tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15413915109000082792024-03-21T17:02:26.174-04:00Derivative CraftsA desperate attempt to control the look of our everyday environment with precious little artistic creativity and no relevant skills.Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-35135643615764197112023-12-03T17:59:00.001-05:002023-12-03T17:59:31.305-05:00The Lounge<p>When we originally planned out what we were going to do with our upstairs space, the first room off the stairway was designated as a sort of lounge or den. And sticking with our historically flavored tastes, the idea was that it'd be done up in midcentury/Space Age style. We got a bit of painting and decoration done, but it got caught up in the general warehouseification. But now it's in shape and functional again.</p><p>This view is from the window across the room. The orange chair is vintage midcentury, purchased by my Scandinavian-furniture-loving grandparents in the 50s or 60s. There's a shelf of science-themed barware, vintage periodicals, a screen showing a long playlist of midcentury educational, industrial, and promotional films (duck and cover!), and a <a href="https://tetsujinnollama.blogspot.com/2021/07/game-table.html" target="_blank">small gaming table I upcycled from something the neighbors across the street threw out</a>. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWczzFyNiSO1jLm82l_OUDE8EXQPjjG795KvP5-AWbyGhL1kGra8ngJjV9auqKeJ5hkSh0dAyH44kPkGiu36AutfefTF70OMUkBWJRxpFEo_-3cjhFwbym61oy_L45BI89NyHMZkPeTlxmFCFeqtDRdUin578HvUzDkRNG1pJ9A29XFq1bX7Q3eQacV0/s4160/IMG_20231203_150624195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWczzFyNiSO1jLm82l_OUDE8EXQPjjG795KvP5-AWbyGhL1kGra8ngJjV9auqKeJ5hkSh0dAyH44kPkGiu36AutfefTF70OMUkBWJRxpFEo_-3cjhFwbym61oy_L45BI89NyHMZkPeTlxmFCFeqtDRdUin578HvUzDkRNG1pJ9A29XFq1bX7Q3eQacV0/s320/IMG_20231203_150624195.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Looking a little right (towards the front of the house), there's shelves of games, books, and DVDs. Where <a href="https://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-library.html" target="_blank">the library</a> has a lot of academic works, the emphasis in this room is on works for entertainment. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkUKAYM1MDwuIRqJ-mpjYEEHv5uCwboEYdvF5YwZcmd4lwF0k75fk1rD_wBmodYd7aKK61uzpXERI35pmmx4PQrktOb6MWPsq45_UprgRYdk6ghWb1BLliEEadusktggerNvCTGnE98GswtbY3nbS83QhdAeddxQRIDBgeoSd8lQg8uNycB_h8yrXyxk/s4160/IMG_20231203_150643305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkUKAYM1MDwuIRqJ-mpjYEEHv5uCwboEYdvF5YwZcmd4lwF0k75fk1rD_wBmodYd7aKK61uzpXERI35pmmx4PQrktOb6MWPsq45_UprgRYdk6ghWb1BLliEEadusktggerNvCTGnE98GswtbY3nbS83QhdAeddxQRIDBgeoSd8lQg8uNycB_h8yrXyxk/s320/IMG_20231203_150643305.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Facing across the room towards the window. We built shelves around the window for Stephanie's record albums. The shelf on the left mostly fiction (including a large collection of Trixie Beldens), with a Victrola on the right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjmZfwF3LYf_aBYpcsf960wbwlYYALuGl1cqzbIx23ItXq-v5MolF0AZG61zR7v28u1HLE0VxSIDeKpFvwpyU0YDvxKFp1qdLk0Qt3Y4NFcKktzOybpOCSByKxeMzCU6EfqbL3xpTOWJ8udmfKi-u-qT8aYdwghsUtNAIpI6na2vzz4OUwZNBKViOEM8/s4160/IMG_20231203_150755427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjmZfwF3LYf_aBYpcsf960wbwlYYALuGl1cqzbIx23ItXq-v5MolF0AZG61zR7v28u1HLE0VxSIDeKpFvwpyU0YDvxKFp1qdLk0Qt3Y4NFcKktzOybpOCSByKxeMzCU6EfqbL3xpTOWJ8udmfKi-u-qT8aYdwghsUtNAIpI6na2vzz4OUwZNBKViOEM8/s320/IMG_20231203_150755427.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Looking left of there, it's a shelf full of mostly games (including <i>Car Wars</i> and an awful lot of 3rd edition <i>GURPS </i>books) and art books. The green chair and the lamp next to it are, again, vintage from my grandparents.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCw1sDaqiyu34GxekNXLnMQh0OBGZOueTC4amC1Jv-1qAk8RKfnB9uZ7i6rvCTO8n-7oXr4tDfdxDqNBZxeVJKPoWYWphmoHk-UiCgH9y0ImnS7gYE1dNNieEpjmFBY-_ZQaGZFWF8z8vrqwWpppfYfuNEpvzj8hfsFcxqaLrrM3Y_MvZ1y9jnBmAcMso/s4160/IMG_20231203_150844690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCw1sDaqiyu34GxekNXLnMQh0OBGZOueTC4amC1Jv-1qAk8RKfnB9uZ7i6rvCTO8n-7oXr4tDfdxDqNBZxeVJKPoWYWphmoHk-UiCgH9y0ImnS7gYE1dNNieEpjmFBY-_ZQaGZFWF8z8vrqwWpppfYfuNEpvzj8hfsFcxqaLrrM3Y_MvZ1y9jnBmAcMso/s320/IMG_20231203_150844690.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Farther left, the rainbow weaving is something my grandmother made, while the bongos used to belong to Stephanie's father.That shelf is, of course, <a href="https://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2021/08/hidden-door.html" target="_blank">a hidden door</a>, sliding aside to provide access to the rest of the upstairs. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtq-KV1t7aszsE7ufGpkZIGW8iNuVXTjPHjzX1LBKK1DqPRdaqhZDOIB2RU7cQUF56khdHtvMTm2co18XL-QhPuxnorWcWwsWjUZiHIdFsh15wXa0YVH5fmOX8C34gnorjm6OpfL6N6BiKr-5X5-WgBa3sv6m-Ruz-MDmtikHmao7rapJkUpfBflmZzs/s4160/IMG_20231203_150859188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtq-KV1t7aszsE7ufGpkZIGW8iNuVXTjPHjzX1LBKK1DqPRdaqhZDOIB2RU7cQUF56khdHtvMTm2co18XL-QhPuxnorWcWwsWjUZiHIdFsh15wXa0YVH5fmOX8C34gnorjm6OpfL6N6BiKr-5X5-WgBa3sv6m-Ruz-MDmtikHmao7rapJkUpfBflmZzs/s320/IMG_20231203_150859188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>And this is the view from the hidden door. That's a vintage suitcase style sound system in front of the panel of pinups. It opens up into a record player and speakers. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4_W3W1i_q8ie2EIa3fWVJu7c64vIjn7dYibUyC92KKRDmGtow2AF3_PXVbX1QLG7TqmRDdtoX6aJyRNn_f53S3FgGaDyXc4RY5d6tyquZOTeAq6lPo_McHfqft4TZ28t0gukOyf61xKJvg_DA_3TfS0upfBH6jM_nZamsxLmXdEbTtzM-v-tGjaLibg/s4160/IMG_20231203_151151064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4_W3W1i_q8ie2EIa3fWVJu7c64vIjn7dYibUyC92KKRDmGtow2AF3_PXVbX1QLG7TqmRDdtoX6aJyRNn_f53S3FgGaDyXc4RY5d6tyquZOTeAq6lPo_McHfqft4TZ28t0gukOyf61xKJvg_DA_3TfS0upfBH6jM_nZamsxLmXdEbTtzM-v-tGjaLibg/s320/IMG_20231203_151151064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It's not a big room (13' x 9' with a bit of a chunk bitten out of it), but it's cozy. <br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-8659191827174409172023-09-24T15:07:00.001-04:002023-09-24T15:07:14.080-04:00Fully Armed and Operational Table Lamps<p>Many years ago, when we lived a five minute drive away from an Ikea, we picked up a lot of furniture, some of which we still use today. Something we ended up not using was a pair of Skyar table lamps, like this one:<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIahrGXiYu3MiYVqZ7tXM6M1JimSSG2dKMEtxh0Ip4pE4yYnYiKyPnJASWLCX4y40sMuPwv3IjhS1xRD4EGP48PJBbZ8SUObdH7v3j9FNExK0JFFD5xCFoAUMPm1VsmjbbpKu_7DQ_UMEvJukgxM4rADy_97B4068CV8gtUYDqPL4HqBmTefLb7halMWk/s1080/ikea_skyar_table_lamp_1681200209_5dbb873b_progressive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="811" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIahrGXiYu3MiYVqZ7tXM6M1JimSSG2dKMEtxh0Ip4pE4yYnYiKyPnJASWLCX4y40sMuPwv3IjhS1xRD4EGP48PJBbZ8SUObdH7v3j9FNExK0JFFD5xCFoAUMPm1VsmjbbpKu_7DQ_UMEvJukgxM4rADy_97B4068CV8gtUYDqPL4HqBmTefLb7halMWk/s320/ikea_skyar_table_lamp_1681200209_5dbb873b_progressive.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>There was nothing wrong with them, mind you. Nice clean candlestick design, and the heavy paper shade diffused the light from the bulb very well. Quality product. We just didn't have anywhere to put them when we moved into the house, and so they went up into the attic. I unearthed them not long ago during the big push to clear out and remodel, and by that time the paper shades were much worse for wear, so again we couldn't use them.<br /></p><p>It was around this time, though, that Alex undertook his own major remodeling in his room, getting rid of the old loft bed and at the same time getting rid of years of clutter, which gave him room to move in some new stuff. And in thinking about whether he could use those lamps, I came across <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5030527" target="_blank">this design for a Death Star interior-style lamp shade</a>. It was almost perfect. I had to tweak the design of the socket piece to make the hole a little larger, and I added some thin pieces printed in white filament to diffuse the light (could have used anything translucent, really, like some folded up layer of wax paper). Alex set them up on his dresser and put in some color-controllable LED bulbs for accent coloring. How did it work out? Pretty well, I think:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh7pUubpdDI_fXLOHpBrAKWg-2Lhiup2hi4YBKooXeTpE39vUGi9t2r6I87xrLhsgp6apiIV_tzdFsENXz8glXOZwmXhzOokVBJfAdj1zK15bdmPpgwgJzzKM9wC8WIKROIEnMsolcaKyYtbZJYA8BXZVe_zDTrNTcYkcpNWHGcbXencqzi_Fn2Am9Q0/s4160/IMG_20230924_141933214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh7pUubpdDI_fXLOHpBrAKWg-2Lhiup2hi4YBKooXeTpE39vUGi9t2r6I87xrLhsgp6apiIV_tzdFsENXz8glXOZwmXhzOokVBJfAdj1zK15bdmPpgwgJzzKM9wC8WIKROIEnMsolcaKyYtbZJYA8BXZVe_zDTrNTcYkcpNWHGcbXencqzi_Fn2Am9Q0/s320/IMG_20230924_141933214.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-59838233723854230652023-06-28T13:48:00.000-04:002023-06-28T13:48:13.019-04:00The Library<p>I may still do a few things with this room as some point, but I think it's in a sufficiently complete state to display.</p><p>Some time back, I finished turning <a href="https://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-office.html" target="_blank">a semi-finished space in my attic into an office space</a>. This involved moving out a lot of old boxes and discarding a bunch of old stuff now no longer useful. The process slowly continued in the space adjacent to the office, which I turned into a somewhat steampunk-themed library/reading room. At the moment, it looks like this:</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf35gsoiJ5zL5ai2wr6_ibxkZbKa7RdXV7sPcY_fTHv4xdSYHAiURNnqG7j7Mf2KskQiVjyDWMDcaM5fzg9cQcbsotfXlNnkveO6FMlOKuppr5vrg4-G3DW_xT3LQbs9kTJpoPJnWYivaP-mrtzg_EBb9VdgnzWng-e1_5W8UbNK7zfSsRYMayHDh-_3I/s4160/IMG_20230628_130226359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf35gsoiJ5zL5ai2wr6_ibxkZbKa7RdXV7sPcY_fTHv4xdSYHAiURNnqG7j7Mf2KskQiVjyDWMDcaM5fzg9cQcbsotfXlNnkveO6FMlOKuppr5vrg4-G3DW_xT3LQbs9kTJpoPJnWYivaP-mrtzg_EBb9VdgnzWng-e1_5W8UbNK7zfSsRYMayHDh-_3I/s320/IMG_20230628_130226359.