R.i.p.

[Minnesota scroller]

My first doggie tombstone. A lady was looking at my portraits and was wondering how something like that would work for a tombstone. I told her that BB ply wouldn't last too long outdoors. I decided to go with cedar. She liked the idea of the corian but agreed it was just too high priced. This was cut out of 3/4" cedar with black plexiglass glued and screwed to the back. I drilled all the holes with a hand held rotary tool. I also handheld the wood while drilling the holes. I would have used the drill press but the shaft is bent on the pin chuck so the bit wobbles real bad. It's easy to rebend except it's hard to know which way to bend it. I used 3 blades for this project. I started with an Olson #5 reverse and when that snapped I went with another of the same. When that got dull I finished with #3 skip tooth Pegas. I didn't keep track of my time, but it took long enough. Just sanding down one side of the cedar was time consuming enough.

[bearfretworks]

Looks good Mike. Nice job using cedar with the plexy backer. Was the pattern your own from a peachie portrait?

[Minnesota scroller]

Actually Barry, I got the pattern off one of the free sites. I requested a pattern for a westiepoo some time ago and this is what someone found for me. The lady who ordered the tombstone saw my sample of the westiepoo and said it looked just like her dog, a poodle. That saved me from having to search for another pattern. Anytime I can find a free pattern, I'm going to take it. Designing is time consuming and I'd rather be scrolling.

[ozarkhillbilly]

Very well done Mike! Scrolling..... the possibilities are endless!

[Sawduster]

Very nice handling of a definately off-the-wall request . The lettering is sharp and the pooch is cut nice and clean. Man, that's a bunch of holes ! Very clever with the cedar and the plexi ,,,,,I may just steal that idea for a sign a friend wants for their lake house ( with your permision of course ) What did you use for a final finish ?
Good job man !

[Minnesota scroller]

Robert, stealing is against the law. If I told you how I finished it, I'd have to kill you. Actually, you can have the idea, free of charge. I did not finish it. As far as I'm concerned, once it was cut and assembled, it was finished. I used to make bird houses and feeders out of cedar and never once finished them. Cedar weathers very nice and will gray a little over time.

Thanks y'all.

[ChuckD]

Mike,
A little trick I have done (and do with most of my drilling) Turn the drill press chuck by hand until it looks like it is looks straight then lower it to where you want the hole. Press the bit into the wood a touch and then turn on the drill press and drill the hole. That is one of the reason I have a foot switch on my drill press. I don't have to much wobble on the end but even a little seems like a lot when you are trying to hit a hole the size of a pin point.
Good luck

[Daryl185]

very nice Mike, good choice on the cedar it should last for many years

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Very nice Mike,

Congrats,
Marcel

[Forester21]

Very nice! I like your choice of surface.
Theresa

[DaveVanEss]

You can fill the holes with black epoxy. That should last a long time!

Dave Van Ess

[wood-n-things]

Nicely done!