- …and then sanded down the nubs.
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7. Handle
- The final step was to attach the handle, which was cut from a slightly thicker blank, about 1/8th inch cherry.
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- They repeated the same wood bending process to prepare the handle.
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- Rick had created another form for the handle and Ron laid the heated wood along the edge of the form, clamped it in place, and then carefully bent the wood around the form supporting it as he bent it.
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- While Ron held the wood in place, Rick clamped the other end of the handle to the form. They allowed it to dry, again overnight.
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- Just as he had with the basket itself, Rick brought another handle that he had bent the day before. He used this handle to complete the project.
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- Rick laid the handle down on its side and hammered it from the inside to position the tacks.
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- After the tacks were in place, Rick took the basket over to the little anvil and cinched them in place. This completed the basket.
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- This was the final step, and the basket was complete.
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8. Other finished work
- In addition to the beautiful basket they completed, Rick brought several of his past projects to show Ron some of the other things that could be done using these techniques. There was a wooden box with a lid, which had the same swallowtail detail, both on the box and the top.
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- Rick also showed Ron a serving tray that he had made using similar techniques.
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RESULTS:
Rick and Ron built their basket from scratch, but you can also purchase kits that come with everything you need including the wood, tacks, toothpicks, patterns, and instructions. The project Rick and Ron created was surprisingly easy, fun and satisfying. The result was a beautiful basket that was a fraction of the cost of buying a handcrafted one.
Kits can be purchased from www.woodcraft.com. Search for a "Shaker Oval Box Kit." |
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