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZskMyhRf1EprfpAhjaPQSAR6mOXoxZm0MVnMnnoTj-mh28Mwj7qRNqmW6viNVhqgZwrlx-0E_abwxNBZefQMUN6pGBj_rxOKM1zkG37zle9IGEzhAJq7fSTAR2f88UMo5T-VBYD7e9aKTyY_rMRSzv5xGwyBj1AeXoRsu_nTrJlCPW_p0iBU0huhoF4/s4160/IMG_20230628_130212113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZskMyhRf1EprfpAhjaPQSAR6mOXoxZm0MVnMnnoTj-mh28Mwj7qRNqmW6viNVhqgZwrlx-0E_abwxNBZefQMUN6pGBj_rxOKM1zkG37zle9IGEzhAJq7fSTAR2f88UMo5T-VBYD7e9aKTyY_rMRSzv5xGwyBj1AeXoRsu_nTrJlCPW_p0iBU0huhoF4/s320/IMG_20230628_130212113.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>These are taken from the once and future guest room (still lots of work to do there but it's big enough for a sofa bed). The green curtain separates the library from the office. I'd put in the shelves on the left shortly after we moved in, before it got filled up with boxes, but the rest is new. The white structure on the right is something of an heirloom, a doll house built by hand for Stephanie by her grandfather. In theory, I'm in the process of renovating the lighting system. And the green rug is a lamb's wool rug I got in Nepal.<br /><p></p><p>Other highlights of the room include:<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSGmGe0IzfteyMTswyl48WO5uqywSuhZnFgq4AxEa4KFCfqm4ZwfXHi99IBdSBI-hxxCF_VOLlxkbQdVEMywkeAKuCTiLCRVIsdECmbg-jfmTMGjDI-W_CN4Gl5Asb5J8CJ_0KP-1NwhzVlYP0ovN2HQlLwzSNO0QXt3uXKaTXsI0EopY_Om4zeJok3I/s4160/IMG_20230628_130252026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSGmGe0IzfteyMTswyl48WO5uqywSuhZnFgq4AxEa4KFCfqm4ZwfXHi99IBdSBI-hxxCF_VOLlxkbQdVEMywkeAKuCTiLCRVIsdECmbg-jfmTMGjDI-W_CN4Gl5Asb5J8CJ_0KP-1NwhzVlYP0ovN2HQlLwzSNO0QXt3uXKaTXsI0EopY_Om4zeJok3I/s320/IMG_20230628_130252026.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoji28OLnbqGmv6-yI-Y9fIsDADLSZerFP5TysIEcgvkRaSimrquVU9mbIbRBm6H4OD9HitvaIOpAAFFpFqa8Vg0fyAyeoXS6NbWsEANEYr78m90svRu6ieCW1jkVf8bVVA5czH-0JHuDEK6VBRrSiM7Aqco3qByOtgsJUOX98cSSO9By-eKg0qFaF2Ek/s4160/IMG_20230628_130311725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoji28OLnbqGmv6-yI-Y9fIsDADLSZerFP5TysIEcgvkRaSimrquVU9mbIbRBm6H4OD9HitvaIOpAAFFpFqa8Vg0fyAyeoXS6NbWsEANEYr78m90svRu6ieCW1jkVf8bVVA5czH-0JHuDEK6VBRrSiM7Aqco3qByOtgsJUOX98cSSO9By-eKg0qFaF2Ek/s320/IMG_20230628_130311725.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Double bookcase! The one in front pivots open to reveal another layer of books. (That's a 1920s model Underwood on the upper left.)<br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEuwqMmLvwLbsGX2bNgY1vrOyCGc2g7Yi7M1sido9b9MkHmZVWEOj-tj-yzFuiRUolZZfiiallmO9Gqk9uhqY5CWoPLd21-CD851ybPcLkimTZ-KEmg1_5zNgdttUMVWl9u0lbTaTjKKjsNauv-S-mpLbEC1Cgh_JKmlCCoSyi-In5hgGiBtJfqzzMzk/s4160/IMG_20230628_130508318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEuwqMmLvwLbsGX2bNgY1vrOyCGc2g7Yi7M1sido9b9MkHmZVWEOj-tj-yzFuiRUolZZfiiallmO9Gqk9uhqY5CWoPLd21-CD851ybPcLkimTZ-KEmg1_5zNgdttUMVWl9u0lbTaTjKKjsNauv-S-mpLbEC1Cgh_JKmlCCoSyi-In5hgGiBtJfqzzMzk/s320/IMG_20230628_130508318.jpg" width="240" /></a> </p><p>Thing in the upper right of those first images is a knife switch controlling the lights over the tall bookshelves.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGEsjLGmvhA8tSiK6HT8ngAJ7WRhOCv1kMH1SwO8dd0biBq6BckHUMcm4-W7ulR8WGs2QNlehuj3FRXHv_eloqlzHxWY2trdCpFHGzhEojhvV-0penNLeu0572dCAiUg2O7UJjNg8S3kuHxLqu6TJCS2Bnf64K_lfEJHmG0eiSo2SNjrlodymfS8Oeiw/s4160/IMG_20230628_130330031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGEsjLGmvhA8tSiK6HT8ngAJ7WRhOCv1kMH1SwO8dd0biBq6BckHUMcm4-W7ulR8WGs2QNlehuj3FRXHv_eloqlzHxWY2trdCpFHGzhEojhvV-0penNLeu0572dCAiUg2O7UJjNg8S3kuHxLqu6TJCS2Bnf64K_lfEJHmG0eiSo2SNjrlodymfS8Oeiw/s320/IMG_20230628_130330031.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>I built that green velvet chair, partly from the remains of a dismembered couch. It's surprisingly comfy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeaZi6lT0A6DQ6TX5aYvmGAN9Gc11Z9ls-eOFS1Je6ow4TGKK4nHm-1xtw6re0ggSEnHzFAxpWhLja1UfJb5XqenxmojlKRd6s8166Nq_uMSSn7ecqKH0CHoVLBVTUapINyIbrr1qS3DkEh2wNmV0G-Ctr0vx7kSvUy_pZs_lZnDyYSGRG8ZIpYWaNkA/s4160/IMG_20230628_130429183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeaZi6lT0A6DQ6TX5aYvmGAN9Gc11Z9ls-eOFS1Je6ow4TGKK4nHm-1xtw6re0ggSEnHzFAxpWhLja1UfJb5XqenxmojlKRd6s8166Nq_uMSSn7ecqKH0CHoVLBVTUapINyIbrr1qS3DkEh2wNmV0G-Ctr0vx7kSvUy_pZs_lZnDyYSGRG8ZIpYWaNkA/s320/IMG_20230628_130429183.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>And above the chair there's a porthole looking out of what is presumably an airship.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsBKYa-6YokSjAfgUnomcgRyuwu_bu31isSjD0ScnYcE8lUlPP-bDkMipa-IcbJX97DFpP3s4GwzoiToEvvDl93lZn2YqE5Qe20eeKZFdfO8m7PKlD3JIFsQF-ayrbI_FmDa8j0btv04d08XF25MIycywGuQo7CWUg58DPqL6xORQ8bGSGJ3IhH74Fgs/s4160/IMG_20230628_130355780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsBKYa-6YokSjAfgUnomcgRyuwu_bu31isSjD0ScnYcE8lUlPP-bDkMipa-IcbJX97DFpP3s4GwzoiToEvvDl93lZn2YqE5Qe20eeKZFdfO8m7PKlD3JIFsQF-ayrbI_FmDa8j0btv04d08XF25MIycywGuQo7CWUg58DPqL6xORQ8bGSGJ3IhH74Fgs/s320/IMG_20230628_130355780.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>These vacuum tubes and mechanical switches are associated with the airship's aetheric stabilizers, tucked away between the tall bookshelves and the curtain. <br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-VnH1VLcXqlFnWFeGWDnBDov_2EzbISuwxqeEAL0Ghkrsm4hGvdS6koUBg6emyY6P5I8YULuRoQ2AfA1iIhhvg0vOBgyXd9goDHjR95sOJo4dIY0H3wGmz1-iOVlMuLUu3Bp6LeJsq-vl7NGdDiErXgq6dFCp_YZ8e6owmoUIZTsNtVDbUKpBl2ND0o/s4160/IMG_20230628_130412407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-VnH1VLcXqlFnWFeGWDnBDov_2EzbISuwxqeEAL0Ghkrsm4hGvdS6koUBg6emyY6P5I8YULuRoQ2AfA1iIhhvg0vOBgyXd9goDHjR95sOJo4dIY0H3wGmz1-iOVlMuLUu3Bp6LeJsq-vl7NGdDiErXgq6dFCp_YZ8e6owmoUIZTsNtVDbUKpBl2ND0o/s320/IMG_20230628_130412407.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />And there's a gold art-deco border on the doorway between the library and the office.<br /><br /><p></p>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-63644963855191906292022-11-02T16:50:00.003-04:002022-11-02T16:50:16.152-04:00Cathedral Window<p> </p><p>When I was putting together <a href="https://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-office.html" target="_blank">the new office</a>, I had an ambition to do the outside-facing wall as a fake stone wall in more or less <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNiy8Aio5Js" target="_blank">this style</a>
using painted styrofoam sheets. I ended up not doing so for a number of
reasons (time and effort, fragility in a place where I'd be moving in
some bulky furniture, etc.), but I still liked the idea. This came up
again as I was looking at the end of one of the cabinet sections. The
prefab cabinets have nice wood facings, but the sides are particle
board. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgTYRuCCTEJ0XNQv4DMhkMmKrrjYvrrxqK_Da_B2FCCEBnPa_wjhjuTOWMLYEgdKbvj9rPKEeiweYOfTJNP-SHbEZezvonIxfirqhSRpzhijkgSZshrX2muTy-uO1_sC3M8uvzDh0UYksYdoP5bdJwQb4vNDaZaTU1M_D078j_CDE-oCUnG9_t1k9/s4160/IMG_20221027_143650638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgTYRuCCTEJ0XNQv4DMhkMmKrrjYvrrxqK_Da_B2FCCEBnPa_wjhjuTOWMLYEgdKbvj9rPKEeiweYOfTJNP-SHbEZezvonIxfirqhSRpzhijkgSZshrX2muTy-uO1_sC3M8uvzDh0UYksYdoP5bdJwQb4vNDaZaTU1M_D078j_CDE-oCUnG9_t1k9/s320/IMG_20221027_143650638.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Ugly, but less expensive if you're lining up a bunch of them. If
they're not entirely sandwiched between walls, you can buy a separate
facing to put on the one at the exposed end. but we can do better than
that, can't we?</p><p>My basic idea was to turn that end into an
illuminated window with a pointed arch using a strip of LEDs for a light
source. I've got them kicking around, so why not? Step one was to get a
suitable design for the window proper and get that together with the 3d
printer. I sized it sufficiently large (about 15 inches from top to
bottom) that I had to print it in two parts, running out of filament
half-way through printing part two. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOXtYO2vsDy17k2mX07kgkig9S08TQkrvPRJ7UmF9rL59H3dBhnynyd33enviQtJK8OjESyFs88uE_pmugOaCY2izNRFKSDGRsguIDGpzI0ZVjvtUaB81llIO4wArS1T5ceqCOqEyfary_pv9LpvicRlxQDJyVA3gtLF0iPiG8v_fvw-xOlR268PN/s4160/IMG_20221027_143853486.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOXtYO2vsDy17k2mX07kgkig9S08TQkrvPRJ7UmF9rL59H3dBhnynyd33enviQtJK8OjESyFs88uE_pmugOaCY2izNRFKSDGRsguIDGpzI0ZVjvtUaB81llIO4wArS1T5ceqCOqEyfary_pv9LpvicRlxQDJyVA3gtLF0iPiG8v_fvw-xOlR268PN/s320/IMG_20221027_143853486.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>No matter; everything's getting painted anyway.</p><p>Step
two is getting the basic structure of the wall it's going on set up. I
got a suitably sized piece of thin plywood and sketched out where I
wanted the window to appear.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihGQ17gHv0X8VuO5fdD51RYG9XbUuHDJjtQnxaUBF5hENoezXM-VEUEfygi2wM0P4PaXRX0kuA2CyW3QGOdsmv4M0PEpavT-qwz_P3akPW7M18DRpgJellO0sZTsii4XyvQha_XiBo5vI_WoyZdtIHpAhiSLmjSmOsWvK3jZcgL1pFxqOsa_uE_XH/s4160/IMG_20221027_152805263.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihGQ17gHv0X8VuO5fdD51RYG9XbUuHDJjtQnxaUBF5hENoezXM-VEUEfygi2wM0P4PaXRX0kuA2CyW3QGOdsmv4M0PEpavT-qwz_P3akPW7M18DRpgJellO0sZTsii4XyvQha_XiBo5vI_WoyZdtIHpAhiSLmjSmOsWvK3jZcgL1pFxqOsa_uE_XH/s320/IMG_20221027_152805263.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Then
I started cutting up some sheets of foam to fit. The window frame made a
good template to cut through the foam down do the wood.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxGWtkO0_Q0OUNTD3wHdGpCfuwILHPWKRllM6WWC1YXmskWEPFbRvUTQA7_gvGNGvI7aDEArbmLxq7pCMbKEyCb729644DjU7mElukDDxZ19MoHYt7AtQUSYe_-SLog6rPtgB0jkSwa4VcpXY6464ZDztoZgE15ph36oqv98gB8fW05xIAbyWxwv1/s4160/IMG_20221028_091436227_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxGWtkO0_Q0OUNTD3wHdGpCfuwILHPWKRllM6WWC1YXmskWEPFbRvUTQA7_gvGNGvI7aDEArbmLxq7pCMbKEyCb729644DjU7mElukDDxZ19MoHYt7AtQUSYe_-SLog6rPtgB0jkSwa4VcpXY6464ZDztoZgE15ph36oqv98gB8fW05xIAbyWxwv1/s320/IMG_20221028_091436227_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>With
