better

 

[lonehunter]

Very nice work! :thumbsup:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Us turners would call that a 'box'. Very nice, well done. :hatsoff:
Where did you get the compass? I might steal....uh...plagerize.....uh...borrow :wink: yer idea and make one.

 

[user 922]

I found them on eBay and bought 4 of them. I haven't seen any more lately but they'll probably be back. Look under "antique compass". They cost around $5.00 each with (I think) free shipping. The coin came from eBay too.

I left the "silver"/brass combination on purpose. I like the contrast too.

A hint about the compass. I tried to do a snug fit and the glass immediately cracked when I pressed the compass into place. It wasn't even that tight. Do a loose fit and hold the depth pretty accurately so the compass can be secured with glue or a piece of thin double sided tape.

 

[Stophel]

I like that!!! :hatsoff:

 

[user 922]

Thanks, Chris!

 

Very nice. I wouldn't change anything about it.

 

[50cal.cliff]

Real nice I am sure he will treasure that for the rest of his life!

 

[Bruce Bogart]

Exceptional maple for an exceptional gift! Well done Eric, well done!

 

[Little Wattsy]

Simply... WOW!

 

[FishDFly]

The talent and workmanship of folks here is amazing.

 

[user 922]

I recently found a source on Amazon.com. In Amazon, look in "Tools and Home Improvement" and search for
"Explorer Compass 01 Antique Style Dial Compass with Copper Base"

I ordered 5 of them and paid one shipping fee. Remember what I said about fitting it loosely, and, please post what you make.

 

[S.Kenton]

MAN! Thats simply elegant! I would be proud to own such a family heirloom!

 

[user 922]

Thanks much for the nice compliments. I tried staining samples of that wood with AQ and LMF but the subtle color variations and "glow" were lost. I think that large pieces of curly maple (like a gun stock) look great when a stain or reagent is used but small pieces seem nicer when left alone, with just an oil or varnish finish.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thanks much for the nice compliments. I tried staining samples of that wood with AQ and LMF but the subtle color variations and "glow" were lost. I think that large pieces of curly maple (like a gun stock) look great when a stain or reagent is used but small pieces seem nicer when left alone, with just an oil or varnish finish.

What I like about the acid stains is they can be diluted and applied a little at a time until the desired color and darkenss are achieved. Then it is stopped with neutralizer.
BTW, your compass reminds me of one of my slogans: 'There is no such thing as scrap wood'. I do small projects in my shop and save most of my cut-offs. Your compass is an example of using those little pieces for a great project.

 

[MSW]

beautiful work!

just got some neat stuff for my bandsaw, so now i have a bunch of pile wood with curious figure in it (ditchwood is the wood you find in a ditch - pilewood is from the woodpile)

hope nobody feels stepped on if i rip off, that is plagarize, that would be, borrow, or rather use as an inspiration, your really great design!

 

[user 922]

MSW & Rifleman: That's the whole reason I post my stuff. Hopefully someone like you will get an idea and do something better. Then I'll get an idea and.....We all win if we share our work and sources.