the basic shape set up, laying down the strip of LEDs was next, turning
back and forth within the window space. The strip actually starts at
the bottom corner so that it can be plugged in.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqW9j701F-3CMmJA06wwMZI6PBegW40bAhEISDSqgu1IqpesJrv8chkAu-5oQ7FtxO1pp1ej2s99ng_bP1iWIVnpPG9xODN3j71PSzs_sD5AW3EytE3zHxgP3dGWEpR-on3fqyzvArJHlBkdVzpMhTb_V8BHZGj88acPsKhM5TnJ2rD_smsBBHKGF/s4160/IMG_20221028_124943336_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqW9j701F-3CMmJA06wwMZI6PBegW40bAhEISDSqgu1IqpesJrv8chkAu-5oQ7FtxO1pp1ej2s99ng_bP1iWIVnpPG9xODN3j71PSzs_sD5AW3EytE3zHxgP3dGWEpR-on3fqyzvArJHlBkdVzpMhTb_V8BHZGj88acPsKhM5TnJ2rD_smsBBHKGF/s320/IMG_20221028_124943336_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>They
were bright enough that they shone through the unfinished foam. While
it's all getting painted, I covered the section of LEDs from the edge to
the window with a strip of foil before gluing it all down with foam
glue.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippgf5RASU2LxTsXnAWNgzk11pLnGo8ybQuQUmYEIHX-2nHOKDekeje3wQDRoLPcf9pmyrcBYpHY91XKrtdmgDOzQAE2nmoMW_nmgzrYcbEFn9mvisVRmi6YJ30aNz-s-xvq2YbyddJCisCsd1c3Ifb7WDdweH6i-jHJVuHz_ITpbSH968yzgdP939/s4160/IMG_20221028_125043061.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippgf5RASU2LxTsXnAWNgzk11pLnGo8ybQuQUmYEIHX-2nHOKDekeje3wQDRoLPcf9pmyrcBYpHY91XKrtdmgDOzQAE2nmoMW_nmgzrYcbEFn9mvisVRmi6YJ30aNz-s-xvq2YbyddJCisCsd1c3Ifb7WDdweH6i-jHJVuHz_ITpbSH968yzgdP939/s320/IMG_20221028_125043061.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Next
came roughing out the pattern of blocks. Like that video linked above
suggests, it's a good idea to do that in advance with a little thought
rather than freehand it. I also cut out a frame and a few other bits to
become "stone."<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnNXiSw3Q0qiQnomiPqgbVivDyffNQpTkP2Hlj_2VOA7lacddOYefLBvveOaEHAwreAGxoOexlsXHVEW3ex1Pse6WKAJlxRwvwo-wkQZgZDILXj4AB04vpb3UacR1BfeiZ78ya0Urlgx_TpYYc64BFhWLKdbTzks27ZzZsC9VCvTCRxd6jbEk-xXT/s4160/IMG_20221028_152651513_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnNXiSw3Q0qiQnomiPqgbVivDyffNQpTkP2Hlj_2VOA7lacddOYefLBvveOaEHAwreAGxoOexlsXHVEW3ex1Pse6WKAJlxRwvwo-wkQZgZDILXj4AB04vpb3UacR1BfeiZ78ya0Urlgx_TpYYc64BFhWLKdbTzks27ZzZsC9VCvTCRxd6jbEk-xXT/s320/IMG_20221028_152651513_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivItfe47AMzIMya9ROerXMh9K0AAc6jMOVeYrxLYQfX148zldVXDX-0G29zqK4C7nOw1p7bwqjysZrl7PigmI7CGwMlLiuyicWw7zPQojnoBYqTncuNEcHjhFR6VMzlaLq7IcCJkv92c6f-6SN5Ge0iCsYi7GOyATfdUBiou1Bs0AtYGVQkgfGtT7r/s4160/IMG_20221028_163906231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivItfe47AMzIMya9ROerXMh9K0AAc6jMOVeYrxLYQfX148zldVXDX-0G29zqK4C7nOw1p7bwqjysZrl7PigmI7CGwMlLiuyicWw7zPQojnoBYqTncuNEcHjhFR6VMzlaLq7IcCJkv92c6f-6SN5Ge0iCsYi7GOyATfdUBiou1Bs0AtYGVQkgfGtT7r/s320/IMG_20221028_163906231.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>This
is the messy part: cutting grooves. I used a Dremel with a wire brush
attachment. Absolutely marvelous for cutting through foam sheets, but
incredibly messy.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecWogdY8iP8VwwrkhUQH-ssu8p8-LtwuG31Zbhk4FeayLpqW_kZZdxpzAHtkF9bek0R8G7U-tY2f0l9JjJefUqj4WtfSgx1-ulDKHP7UgwUJFLiy29l_LJkKZ9gz5edMxdcZ5Bo90xkWdIXWRlKhEX_bfmQI3kW5RCMYmyzoIM-F3N4T_lBA9t51h/s4160/IMG_20221029_145419995_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecWogdY8iP8VwwrkhUQH-ssu8p8-LtwuG31Zbhk4FeayLpqW_kZZdxpzAHtkF9bek0R8G7U-tY2f0l9JjJefUqj4WtfSgx1-ulDKHP7UgwUJFLiy29l_LJkKZ9gz5edMxdcZ5Bo90xkWdIXWRlKhEX_bfmQI3kW5RCMYmyzoIM-F3N4T_lBA9t51h/s320/IMG_20221029_145419995_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>On
to painting. This is after a pass of a light brown base coat, a little
sienna on the lower edges of the "blocks," and a little green on the
upper edges.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkMJ9jBG_df-n6O745_UizMr_L_RLz_AC43yi9hC-KutH2CtrABHwp4W1pH0ho5g8t-IEu7TeAuw5-upmSVcOO5wKP0H-fwrH_Sl5F3SiLJVcZtsaNHCUccKsf8EuA2CK5w3vGTfHJ0y2ErK7G25UdELJv-xcxfWy-4wC2yPUuBMUBXUttm0tRA7K/s4160/IMG_20221031_085041448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkMJ9jBG_df-n6O745_UizMr_L_RLz_AC43yi9hC-KutH2CtrABHwp4W1pH0ho5g8t-IEu7TeAuw5-upmSVcOO5wKP0H-fwrH_Sl5F3SiLJVcZtsaNHCUccKsf8EuA2CK5w3vGTfHJ0y2ErK7G25UdELJv-xcxfWy-4wC2yPUuBMUBXUttm0tRA7K/s320/IMG_20221031_085041448.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Followed
that up with a somewhat diluted light gray and a wash of very dark gray
to fill in the cracks. I found, as I often do, that my washes end up
everywhere, not just where they're supposed to settle in, and there were
several passes of wiping down the elevated parts and doing more passes
of lighter colors where the wash bled in too much.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2EKvE_7mm93jD_No5K0u1VUGSgGmlfNUMz5D_Fd_-GZ4tAUZ7D3-sFPOBqW7IkiF4C14670CXhSy9UAh2jynWjbYZBE8SWLlMGbnRfO2LbuxILYU9OS8I6WgdfBOXfe0eCw4iP2i292M4rdXYO8QKrCzWJzW1R8EGkrDw5WaptZsjClYroXKlEMY/s4160/IMG_20221031_180651260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2EKvE_7mm93jD_No5K0u1VUGSgGmlfNUMz5D_Fd_-GZ4tAUZ7D3-sFPOBqW7IkiF4C14670CXhSy9UAh2jynWjbYZBE8SWLlMGbnRfO2LbuxILYU9OS8I6WgdfBOXfe0eCw4iP2i292M4rdXYO8QKrCzWJzW1R8EGkrDw5WaptZsjClYroXKlEMY/s320/IMG_20221031_180651260.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>With
that out of the way, it's time to mess with the lighting a little. A
few sheets of a translucent but not entirely transparent plastic serve
to soften the points of LED light.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YAlEDdpzAWBSA8y0J4Km-RO6SPxYYVefk-7raS74Fc5j4spYFw0PSRbJX3GHvnCD6Q65YpreCcJvKV9N1MX5lJsK5gFG4Fw8gSDcGcqU96aPQxxi4tP6KVUb-wb5OdvAxKYfikN-abjD_x5AW0mxNnl2WUpA-HMF9-QSulhxOUiJ61jzmDf1OQg6/s4160/IMG_20221101_160022883.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YAlEDdpzAWBSA8y0J4Km-RO6SPxYYVefk-7raS74Fc5j4spYFw0PSRbJX3GHvnCD6Q65YpreCcJvKV9N1MX5lJsK5gFG4Fw8gSDcGcqU96aPQxxi4tP6KVUb-wb5OdvAxKYfikN-abjD_x5AW0mxNnl2WUpA-HMF9-QSulhxOUiJ61jzmDf1OQg6/s320/IMG_20221101_160022883.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_6Hkba7Qr6RpH7XzgSMh_fyjmQyjyndqHA1B0MxUQJMD3xoFrcWyHUQBhAb5CH9S6yZqvBcblVpKCquevvywZAvXWBbpGTAPcuYVU4PIDg30NmZhGfhIJ5qaXvJiSzeJftf_qZObTs0MaRsTjYbOi8fDMgFedgcwgc6jDg2WiSXUB2ah2i0o8UI-/s4160/IMG_20221101_160013880.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_6Hkba7Qr6RpH7XzgSMh_fyjmQyjyndqHA1B0MxUQJMD3xoFrcWyHUQBhAb5CH9S6yZqvBcblVpKCquevvywZAvXWBbpGTAPcuYVU4PIDg30NmZhGfhIJ5qaXvJiSzeJftf_qZObTs0MaRsTjYbOi8fDMgFedgcwgc6jDg2WiSXUB2ah2i0o8UI-/s320/IMG_20221101_160013880.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>(I
experimented with a stained glass pattern behind the window, printing
out a colored design on transparency paper. Unfortunately, the plastic
simply refused to keep the ink and despite repeated attempts and
overnight dryings, it would smear at the slightest touch.) <br /></p><p>One
of the nice things about foam is that it's really lightweight. The
frame was secured with foam glue and some pins. To get the printed frame
on, I glued some heavy-duty staples to the underside and pressed it in.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6Zd5x4vBAX03BEQ_ehTGllDYJTnRG6pLIpVoFob3fgh3l2l9BxxOli_UDhqHjfNJibupp5aP76RFQ6UGX3OnLB8INGiZaSplW9s1gel-3Q56VKDKoSoTAYvoEofYATW8TrMJdVeLU8OcGCTKRbK21KPzpy5Gg0rH03_C5T2B3ZPPRKv-dPh-z9yK/s4160/IMG_20221102_143526446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6Zd5x4vBAX03BEQ_ehTGllDYJTnRG6pLIpVoFob3fgh3l2l9BxxOli_UDhqHjfNJibupp5aP76RFQ6UGX3OnLB8INGiZaSplW9s1gel-3Q56VKDKoSoTAYvoEofYATW8TrMJdVeLU8OcGCTKRbK21KPzpy5Gg0rH03_C5T2B3ZPPRKv-dPh-z9yK/s320/IMG_20221102_143526446.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>This
fit very snugly against the cabinet end, but it's not done yet. I left
the top and bottom edges clear so I could drill through the foam and
backing and screw the "stone" wall securely to the underlying cabinet
face.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjR11g7PrBmJ7B1wzKMepch6pAcrjXlv3hpmku6QGylZcktCsIlb9TDu4r2J0uxaC-r8FHNvg6UgpyEX_9AqiAjty8agLtYmndOCD1aZV4q7k2H5p0n_AjOM99DBx_ulh0zTRk0Y43ok_T29KSyxD1CXLqCprgo1-yRLvUy6alqqO-NnA5jVgwYXD/s4160/IMG_20221102_143807901.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjR11g7PrBmJ7B1wzKMepch6pAcrjXlv3hpmku6QGylZcktCsIlb9TDu4r2J0uxaC-r8FHNvg6UgpyEX_9AqiAjty8agLtYmndOCD1aZV4q7k2H5p0n_AjOM99DBx_ulh0zTRk0Y43ok_T29KSyxD1CXLqCprgo1-yRLvUy6alqqO-NnA5jVgwYXD/s320/IMG_20221102_143807901.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>...and then pin top and bottom pieces to cover the unpainted sections.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCooyk598K8A3C8sZ816qW8m3Ey3_Y-cXJl_sET4XKjap_WqhjngCGu4jurKYKgcGk3ySfjWJrAqZNjZrq7XbyO8CfkK4f_1TvxK9ydes0ZXvf5O-0Oinj2ForMmeSmVyygoiDcom0V6ox4AnN3yi4uk0_u2YFovwN9YnIobAYfOHHkaEwGjx3kDLV/s4160/IMG_20221102_145530660.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCooyk598K8A3C8sZ816qW8m3Ey3_Y-cXJl_sET4XKjap_WqhjngCGu4jurKYKgcGk3ySfjWJrAqZNjZrq7XbyO8CfkK4f_1TvxK9ydes0ZXvf5O-0Oinj2ForMmeSmVyygoiDcom0V6ox4AnN3yi4uk0_u2YFovwN9YnIobAYfOHHkaEwGjx3kDLV/s320/IMG_20221102_145530660.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>Plug in, and turn on the light.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2irqaEG8WonniWKsokjKyFlVcun9-uVyIcq4mvoK1D4rpOY33J3YZscHPwiHa7FK-8ZjlmxMsQOIY4sQrIZV11_0aPOxjjt28WiO8DOZwFmngJjeS--m9wbqLtZQsjzEEG5ngaxkf2epZwesE5-fbRNifWdlYoK5-c3Xbh5G2z79jHAHWE4bZ2KEi/s4160/IMG_20221102_150337088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2irqaEG8WonniWKsokjKyFlVcun9-uVyIcq4mvoK1D4rpOY33J3YZscHPwiHa7FK-8ZjlmxMsQOIY4sQrIZV11_0aPOxjjt28WiO8DOZwFmngJjeS--m9wbqLtZQsjzEEG5ngaxkf2epZwesE5-fbRNifWdlYoK5-c3Xbh5G2z79jHAHWE4bZ2KEi/s320/IMG_20221102_150337088.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Or, to get fancy, set the LEDs to change colors.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmwXjk7UVGP2Y_cZGUBa6ChWpSBdnX9_UuhiV5AUDQzIz7cpYrLtHq9TzIU1e6jWafVzymbebdoEh9pPNuSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />So now my office labyrinth is accompanied by a Gothic window.<br /><p></p><br /><p><br /><br /></p>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-17417828557694822822022-05-11T20:44:00.003-04:002022-05-11T20:47:45.386-04:00The Office<p>The house where we live is old (pushing 100 years at this point) and weird. Beyond the usual old-house things, where nothing is quite square or plumb and the 2x4s are actually 2x4 and not 1.5x3.5 and the wiring and outlets are insufficient, the semi-finished upstairs is peculiarly shaped. It doesn't have rooms so much as it has a series of connected room-like spaces with sloping ceilings (because it's just under the roof) and other oddities. When we moved in [uncomfortably large number redacted] years ago, we had plans for that space. We were going to build them out into actual useful spaces: an office, a guest room, a lounge, a library. And we made a start on some of that work. However, over time the upstairs became a default storage location. Not sure where to keep something? Put it upstairs. Most of those spaces ended up packed floor to ceiling with boxes and Rubbermaid containers. </p><p>But a few months ago, we resolved to do something about it. We were going to reclaim the space and turn it into something useful, one area at a time. And the first space was going to be one designated to be my office.</p><p>Once I got all the boxes out, it looked like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqRHNR2KvnqLhItx7xgkRoRqDHAgYxIMew9A5fQ1Np4zahz1VWG7bll6CFHWYS6pppNEHJ5FDcYS1lC3BOaJNCS3tzl7SLclHhmiXHkm09XPpJ6_esxIn-B8oS464M1jlNs1s5yNIYS1WWW41KWB-cRe76Ss8q_RCDT-BjZij0fa8S5BIN2PTYtzs/s2592/IMG_20220312_115722228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqRHNR2KvnqLhItx7xgkRoRqDHAgYxIMew9A5fQ1Np4zahz1VWG7bll6CFHWYS6pppNEHJ5FDcYS1lC3BOaJNCS3tzl7SLclHhmiXHkm09XPpJ6_esxIn-B8oS464M1jlNs1s5yNIYS1WWW41KWB-cRe76Ss8q_RCDT-BjZij0fa8S5BIN2PTYtzs/s320/IMG_20220312_115722228.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmzv0UU3I-saAXJrDKwwi88Sy8EJuitXD--5F1mkct6w0g3RR2JHrkXNEci5sTstYEKK1g6Z7iQUA4ayOGDvkWv7_zf1S0M0_at3btxdhHML2N3aj17mtRBUU1yoPvbCUCH1_3cHEgENbMhBs4IOh1y3WOp9iNsyG3hPgh8cTbF7lCh1LxVnjgH_x/s2592/IMG_20220312_115753938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmzv0UU3I-saAXJrDKwwi88Sy8EJuitXD--5F1mkct6w0g3RR2JHrkXNEci5sTstYEKK1g6Z7iQUA4ayOGDvkWv7_zf1S0M0_at3btxdhHML2N3aj17mtRBUU1yoPvbCUCH1_3cHEgENbMhBs4IOh1y3WOp9iNsyG3hPgh8cTbF7lCh1LxVnjgH_x/s320/IMG_20220312_115753938.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioW6OOdtUriwJaPU-Xs_HtVPZOXRYHoEb-T3Rl1PYZqg7gYoqM7wJ4MWiDEabEXvYIU4MwkTZF51gNTfUWi0OB5TRNFhD9--ZLMsMLMjKOxU0CpAj_6ZJgDxOJMgSvDa9i9u3KjZhhFJJEhx_C0Jvx86IAXpGoWsuOp4zdb4DdWdy4RfdmiyKegw4/s2592/IMG_20220312_115821241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioW6OOdtUriwJaPU-Xs_HtVPZOXRYHoEb-T3Rl1PYZqg7gYoqM7wJ4MWiDEabEXvYIU4MwkTZF51gNTfUWi0OB5TRNFhD9--ZLMsMLMjKOxU0CpAj_6ZJgDxOJMgSvDa9i9u3KjZhhFJJEhx_C0Jvx86IAXpGoWsuOp4zdb4DdWdy4RfdmiyKegw4/s320/IMG_20220312_115821241.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>It's about eight by fifteen feet altogether. The ceiling slopes under the roof, of course, so it's a bit over six feet at the highest, but mostly less than that. The room isn't well-defined because the space next to it more or less just opens into it. And there's an odd space divider built into the back of the room, with a closety area on the left and the right divided into upper and lower halves by a deep horizontal shelf.<br /></p><p>So what does it look like now? Kinda like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4eR2YeEEJzQ-FG08UECBucwq6rdi2z0lPiDeP4sjZPm6iKJG0pWrzdt0bwhUiN27uv02it9fnYOFWkhPY0yzqZq5KFSJlht9rwmcY53r_Epp5dmOOz8odbhHXr-v36QiUI5dm-ipp10-sQZ2nI_o6HR5rBwljKY9HQZy9Oznnnfpgqn1Llnpp1E1/s4160/IMG_20220511_163540876.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4eR2YeEEJzQ-FG08UECBucwq6rdi2z0lPiDeP4sjZPm6iKJG0pWrzdt0bwhUiN27uv02it9fnYOFWkhPY0yzqZq5KFSJlht9rwmcY53r_Epp5dmOOz8odbhHXr-v36QiUI5dm-ipp10-sQZ2nI_o6HR5rBwljKY9HQZy9Oznnnfpgqn1Llnpp1E1/s320/IMG_20220511_163540876.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpgVHpUGA2Kbgxz3tPJEeVrkVy-CwVUwA60XCLj-zCZnBIpcqCJ9YGPIAQnud5XNSDIGOg80iJeHZQk7djGqacn_GjEPJWM5S6pZjNgBNk6-WXcD7lb46xkIoaKtAFOPuMgNLx3aqEUtmglkzaT7TjUz5QUHlKZuLCA4rwUIqmXMlz42MA9Ti44gd/s4160/IMG_20220511_163556349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpgVHpUGA2Kbgxz3tPJEeVrkVy-CwVUwA60XCLj-zCZnBIpcqCJ9YGPIAQnud5XNSDIGOg80iJeHZQk7djGqacn_GjEPJWM5S6pZjNgBNk6-WXcD7lb46xkIoaKtAFOPuMgNLx3aqEUtmglkzaT7TjUz5QUHlKZuLCA4rwUIqmXMlz42MA9Ti44gd/s320/IMG_20220511_163556349.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcxW4gPXV3lL5AaU0RBC-NuEiHwXHCJMIn0Wwx7JQp90-NlnwLKwb5B3UK2ATHAh514y67bW92N5eSFkYOYxQl91fZnNOzusrQ7APRFAoeCxIC0Z8bsMor7GBMvi23eZewHwn80ABpVAQbF5pn_U44SmpFll0kLsRPYV9o9DyN1x2K-ZQaWjqQOHE/s4160/IMG_20220511_163615559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcxW4gPXV3lL5AaU0RBC-NuEiHwXHCJMIn0Wwx7JQp90-NlnwLKwb5B3UK2ATHAh514y67bW92N5eSFkYOYxQl91fZnNOzusrQ7APRFAoeCxIC0Z8bsMor7GBMvi23eZewHwn80ABpVAQbF5pn_U44SmpFll0kLsRPYV9o9DyN1x2K-ZQaWjqQOHE/s320/IMG_20220511_163615559.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHfehJfZIPNGJCGExsIRtYlzISs5gzpxKpv7pXF-e8SDgQUlqcJCVGXfl7Qr9wteLjDIbG7-Q24qLijSE8sCUFEVUmBJ65o0n1GUwDXA4CAhYYT6Y1bLhcwQYHvVPG4S05VGSjYmNr6SMsSdUKymNrV6KyGIBd3XLTE_AFxqBJMBZC-beVokkdNeM/s4160/IMG_20220511_163620717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHfehJfZIPNGJCGExsIRtYlzISs5gzpxKpv7pXF-e8SDgQUlqcJCVGXfl7Qr9wteLjDIbG7-Q24qLijSE8sCUFEVUmBJ65o0n1GUwDXA4CAhYYT6Y1bLhcwQYHvVPG4S05VGSjYmNr6SMsSdUKymNrV6KyGIBd3XLTE_AFxqBJMBZC-beVokkdNeM/s320/IMG_20220511_163620717.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgMMkw4Yhi_c1z0OPk98JjClVbgPirvdXxmMrMObksMkKWjsiVNFa19BRim_--oigjdcahGtgdRxTNi6m7FE_zeXKkNSZdRHYaGHbuSzSMHz6we3Ipk6BVM81S1ZgOTGpS2otdylpe2TkztFxjBid9xiUvHakPunOivU6V2n0atfAgFFRV-nKIG8e/s4160/IMG_20220511_163627776.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgMMkw4Yhi_c1z0OPk98JjClVbgPirvdXxmMrMObksMkKWjsiVNFa19BRim_--oigjdcahGtgdRxTNi6m7FE_zeXKkNSZdRHYaGHbuSzSMHz6we3Ipk6BVM81S1ZgOTGpS2otdylpe2TkztFxjBid9xiUvHakPunOivU6V2n0atfAgFFRV-nKIG8e/s320/IMG_20220511_163627776.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Fresh paint, of course, a batch of new outlets bringing much needed power to the room. I got a batch of unfinished kitchen cabinets which provided a lot of storage and allow me to use a lot of the room under the sloping ceiling I couldn't otherwise use. I cut and finished some slabs of wood to serve as countertops and the desk surface, built shelves, and put in a number of little details. For example...</p><p>The area at the back of the room retains its original thirds, but the right-hand side is storage (long-term storage behind a useful triangle of whiteboard on top, a "tool shed" hiding my 3d printer among other things behind the accordion blind below. And the left-hand side behind the curtain got another desk surface, pegboard, a light, and a few other bits and pieces to become an arty workspace: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrirGoK8Fs8hdB99wtV21k7VC0AVjTqSpHA4VNBZuzzCwE_eLx2q-n3MfWxWAcMGNlBxNclmVXqpdCp801OwqBpTc0BRNDeScK3O3djywiPMnXdCMSAY8HYvbz6EohnSlntzuI6mo7ZHkjdYk9ojofWsrTlqytf1D3PHgfsoKZe9n3K1-ViyK9_o6/s4160/IMG_20220511_163731107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrirGoK8Fs8hdB99wtV21k7VC0AVjTqSpHA4VNBZuzzCwE_eLx2q-n3MfWxWAcMGNlBxNclmVXqpdCp801OwqBpTc0BRNDeScK3O3djywiPMnXdCMSAY8HYvbz6EohnSlntzuI6mo7ZHkjdYk9ojofWsrTlqytf1D3PHgfsoKZe9n3K1-ViyK9_o6/s320/IMG_20220511_163731107.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Then there's the empty area of floor near the back of the room.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi973_AsLW4mxPBTsPicuQaq7sCEN8CpkYPCz4hiFq7XcjZGJbOeRXHYRR8LPSu4WWVfvvRuDbKkdMePwl7IhaYKboNUHSUqrLBtfrN_qME1Ek3NI8XuoEVEsLYV7iFsRh_W2by-irH6JJF1FCKM06UNhS7_Gp5ph62JYDCiQNt5Ulv3_-QGC-7rf4W/s4160/IMG_20220327_162506540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi973_AsLW4mxPBTsPicuQaq7sCEN8CpkYPCz4hiFq7XcjZGJbOeRXHYRR8LPSu4WWVfvvRuDbKkdMePwl7IhaYKboNUHSUqrLBtfrN_qME1Ek3NI8XuoEVEsLYV7iFsRh_W2by-irH6JJF1FCKM06UNhS7_Gp5ph62JYDCiQNt5Ulv3_-QGC-7rf4W/s320/IMG_20220327_162506540.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvLrXU_rjoG6_8gl8BwJdBNomLDUXUg4dgTRfCOoxgO-ge9tktd0IAl9q1E6rsg9tBPBdJeBdCD_HVQb-XypgzR2NnGMwRCZiO3DDZaCwXja7NYz2-1qgCXKGDAM7If4YiWlvA4wgLAj5kCKAtYLNs2p7nIJOqoaY9nhSUl2T7m1U2HNz1UiHb12W/s4160/IMG_20220331_110044733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvLrXU_rjoG6_8gl8BwJdBNomLDUXUg4dgTRfCOoxgO-ge9tktd0IAl9q1E6rsg9tBPBdJeBdCD_HVQb-XypgzR2NnGMwRCZiO3DDZaCwXja7NYz2-1qgCXKGDAM7If4YiWlvA4wgLAj5kCKAtYLNs2p7nIJOqoaY9nhSUl2T7m1U2HNz1UiHb12W/s320/IMG_20220331_110044733.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj867Oo-00JIi0m5BqyoHG59lD-mE3bPeHap1f84BfoPA24L1ch-jLtjZwnSDmLtN6ppiZgimCfRpgjoUVsjb7wQ2xVjOlTCdeYKxx5bs3cXOjHsoQBnLZylF8taQf6DVi38apv0sXMvf0V-J9R6pLwygV3jFU1Lu5kVKnJL5DdaZ7DMVG-TdcRUDnn/s4160/IMG_20220331_184603743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj867Oo-00JIi0m5BqyoHG59lD-mE3bPeHap1f84BfoPA24L1ch-jLtjZwnSDmLtN6ppiZgimCfRpgjoUVsjb7wQ2xVjOlTCdeYKxx5bs3cXOjHsoQBnLZylF8taQf6DVi38apv0sXMvf0V-J9R6pLwygV3jFU1Lu5kVKnJL5DdaZ7DMVG-TdcRUDnn/s320/IMG_20220331_184603743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>That design on the floor is a reproduction of the labyrinth at the cathedral of Amiens, possibly one of the easiest such designs to reproduce because it's all straight lines. It's a little lopsided near the middle, but it basically works, and it's well-sized for meeple pilgrimages.</p><p>There's memorabilia all over, since we conceived of the room as a sort of wunderkammer. This set of shelves near the back of the room houses, among other things, an astrolabe and a scientific balance dating to no later than 1947.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymVlLgII9gNH8JIuiQ8NSkJ-x-IE9-Wq5NOiEV0avgVamOcEOq0XhAJ14C4bBkAKUyNjlswtaS-zwyL87DKrlqSr7fgnEneFt95JYwVp_ozoSvu8z3mVGHintPMYqIi24NURO5KGJxG8AYn1jSRIaDCD2dWFV0Z4xL6kCivmkt_RLWLnL-YNNVgsB/s4160/IMG_20220511_164044081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymVlLgII9gNH8JIuiQ8NSkJ-x-IE9-Wq5NOiEV0avgVamOcEOq0XhAJ14C4bBkAKUyNjlswtaS-zwyL87DKrlqSr7fgnEneFt95JYwVp_ozoSvu8z3mVGHintPMYqIi24NURO5KGJxG8AYn1jSRIaDCD2dWFV0Z4xL6kCivmkt_RLWLnL-YNNVgsB/s320/IMG_20220511_164044081.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The cabinet next to that, to the left of the desk, houses a number of technical works, a couple of animals from Botswana, and a Cypriot icon. The icon is made from wood harvested from a forest burned during the Turkish invasion and was sold as a fund-raiser for refugees.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHD6RahWEGW5lH1EoNpbg5zOwcuOoLMMpvhGycLtD9j4VJMaV0n5A7Q8z4dwXWFKvN2ouh4n74gV4aRecrTtwTRPfGBQH63tMFJ3kxNmBX6xpaOIqylRp7Soz0Pylrc3MLe3nZGOOZ2AAepXllI5emWP7Y6QqHL9GzIb8Dxu5Tp-XNCIDXiV_X-Xc/s4160/IMG_20220511_163810822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHD6RahWEGW5lH1EoNpbg5zOwcuOoLMMpvhGycLtD9j4VJMaV0n5A7Q8z4dwXWFKvN2ouh4n74gV4aRecrTtwTRPfGBQH63tMFJ3kxNmBX6xpaOIqylRp7Soz0Pylrc3MLe3nZGOOZ2AAepXllI5emWP7Y6QqHL9GzIb8Dxu5Tp-XNCIDXiV_X-Xc/s320/IMG_20220511_163810822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>To the right of the desk, the tea station. Moroccan-ish tile, a small electric kettle, and (at the moment) a tea set from NCC-1701-D. Atop it, a small Cypriot vessel made in a style going back to the Neolithic (slow wheel, decorations applied after forming the main pot), an Acheulean-style hand axe I made from Napa county obsidian, and a souvenir from my time in Starfleet.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84qey9c_VzbHD9fn4ZUBgqaRAzEl25SGz94cFzIASyi3WNKqBaEYI0BL_daC_sggbqKfb7nBcunAj1s3yeZ25rzh2v_aSpV8mQq1CBMJb2N_PsnxTrrr2eMxvnbKvoOotIq4Uas25y9zdnNuGDhKI-RAxIoCJFy1MjX8jczNu8jTmzV7CpF1UUDR4/s4160/IMG_20220511_164811881.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84qey9c_VzbHD9fn4ZUBgqaRAzEl25SGz94cFzIASyi3WNKqBaEYI0BL_daC_sggbqKfb7nBcunAj1s3yeZ25rzh2v_aSpV8mQq1CBMJb2N_PsnxTrrr2eMxvnbKvoOotIq4Uas25y9zdnNuGDhKI-RAxIoCJFy1MjX8jczNu8jTmzV7CpF1UUDR4/s320/IMG_20220511_164811881.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The other side of the room has the professional library, RPGs to the left, interesting and useful historical works to the right (both are a fraction of the whole library, of course; these are just key works). Memorabilia include a carved figurine I was given by my lovely and talented spouse and a kukri I picked up in Nepal. Most of the wall to the right, separating this room from the next, is new.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM-JVXiC10JVgmZjgrZIlp43SjcxEubGPpEKtKcZN0QdoaGM-CD8URHdDao3w-g45SalEs2dQS9xYhCr8Lwa7uJdiLvE_gT8uW-ZcfE3GAS8V54Cl7j01R3Drw-5H92TeQthWXQS1HO6ScGlWTfgYvNdFPagcnWdQclRey6Pf2cfh3s_tJEPsJC4g/s4160/IMG_20220511_163853624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM-JVXiC10JVgmZjgrZIlp43SjcxEubGPpEKtKcZN0QdoaGM-CD8URHdDao3w-g45SalEs2dQS9xYhCr8Lwa7uJdiLvE_gT8uW-ZcfE3GAS8V54Cl7j01R3Drw-5H92TeQthWXQS1HO6ScGlWTfgYvNdFPagcnWdQclRey6Pf2cfh3s_tJEPsJC4g/s320/IMG_20220511_163853624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzetwvACTIdHaEntA9lY0nFk16rXrsUxS9u-aOOk9kfc3S16-VuThEtaVl985XXYE4cdS99pf_R7K4HtM985i6GZ9P23EDbDgPNgeHgn2ybE3DKRk57Vbj8OEtEvObxZt7XuXOdtUx-7m3L-55tY14ONyrgXc120Mi7hVkRKQKqMIW2kGHe548suH/s4160/IMG_20220511_164916432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzetwvACTIdHaEntA9lY0nFk16rXrsUxS9u-aOOk9kfc3S16-VuThEtaVl985XXYE4cdS99pf_R7K4HtM985i6GZ9P23EDbDgPNgeHgn2ybE3DKRk57Vbj8OEtEvObxZt7XuXOdtUx-7m3L-55tY14ONyrgXc120Mi7hVkRKQKqMIW2kGHe548suH/s320/IMG_20220511_164916432.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Between them, there are a few other bits. Above, there's a world map. If you look carefully at the pictures above, there's a small latch on the left. If you unlatch it, the map opens down to reveal a video screen.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzwWSWOYsk6n8pYOve4p80pWJ1DDQFSjW7fthNAByLm832EYhpTYtvGEDA2wyY48cHZQtoCU7auoD80tpX20H1xM7Ye2KIbdCNRp3IoIrBlPqnYdNzwmrtmxoNWq_qaIrLIdbZ6_Rji1DogZwgf9gpzdMtZ8oXHBTsgVs7T9eyy8loiQSJ5MQLVL4/s4160/IMG_20220511_163901026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzwWSWOYsk6n8pYOve4p80pWJ1DDQFSjW7fthNAByLm832EYhpTYtvGEDA2wyY48cHZQtoCU7auoD80tpX20H1xM7Ye2KIbdCNRp3IoIrBlPqnYdNzwmrtmxoNWq_qaIrLIdbZ6_Rji1DogZwgf9gpzdMtZ8oXHBTsgVs7T9eyy8loiQSJ5MQLVL4/s320/IMG_20220511_163901026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfM2tcS_m4Mw2Yp6sKyV7-EESrpqngJM9qfn1ETeIaKqLqFsd_MdN3q78civnem-V84zqg7YX7bJVvErSUIfL5OgEwY4vbD8jvlhbpaK5uumE6wovrIE9PQ2Ma1gY-EjGpS0CvnHnIN7ztz4zyFAaaOHmk0sTWi7UeGJahuBGJtgvMheTmfzICuKS/s4160/IMG_20220511_163914197.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfM2tcS_m4Mw2Yp6sKyV7-EESrpqngJM9qfn1ETeIaKqLqFsd_MdN3q78civnem-V84zqg7YX7bJVvErSUIfL5OgEwY4vbD8jvlhbpaK5uumE6wovrIE9PQ2Ma1gY-EjGpS0CvnHnIN7ztz4zyFAaaOHmk0sTWi7UeGJahuBGJtgvMheTmfzICuKS/s320/IMG_20220511_163914197.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p> </p><p>Below that is the stone "mantel" (adhesive stone tile) and heater, an electrical heating element made to look like an iron stove. It'll be quite cozy once it gets cold again in, oh, November or so.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguESB_U7Aijmo4AgatL2zqYMjRjucmaZA2zpLih48QJw0Luku2Wu1wP-1A2Poplc0AlF5xyCDKGXfqpizzZUwBsg2C8hl0gTVhlTn-hRxWdjfpY3NFpmeeHF-ArRCOBIhks_0AIjH4VExa6xb9LNa7r0hmOQPKaXJmvuN7AwnZpJZA_6SoyZomfADj/s4160/IMG_20220511_163934153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguESB_U7Aijmo4AgatL2zqYMjRjucmaZA2zpLih48QJw0Luku2Wu1wP-1A2Poplc0AlF5xyCDKGXfqpizzZUwBsg2C8hl0gTVhlTn-hRxWdjfpY3NFpmeeHF-ArRCOBIhks_0AIjH4VExa6xb9LNa7r0hmOQPKaXJmvuN7AwnZpJZA_6SoyZomfADj/s320/IMG_20220511_163934153.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Natural light isn't great in that room despite the window, so it's supplemented by four lamps. I got some inexpensive Moroccan lanterns, did a bit of surgery to put light sockets into them, and hung them on the wall. And the fobs on the end of the pull chains? Dice.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDX5rg-UOBapl2h18khnkSWLom_C9JaLQXNDyk_0cDQin2PX7z5fzw7eNq7ejAxAUUI66TD4Up89iWZH8IvrAWevT63cG6ogvCJYwzlvltrYr8kfFnftZKQ2yz_a_te0pVjVeb7YuGsv6UBJfwwx_n4USa4SyNUCw7HB-Z5Zw1Y6A06G20cpKO86t/s4160/IMG_20220511_164016935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDX5rg-UOBapl2h18khnkSWLom_C9JaLQXNDyk_0cDQin2PX7z5fzw7eNq7ejAxAUUI66TD4Up89iWZH8IvrAWevT63cG6ogvCJYwzlvltrYr8kfFnftZKQ2yz_a_te0pVjVeb7YuGsv6UBJfwwx_n4USa4SyNUCw7HB-Z5Zw1Y6A06G20cpKO86t/s320/IMG_20220511_164016935.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB3aqN_5H0eQ-DX-emeI2JuxfTQllDxyxS3w_S3W7UNMnjxX5xVGAnmjimm_05KpG2P4xVV7_p35KNDjmxGaHCKYEeLjDk0oL8_L0RjkOmT8e2xu2OEvGcShgNVFB1piSh1NRXlntS_VXsM1LkJjV891i4QdT7TachIXxUSU-vxzXz6M4V7hYlc2Y/s4160/IMG_20220511_164029593.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB3aqN_5H0eQ-DX-emeI2JuxfTQllDxyxS3w_S3W7UNMnjxX5xVGAnmjimm_05KpG2P4xVV7_p35KNDjmxGaHCKYEeLjDk0oL8_L0RjkOmT8e2xu2OEvGcShgNVFB1piSh1NRXlntS_VXsM1LkJjV891i4QdT7TachIXxUSU-vxzXz6M4V7hYlc2Y/s320/IMG_20220511_164029593.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>And it's a bit subtle, but the ceiling has a scattering of stars. That thing just over the window is a page from a Buddhist text written in Pali on a leaf made from a disused monk's robe, stiffened with lacquer, and gilded.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15U7ZTCPYZCZny5ouSEUochLrLofKV2EebAxnJR-YQozX9dGpOr9KVhEkw-bPuskv7StBq3fc9XqUBdZGMeh9y8gqjG9yYSge_Hic9fSGzUdq_C0Ab_TsOMA-J8bMW3v_EtHNnzeY-9jibgWO4NFx11smikOePbuOhhiIK6n-ylLTaDIgRcWuFwYy/s4160/IMG_20220511_164846331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15U7ZTCPYZCZny5ouSEUochLrLofKV2EebAxnJR-YQozX9dGpOr9KVhEkw-bPuskv7StBq3fc9XqUBdZGMeh9y8gqjG9yYSge_Hic9fSGzUdq_C0Ab_TsOMA-J8bMW3v_EtHNnzeY-9jibgWO4NFx11smikOePbuOhhiIK6n-ylLTaDIgRcWuFwYy/s320/IMG_20220511_164846331.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>It's a tiny space, then, but it's cozy, and there's room for a rotating display of memorabilia. But the next projects are furniture downstairs.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-50969919658937659702021-09-14T23:37:00.004-04:002021-09-14T23:37:56.101-04:00Night at the Cathedral<p>So I had a thought about a fun little 3d printing project. I picked up a few cheap night lights when I was at the hardware store, then after a little measuring got a <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:304180" target="_blank">Gothic-style window design off of Thingiverse</a>, bent it into a semicircle, added a base so that it would fit onto the light the way the original transparent cover did, and then did a little stone texturing after printing it out. With a "lead" grid draw onto a clear plastic strip, it doesn't look half bad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmugoDQhQk3hyQa0vU7EdIK19M2mxgxhbcswhfEzy3jhHYOIlfyiN9GA15Rov0qJv4UuBZM4cR57VZSWZ45wcl4xAzvKYv8cZUNXhzA6eTF919sjg_LIzvmESXM_vxpqvHGwz2QLng2yU/s5152/IMG_6841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmugoDQhQk3hyQa0vU7EdIK19M2mxgxhbcswhfEzy3jhHYOIlfyiN9GA15Rov0qJv4UuBZM4cR57VZSWZ45wcl4xAzvKYv8cZUNXhzA6eTF919sjg_LIzvmESXM_vxpqvHGwz2QLng2yU/s320/IMG_6841.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>And when the light comes on, it continues to look right.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXgeYXONGbFl7jidHXjpPQx6emN81yM7hPyelT86NGa3WN59hGEBqmrfO83fMseoRYCyAZFcTXGGB9RHq3HaXefLBJHVPMSzbJqutBp4vrZQbdRcqTuZy59tFAbd2Egq79rr4Ooj7HrQ/s5152/IMG_6842.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXgeYXONGbFl7jidHXjpPQx6emN81yM7hPyelT86NGa3WN59hGEBqmrfO83fMseoRYCyAZFcTXGGB9RHq3HaXefLBJHVPMSzbJqutBp4vrZQbdRcqTuZy59tFAbd2Egq79rr4Ooj7HrQ/s320/IMG_6842.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>Pretty happy with this, at least as a small project. May try something more ambitious with a more elaborate rose window.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-27112905115491978942021-08-09T16:55:00.001-04:002021-08-09T16:55:26.536-04:00Hidden Door<p>Everybody who's read a Gothic novel, played a tabletop RPG, or otherwise enjoyed the cinematic and romantic has probably wanted a secret door to slip through at some point in their life. And when we moved into our house one person-old-enough-to-start-driving-years ago, I promised myself one. But even ignoring the lack of time to work on it, it's a difficult business. I had a couple of spots suitable for the exercise in our semi-finished upstairs, but it's an old (probably 1930) house where nothing's quite square or level and the dimensions are always a little off, so it's all custom work (I'm sure DIY hidden door kits are marvelous, but they're also on the expensive side and require better behaved architecture than I've got), and I'm ultimately a dreadful carpenter. But eventually, I got it.</p><p>So, hand-built bookcase in the little lounge/office space I have upstairs. The light blue paint matches most of the rest of the room, and the decorative weaving is something my grandmother made many years ago. The light at the top is covered with a decorative grille I 3d-printed. But what if we pull on the handles hidden around the corner?<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9QyGd_690xcj57IgJGurQm5yeYw1OJflOMMACiSkc1C0pEU9Ryj5fLYf_LZ-H3IrqQu7ASx78D7ZCCl1mWum7XmNedjtoIv2nCCAikuE6-Jtt0P9iRXCLBdoONO8eDvozw1xo2nWP-Q/s2048/IMG_20210809_155540049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9QyGd_690xcj57IgJGurQm5yeYw1OJflOMMACiSkc1C0pEU9Ryj5fLYf_LZ-H3IrqQu7ASx78D7ZCCl1mWum7XmNedjtoIv2nCCAikuE6-Jtt0P9iRXCLBdoONO8eDvozw1xo2nWP-Q/s320/IMG_20210809_155540049.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>The bookcase is fixed top and bottom to some yard-long drawer slides which let it go back and forth. There are also some casters which keep it from bending too far down. And farther back there are two more rooms (mostly storage right now, but we hope to recover them some day).<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9Fp5gYiyMfhh1ME0HtVkyilxbunMZHL55jGOWu6t1W4nXkpWFrpwh0XT-ikHAMHmTL33nmC4_Qy0dpEkN4Yi65fvTTJDBXLN61VHUG_wIOD9X2GJNSCH5qi6qKtkwh8u5el3gaP4mzE/s2048/IMG_20210809_155740200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9Fp5gYiyMfhh1ME0HtVkyilxbunMZHL55jGOWu6t1W4nXkpWFrpwh0XT-ikHAMHmTL33nmC4_Qy0dpEkN4Yi65fvTTJDBXLN61VHUG_wIOD9X2GJNSCH5qi6qKtkwh8u5el3gaP4mzE/s320/IMG_20210809_155740200.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-23743503476688760492020-06-05T14:19:00.001-04:002020-06-05T14:19:56.022-04:00Board II: Process Shots<div>I made another one of those wood and resin charcuterie boards. First, pretty picture:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMaomfgSCB0wCzzL6cqKGl3lDq8-u_m8vLJgR-MimWVaVL7YiLhvTjHXJ7A_YnQLhO2pvxO3hJPDezaf2Zd9Lh2ORVG68jS7UJBQm28geWbYfJAcvoJWuTr1DNL2MLW42Diqcft6g5YU/s3264/IMG_20200605_133911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMaomfgSCB0wCzzL6cqKGl3lDq8-u_m8vLJgR-MimWVaVL7YiLhvTjHXJ7A_YnQLhO2pvxO3hJPDezaf2Zd9Lh2ORVG68jS7UJBQm28geWbYfJAcvoJWuTr1DNL2MLW42Diqcft6g5YU/s320/IMG_20200605_133911.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div>And this time I took pictures along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div>I started out with a piece of purpleheart, about 12" x 6", and cut it into pieces.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAfZGF9yjcR8Q6ij1FFbRu3b2mlG421wlfNMQlqvjf3zRNc204oSk-qfsWAT8o2JYYYoH7Z_bvSRORt1WuOS9kdHuJpBGV4hfyXORzdjggXogH3bdYYih-Z6KWcGP_QDsSlAjLXUhILU/s3264/IMG_20200531_145117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAfZGF9yjcR8Q6ij1FFbRu3b2mlG421wlfNMQlqvjf3zRNc204oSk-qfsWAT8o2JYYYoH7Z_bvSRORt1WuOS9kdHuJpBGV4hfyXORzdjggXogH3bdYYih-Z6KWcGP_QDsSlAjLXUhILU/s320/IMG_20200531_145117.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkVR-QwWrKEj8tb0vuW3khxKwmnwAW2-tTbQKFHUIIJL5fAxjA8XNIN-S7ck_G7z_zEEgW8F93uSg3Oq6qyn0bsfxnviA8kgw4q4btw4GphJ6rvCrKMHpU4WDfcHfxkIEkc8iV0CyMSs/s3264/IMG_20200531_145235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkVR-QwWrKEj8tb0vuW3khxKwmnwAW2-tTbQKFHUIIJL5fAxjA8XNIN-S7ck_G7z_zEEgW8F93uSg3Oq6qyn0bsfxnviA8kgw4q4btw4GphJ6rvCrKMHpU4WDfcHfxkIEkc8iV0CyMSs/s320/IMG_20200531_145235.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then into the box/tray, lined with packing tape and sprayed with mold release. I clamped down half the pieces to keep them from shifting when I poured the epoxy and and fixed the others in place with hot glue, to see if that would work as well. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dyU_Ser_mWUnnYugjBHPoJsUJgziTJwfsYMXz2jGk_vo00X2v7AmEfrQM8wYyU2UUShLJcaP8T_NhH8a-qVOwXIzacS4PAXfclat4FFzwgikHPVGAfA_C8ZGti55X_komkSz3mOihnw/s3264/IMG_20200601_120438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dyU_Ser_mWUnnYugjBHPoJsUJgziTJwfsYMXz2jGk_vo00X2v7AmEfrQM8wYyU2UUShLJcaP8T_NhH8a-qVOwXIzacS4PAXfclat4FFzwgikHPVGAfA_C8ZGti55X_komkSz3mOihnw/s320/IMG_20200601_120438.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is after the first pour, limiting the depth to about a quarter inch. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEjjwOLVWjKhdY2suqLiNOe8Y7y6AEGvjdbXytRqyz0Za7XjSu0w1GX4MKVB6TtnI07JleQrRwheELLXWlwSPswdDln2_vNU8hBea-DrXEOEKHdyp3WiQBrDwZuerO3yBiZw5oUaVpYM/s3264/IMG_20200601_134426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEjjwOLVWjKhdY2suqLiNOe8Y7y6AEGvjdbXytRqyz0Za7XjSu0w1GX4MKVB6TtnI07JleQrRwheELLXWlwSPswdDln2_vNU8hBea-DrXEOEKHdyp3WiQBrDwZuerO3yBiZw5oUaVpYM/s320/IMG_20200601_134426.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once that set, the pieces were firmly in place and I could remove the clamps.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TbtmInRZ1rvaT2GxRRx8U8MPFi1RztLhz45XAsASrdYUjdzCaHhcl0bEwJY1SDyiDn7rydxx5Yg5mbhQSZwwS_iE7lhCSLGYhwuLYZPdaOzHU9TOF8sZnLa0ObC3QoKOwLgUwejQbto/s3264/IMG_20200602_140412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TbtmInRZ1rvaT2GxRRx8U8MPFi1RztLhz45XAsASrdYUjdzCaHhcl0bEwJY1SDyiDn7rydxx5Yg5mbhQSZwwS_iE7lhCSLGYhwuLYZPdaOzHU9TOF8sZnLa0ObC3QoKOwLgUwejQbto/s320/IMG_20200602_140412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After two more pours, I could unmold it. Came out cleanly again this time.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8pr_MIK9tUYXu-P7XKIA_lrHy0AG3na34-cNm4LZ_PQ3DJtKqTC4Ucn9C83SC6s9jpRULdsY17l3zrJ9cSxLg7FQkS8nyOHVQgT6pY4IQTZaRwONJwq6C6161oXxtVWtvy5an-8srQs/s3264/IMG_20200604_132520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8pr_MIK9tUYXu-P7XKIA_lrHy0AG3na34-cNm4LZ_PQ3DJtKqTC4Ucn9C83SC6s9jpRULdsY17l3zrJ9cSxLg7FQkS8nyOHVQgT6pY4IQTZaRwONJwq6C6161oXxtVWtvy5an-8srQs/s320/IMG_20200604_132520.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used a hand plane to chip off an accidental drip of epoxy onto the wood, then off to the router table with a roundover bit to round off the edges.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fa2l20vahv9tRHfC5INHz5xkl3K6nm3fMRVtsUSJmC3Rra513gg-TtJeYI8BEcDzYcuBHD79ndpNLXHWyCSruCxH4agTBHhZ3J5voxOVsC5ome8jGzGsCtvVAwByILR9O4U7FV1LSnY/s3264/IMG_20200605_132824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fa2l20vahv9tRHfC5INHz5xkl3K6nm3fMRVtsUSJmC3Rra513gg-TtJeYI8BEcDzYcuBHD79ndpNLXHWyCSruCxH4agTBHhZ3J5voxOVsC5ome8jGzGsCtvVAwByILR9O4U7FV1LSnY/s320/IMG_20200605_132824.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I may, again, sand the edges a bit more and finish it with some oil or sealant, but this is pretty much done.<br /><div><br /></div>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-25613826676168301322020-05-31T13:15:00.001-04:002020-05-31T13:15:45.853-04:00Cyborg-Edge Charcuterie Board<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpdTCHTZ2EIOvYJ9CVzKTDRCBjvQeBX-29gc75KhmiTwmInNYaJHMWPzUdp3ibQBlzs2-OmVJSQMJLTB-PAEmL4O7GPDWOpJU4SmgTSXggIc_CyDCqeLu-5l08Ab2mftibpiHnO7HCY4/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpdTCHTZ2EIOvYJ9CVzKTDRCBjvQeBX-29gc75KhmiTwmInNYaJHMWPzUdp3ibQBlzs2-OmVJSQMJLTB-PAEmL4O7GPDWOpJU4SmgTSXggIc_CyDCqeLu-5l08Ab2mftibpiHnO7HCY4/s320/IMG_3451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been looking at a lot of wood-and-epoxy objects, because I really like the combinations of shapes, colors, and textures. However, a lot of these are "live edge" pieces like this one here:<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ANtsHvSREoE" width="320" youtube-src-id="ANtsHvSREoE"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>"Live edge" means that they're made from slices of an entire trunk or branch, preserving the natural curves and colors of the wood, and since you can use two consecutive slices from the big piece of timber you're cutting from, you can basically get a mirror image from two pieces for a symmetrical shape that still fits a rectangular table or cutting board footprint. That's awesome, but for that, you pretty much need some fairly costly pre-cut specialty lumber or access to a fallen tree and some serious equipment like a band saw, jointer, and thickness planer. Neither of these options are attractive for a test piece.</div><div><br /></div><div>My solution was to create an <i>artificial </i>live edge. I started with a piece of oak board from the hardware store and used a jigsaw to cut a meandering curve down the middle. At the last minute, I decided to cut another bit out for another branch. I then knocked together a box out of scrap lumber: plywood to fit the length of the board but a few inches wider, and some strips for the sides. I covered the bottom and sides of the box interior with packing tape (because epoxy doesn't like to stick to smooth, shiny plastics) and then gave it a spritz of mold release spray (because nothing likes to stick to that). I used c-clamps to fix the bits of wood in place in the box. I didn't need a liquid-tight fit, just enough to keep them from shifting when I poured the epoxy. <br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMvgulkhZB4Q1My_y5szplutXiTEJVi4tdjlAdGPABUPplXIO1M8xdRGhlTQ3PM2yGMGn4L3Ju1QrmuZ8SEXrvNA7rcFXygszDSpJUt0rcAb5ifX59pF3-B2WO4ScPkCYpODJo6pYIpw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMvgulkhZB4Q1My_y5szplutXiTEJVi4tdjlAdGPABUPplXIO1M8xdRGhlTQ3PM2yGMGn4L3Ju1QrmuZ8SEXrvNA7rcFXygszDSpJUt0rcAb5ifX59pF3-B2WO4ScPkCYpODJo6pYIpw/s320/IMG_3453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The epoxy, a slow-hardening one, was remarkably well-behaved. I warmed both resin and hardener so that they'd lose bubbles a bit better, let the resin sit for several minutes for the larger bubbles to come out, and did the same for the fully mixed epoxy (thank you half-hour working time). Then it was just a matter of letting it harden overnight before pouring another layer. The bottom had some mica-based color for a semi-opaque effect giving it some depth, while I left the rest transparent. There are a few little patches of bubble around the edges, but I think that just adds to the natural stream look of the piece. And I managed to dodge the most troublesome aspect of epoxy: polishing. The upper surface of the board was never pressed against a mold, so it's nice and smooth.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, then, I needed to plane off a few bits of epoxy which had spilled over, and I decided to round off the edges on the router table. I may still put a bit of butcher block oil on the board, but I think it's pretty good as-is. This turned out to be pretty easy and I'm starting another one. I hope to get some process shots of that.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU92xMta5JL4j42MHQQv3hhUWpYkVoxKnL_zoAjoTNkyh-fVLGf5VZG648WGlsMhlii29QQ4TdpSFEMOfGL0hdmZ5AK3KTeX-z3v9IlJCWc40Mm6vqwZ08k-8-xW08WWzWgQeX1IYHbwc/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU92xMta5JL4j42MHQQv3hhUWpYkVoxKnL_zoAjoTNkyh-fVLGf5VZG648WGlsMhlii29QQ4TdpSFEMOfGL0hdmZ5AK3KTeX-z3v9IlJCWc40Mm6vqwZ08k-8-xW08WWzWgQeX1IYHbwc/s320/IMG_3452.JPG" /></a></div></div>Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-74293240609808187112020-04-21T18:21:00.001-04:002020-04-21T18:21:24.838-04:00Where We Keep All The BooksLike libraries? Yeah, we all like libraries. All of us who would read this, anyway. A good old-school library with old books and wood and plush leather furniture, like the private library at the Biltmore estate, the Morrison reading room at UC Berkeley, or Zatanna's libraryat Shadowcrest. <br />
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So last month, I built <a href="http://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2020/03/witness-power-of-this-fully-operational.html" target="_blank">a Star Wars-themed book nook</a>. Much fun, looks nifty on the shelf, but a bit wide and clumsily constructed in places. I learn a bunch and set out on another project. This one was far more complicated, but I think better thought out. <br />
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The library is made from three identically structured bays, boxes about three by four by nine inches cut on the CNC machine, with arch-shaped cutouts on two facing long sides, box-joint edges, and a few holes here and there for various reasons.<br />
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The platforms for the "balconies" are CNC'd as well, but most of the rest of the furnishings are are 3d printed. The bookshelves are from <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1868545" target="_blank">a modular bookshelf design on Thingiverse</a>. I flipped a few of the shelf designs horizontally, so the arrangements of volumes are even more different than in the original design, and every single spine and scroll is individually painted.<br />
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And there were a few other printed bits: the spiral staircase, the railings, the fireplace, and the table. The floors are images of Persian rugs printed on matte photo paper.<br />
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After assembling each bay, I ran a long string of LED lights behind the walls, poking bulbs through pre-drilled holes. <br />
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I had hoped to make an infinite library, but that didn't work out. <a href="http://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2017/02/crisis-on-infinite-mirrors.html" target="_blank">I've done infinity mirrors before</a>,
and the principle is simple: mirror in back, semi-mirrored window film
in front, lights in between. The problem is that you need a <i>lot </i>of
light, and I wasn't generating enough. Still, putting a mirror in the back makes it look twice as deep as it actually is, which isn't bad. <br />
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The hardest part is, of course, finding enough room on the shelves to put it. <br />
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Now all I need to do is find this much <i>real</i> shelf space.<br />
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Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-21520191280838049092020-03-06T18:43:00.001-05:002020-03-06T18:43:23.915-05:00Witness The Power Of This Fully Operational BookshelfNot long ago, certain persons to whom I am married introduced me to the idea of <a href="https://www.boredpanda.com/book-nook-shelf-inserts/" target="_blank">book nook inserts</a>, basically little dioramas scaled for bookshelves. While they take up valuable space on what are surely crowded shelves, they are quite nifty. So I thought I'd give it a shot.<br />
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I had a number of ideas, but the first one was something Death Star-like. Naturally, it was 3d printing to the rescue. The parts are mostly from a <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3101480" target="_blank">Death Star diorama</a> set and and a bunch of Death Star surface tiles from <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/dragnse7en/designs" target="_blank">this guy</a>. Print, prime a uniform gray, add on a few accents here and there, finish with a thin, dark wash, and glue to the inside of an improvised box. I added some LED lights (mostly shining through custom drilled holes) and a landing platform for a TIE fighter.<br />
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For a first attempt, I think it went tolerably well. It's wider than I'd like (wasn't really sure how it would come out, but I can use this as a gauge for how much narrower to make it), but it does give the impression of Death Star-ness. And I have ideas for more...<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-85004747274426912822019-06-18T13:08:00.003-04:002019-06-18T13:08:32.725-04:00The Knight Has A Thousand EyesSo here's a thing:<br />
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This is a technique I saw somewhere and thought I'd give it a shot. The base on which these are painted are small glass bezels, about an inch and a half in diameter. Everything is painted with metallic shades of nail polish on the flat back. Start with the pupil and the dark rim; I used a pin to spread out the polish for the pupil in that more crazed pattern. Then paint on rings of colors coming closer and closer to the center, alternating with scraping lines radiating out from the center with the point of a knife. <br />
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These came out nicely, I think, but I have no idea what to do with them. Maybe find some temporary adhesive and put them on Osric.<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-62896331509046840162019-04-17T21:07:00.001-04:002019-04-17T21:07:42.263-04:00Green Dragon Dice BoxHey, new dice box, incorporating some lessons learned from another one I did.<br />
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There are just two pieces of wood here (3/4" birch), one for the lid and another for the body. <br />
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It's all CNC work to cut out the shape and rout out the internal cells and the recess for the top.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The dragon inside the lid is 3d printed, in a matrix of clear epoxy resin, while the edges are 3d printed and painted with copper paint using a green patina finish. <br />
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Button magnet clasps as three corners, and cells for 19 dice about 20mm across and, including the in-lid space, the same depth.<br />
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Stick-on felt feet for the bottom. The whole body gets a green stain plus a couple of coats of shellac. <br />
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...except for the top, which gets a felt surface and a cut-out for the dragon. With the rails around the edge, it doubles as a surface for rolling dice.<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-84682331661015483522018-09-17T20:14:00.002-04:002018-09-17T20:16:05.031-04:00Driven By SteamAnother steampunkish thumb drive.<br />
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So: The body is 3d printed and decorated with fake brass-ish color. The wood-looking part is, in fact, actual wood (a thin strip of veneer with some shellac). The gauge has a printed dial, epoxy "glass", and an actual metal needle. And the glass tubes are actual glass tubes, snapped by hand, which is easier than I had expected. Silly, but fun.<br />
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At some point, I need to get out the soldering iron and work on things with more lights in them, but not until I can go out to the garage without dying of heat stroke.<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-77782657759860856332018-09-08T16:59:00.001-04:002018-09-08T16:59:16.733-04:00More PanicOur custom-built Castle Panic set keeps getting more elaborate. Right now, it looks something like this:<br />
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We've added some external accessories to the set, like the printed "treasure chest" which contains all of the fire markers (flat cardboard for monsters, 3d printed for architecture) and a couple of new cards (new fronts pasted onto cards from worn-out old decks) like the squire here (any color, hits in castle ring).<br />
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Lately, though, I've been doing stuff with the monster pieces lately, mostly the big monsters from the Wizard's Tower add-on. I've been reading up on miniature painting techniques, and I've been
applying the base-wash-drybrush process to some newly printed pieces, which I believe are all designs by the indispensable <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/mz4250/designs" target="_blank">Miguel Zavala</a>, glued onto custom bases, which I think I need to upload to Thingiverse.
I've also been experimenting with printer settings to give me
better-looking minis. The idea, which I got from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_uz-iWzyR1VJNlN-E1y7w" target="_blank">3d Printed Tabletop</a>, is slow printing, small layers, high
infill. I'm getting it to work well, but these are early attempts which,
I think, don't look great as minis on their own. Notably, the layer
height I used for this run wasn't a great for the printer I'm using,
resulting in a very striated print. I'm getting better prints with some
slightly different settings, but ironically I think the more stratified
print paints better. It takes the wash better than my smoother prints,
so I'm not sure whether or not I'll replace them with "better" prints. Here's what we've got:<br />
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That's the hydra.<br /><br />
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That's the chimera. I'm pretty happy with the paint job, given the small scale and my very unsteady hand.<br />
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And the dragon. This replaces another one which wasn't as good a model, but Alex liked a more colorful paint job it had. Can't blame him, and I might reprint/repaint for that. <br />
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And finally, there's Agranok from the Dark Titan expansion. I was fortunate enough to find <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2824416" target="_blank">a mini</a> which closely resembles <a href="https://firesidegames.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/the-dark-titan-agranok-token-front-back.jpg" target="_blank">Agranok</a> (I just left the wings off the pit fiend), but there was an issue with the base. The Aggie's double-sided base is great for a cardboard counter, but not good for a 3d figure. So I modified a HeroClix-compatible base and put a little paper insert in it so we can rotate the base to indicate how many HP he has left. <br />
<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-76457680963999745492018-07-09T17:48:00.001-04:002018-07-09T17:49:57.444-04:00PhilcoAfter I built the <a href="http://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2017/09/her-own-private-themyscira.html" target="_blank">Themyscira-themed picture frame</a> for certain persons to whom I am married, I started thinking about what I could do with a larger-format tablet I've got, larger than an old picture frame or phone, but not so big that the frame won't fit on the be of my printer.<br />
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I started looking in particular at old TV sets, notably the Philco Predicta line of the late 50s and early 60s, with their midcentury-modern styling and picture tube separated from the main body of the TV. What I ended up with was this:<br />
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The frame is 3d printed, as is the top part of the console, which has a wood veneer facing. The whole thing is attached to a cheap craft store box, which in addition to reproducing the look, more or less, of some Predicta models, provides a necessary counterweight to the 7" tablet. I may print out a few knobs and such to stick on it, but it's kinda fine as is. It is, as with much else on this blog, pointless, but nifty.<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-3281098188471602902018-03-04T18:49:00.000-05:002019-08-11T12:11:47.796-04:003d Printing BasicsFor some time, I've been noodling with a post about what I think it's important to know about 3d printing. Basically, what I would like to have known when I started doing it. And here it is. <br />
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<h3>
Making and Modifying Models </h3>
3d printing starts long before the printing. It starts with the design of a 3d model, just as regular, on-paper printing starts with creating a document or image. There are many CAD tools which can be used to produce such models. In the past year or two, the free tools I've used in the past have moved to on-line applications rather than downloadable local ones, including <a href="https://www.sketchup.com/" target="_blank">Sketchup</a> and <a href="https://www.tinkercad.com/" target="_blank">Tinkercad</a>. For something more heavyweight, there's <a href="https://www.blender.org/" target="_blank">Blender</a>, which I've tried to use to little avail. The standard file format for use in 3d printing is STL (stands for stereolithography, which ironically is a completely different method of 3d fabrication than what most home 3d printers use).<br />
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Of course, you don't have to start from scratch. You don't even have to do any design work at all. There are plenty of places where you can download ready-to-print designs. I usually frequent <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/" target="_blank">Thingiverse</a> and <a href="https://www.youmagine.com/" target="_blank">Youmagine</a>. Designs downloaded form there can be sent to a printer without any modification on your end, or they can be used as the basis of your own designs.<br />
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<h3>
CAD vs. CAM</h3>
STL files define a shape but are agnostic about how what you do with it (for example, the same tools you use to build 3d printable designs are also used for architectural modeling and creating items for 3d animation and games), so after the CAD stage of design (computer assisted design), there's the CAM stage (computer assisted machining). There are stand-alone pieces of software which do various parts of this task, but they're typically bundled with the same software used to control the printer. <a href="https://ultimaker.com/en/products/ultimaker-cura-software" target="_blank">Cura</a> and <a href="https://www.repetier.com/" target="_blank">Repetier</a> are excellent free tools for the job.<br />
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In preparation for printing, the shape is analyzed and a series of instructions designed for a specific tool are generated to physically produce it. This is sometimes called "slicing," since one of main operations is to cut the model horizontally into a series of two-dimensional slices. For example, a pyramid is approximately a series of successively smaller squares set atop one another. Most software allows you to change the settings for how your model is sliced and what other instructions are sent to the printer. Important settings include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Temperature. Your hot end (the heating element which melts the filament so that it can be extruded) has to be hot enough to get the plastic soft and flowing, but not so hot as to burn it. Different filaments work in different temperature ranges, and even within recommended temperature ranges, there can be better temperatures for specific brands and hot end designs. </li>
<li>Thickness of layers. This determines the resolution of the printed piece in the 3rd dimension. For example, when printing out that pyramid, a 3d printer has to print out layers of finite height, so it can't do an unbroken slope, but it can print out a series of shorter or taller steps. The thinner the layer, or the shorter the step, the more closely it approximates that slope. Small values, measured in hundredths of mm, will give you very nice resolution, but take correspondingly longer.</li>
<li>Shell thickness. This may be divided into top, bottom, and side thickness. </li>
<li>Fill density. 3d printed items are usually not solid plastic. Rather, they've got an internal grid providing enough substance to hold together. </li>
</ul>
After some experimentation, I've found some default settings which I use nearly all the time. I print with PLA filament most of the time, which uses relatively low temperatures, so my hot end is usually set around 190-200C, with a layer height of 0.1mm (down to 0.05 mm if I want really high quality, up to 0.15 or even 0.2 if I'm OK with fast but coarse, or if the piece has very little detail and thick layers won't matter much), and 20-25% fill. Shell thickness on the sides is a function of the diameter of the printer's nozzle. That is, if you've got a 0.4mm nozzle, your shell thickness has to be in whole-number multiples of 0.4mm. A double-thick shell (say, 0.8mm with an 0.4mm nozzle) is usually pretty good, with top and bottom to match.<br />
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This process (CAM/slicing) generates a set of instructions telling your printer what temperature to heat up to, where to go, when to extrude filament and when to stop, and so forth, based on the design and other settings. These instructions are in a language called gcode. Those commands may look something like this:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G1 F1200 X180.564 Y50.739 E26.57755</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G0 F4200 X181.130 Y50.739</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G1 F1200 X181.759 Y51.369 E26.62196</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G0 F4200 X181.759 Y50.803</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G1 F1200 X181.696 Y50.739 E26.62644</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G1 F1800 E25.62644</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G0 F4200 X141.759 Y50.966</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G1 F1800 E26.62644</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G1 F1200 X141.533 Y50.740 E26.64239</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G0 F4200 X140.967 Y50.740</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">G1 F1200 X141.759 Y51.532 E26.69827</span><br />
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However, you don't actually have to know anything about gcode to do 3d printing. The software handles it all for you, just as your printer drivers handle encoding data to send to your printer without you needing to understand the language in which it handles that conversation.<br />
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<h3>
The Printer and Printing</h3>
At last, we look at the hardware itself. Most home and hobbyist printers do FDM (filament deposition model), which uses a plastic filament as its raw material (there's also DLP and SLA printing, which use a tank of photosensitive resin and various methods of exposing them to UV; these printers tend to be faster and more detailed, but the process is <i>vastly</i> more expensive). You'll almost always find filament in 1 kg spools at with a diameter of 1.75mm or 3mm. Be sure to get the right size for your printer!<br />
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This filament is drawn through an extruder at a metered rate. A heating element in the extruder assembly heats the filament to a semi-liquid state, and it's forced through a nozzle onto a print bed. <br />
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I have no recommendations for specific models of printer. That landscape changes too quickly. But I do have some recommendations on what to avoid, what to get, and what to consider.<br />
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Things to be wary of include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Cheap kits. It's possible to get a very inexpensive DIY printer on Amazon and other retail outlets. They're not necessarily bad, but they do tend to be made by no-name overseas manufacturers. Some are perfectly good, but instructions may be incomplete or poorly translated, and if you've got a bad part, customer support may be weeks away. That may be tolerable for a second printer, when you've got a good idea of how and why things work and can potentially source replacement parts yourself, but it's a really good idea to go brand name for your first.</li>
<li>Proprietary filament. Some manufacturers follow the inkjet printer model: sell you an inexpensive printer and make it back on the printing medium. The printer won't work with third-party filament. Instead, you have to use cartridges they sell at a substantial markup over "open source" filament.</li>
</ul>
Things to get:<br />
<ul>
<li>A heated bed. A common problem with 3d printing is bowing or curling. As the first few layers of filament cool, they shrink and peel away from the print bed, resulting in a print with a curved bottom. There are a variety of dodges around that, but by far the most effective is a heated bed. If the print bed maintains a temperature around 50-60C, those bottom layers don't cool to the point of shrinkage. Curling vanishes. No matter what it costs in addition to a basic model of printer, you'll more than make it back in savings on ruined prints.</li>
<li>Accessories. There are a few consumables and other bits and pieces you'll need for good printing. You want kapton tape, for example. This is a plastic which stands up to high temperatures well. A layer of this tape provides a protective layer to your print bed, preventing gouges when you have to chisel off prints which are really stuck on, as happens some times. You'll also want an offset spatula, bench scraper, or similar thin metal item to do exactly that. Finally, you'll want some material to help prints stick to the print bed. Exactly what you need depends on the material you're using. If you're using PLA (see below for more discussion of filament materials), that's cheap hairspray. I use AquaNet or its generic equivalent. If you use ABS, probably the second most common filament, you need a bit of a slurry of acetone and some ABS dissolved in it. Nylon wants a porous surface like paper or cardboard. Check manufacturer's recommendations. And it can't hurt to have a few craft basics like an Xacto knife and fine sandpaper and the kinds of drivers, wrenches, and other tools you'd use on a computer. </li>
</ul>
Things to consider:<br />
<ul>
<li>Temperature range. A basic FDM printer can at least get up to the low 200s C, which is good enough to print in PLA. PLA, which is short for "polylactic acid," is the cheapest and most common 3d printing filament. It's a plastic made from corn. It's nontoxic and biodegradable and it's perfectly good for miniatures, game pieces, art pieces, and the like. It is not, however, either particularly durable or flexible, so it's not great for a good many practical applications. ABS, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is what Legos are made out of. It's a much stronger, but it puts off an unpleasant odor when printing (so you don't want to be around), wants a heated bed (above) and higher temperatures, starting around 230C, if not hotter. And there are a variety of also-rans (nylons, polycarbonates, etc.) which print as hot as or hotter than ABS. Something that goes up to 230 is certainly good enough for PLA and <i>maybe</i> ABS. Up to 250 is good for ABS and potentially some other exotics, and something that goes up to, say, 280 can print in pretty much anything. If you're just want a starter printer, you don't need a seriously hot hot end, but if you're going into it knowing that you'll want to work in industrial-grade materials, then higher temperatures are a must.</li>
<li>Extra nozzles. The nozzle on your printer can and eventually will get clogged up and need to be replaced, so it's a good idea to start out by getting one or two extra for when you need it. What's optional is buying nozzles in different sizes. Most printers come with a nozzle with a diameter of around half a millimeter. That's essentially the size of the "line" it draws when it prints. A different nozzle, then, effectively changes the "resolution" at which the printer prints. For very fine work, you may want to use an 0.3mm or 0.2mm nozzle (I've worked with nozzles as small as 0.1mm, but it was painful to work with), while for large pieces, a larger nozzle can get the job done faster (I printed parts for what was ultimately an 18" tall sculpture with a 1mm nozzle and it came out just fine).</li>
<li>Print volume. This is one of those "get what you pay for" things. Smaller printers are cheap, and bigger printers are more expensive. </li>
</ul>
<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-59439733614862212622017-09-08T13:35:00.002-04:002018-03-22T10:38:16.500-04:00Her Own Private ThemysciraWhen the recent Wonder Woman movie came out, just about every woman I know wanted to go to Themyscira <i>right now</i> (except my mom, who doesn't go in for movies), and I suspect a good many of them would have wanted to stay. But, of course, it's difficult to get plane tickets to places that don't exist, so none of them got to make the trip.<br />
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But I got to thinking about how I could get my lovely and talented spouse as close to Themyscira as I could. The answer was a 3d-printed frame. It was back to the Classical architecture of my grad school days: fluted Doric columns, a simple entabulature (those are Ws instead of triglyphs, of course), and so on. Finished, of course, with a little paint to give it an aged look and some terra-cotta-colored "roof tiles."<br />
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From behind, it's hollow.<br />
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And there are cutouts on the top and right side.<br />
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They're sized to snugly fit a small digital picture frame while leaving the ports and controls open. <br />
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It contains a memory card with screen shots from the movie as well spots on the Amalfi coast on which the movie Themyscira was based. The result:<br />
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A slideshow providing a window to the island of the Amazons. It's not a one-way ticket to a mysterious island, but it does fit nicely on a table or desk. And certain persons to whom I am married seem to like it.<br />
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And it just now occurs to me that I could do the same thing for her on a Rivendell theme... <br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-5117710052621955262017-06-17T18:49:00.004-04:002017-06-17T19:00:26.900-04:00Secretary Desk: Gettin' Jiggy With ItOne of the many items of furniture we have that doesn't hold enough is a cheap, unfinished wood secretary desk, which we've had for somewhere between 15 and 20 years. It's not bad as such things go, but it is too small. So certain persons to whom I am married suggested that I could build a bigger one. And so I did. I pulled out all the technology for this project, since I am a terrible carpenter if left to my own devices. <br />
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<h4>
Peg Jig</h4>
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I wanted to used dowels rather than screws to hold the structure together. So how do I get all of those peg holes lined up? 3d printer to the rescue. I worked up a little t-shaped piece the same width as the thickness of my boards and evenly spaced 1/16" holes in it. With that in place, I could drill pilot holes in the edges of the upright boards and matching holes down through the thickness of the horizontal ones. Those were followed by a 1/4" bit and then matching dowels.<br />
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<h4>
Adjustable Router Template</h4>
I decided to cut dado joints for the internal shelves in the lower cabinet. But how? That requires absolutely straight grooves cut at exactly the same height across the boards for both sides. I started by clamping the boards together side-by-side and penciling lines where I wanted the shelves to slide in. Now, if you're a competent carpenter, you just need to set a fence in the appropriate spot and use that to semi-freehand a groove with your router.<br />
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I am not a competent carpenter. Back to the 3d printer, but for something more elaborate. I've got router guides and I've used router templates with some success in the past, but how to make that work for what I'm doing? And here's where I decided to make a multi-purpose device. I modified the design for <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:831597" target="_blank">a set of micrometer calipers</a> with "feet." Then I ripped a four-foot piece of quarter-inch plywood into strips about six inches across. By screwing the calipers to the ends of the plywood strips, I could very precisely adjust the separation of the strips, which were thin enough to make a very good template for the router. In this case, the gap needed to be no wider than the template guide, but I could adjust the gap to rout out a much larger area if need be. <br />
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(And fortunately, this worked out in practice about as well as predicted in theory.)<br />
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<h4>
Roll Top</h4>
The really fancy part of this is a roll top for the top section. In theory, it's pretty easy. For the opening top, you get a bunch of thin slats of wood (which was a piece of thin plywood run through the table saw a quarter inch at a time) and glue them to a piece of fabric. Not too difficult. But then I need to cut mirror-image curves for the top part of the cabinet and parallel mirror-image grooves inside their radius for the flexible front cover to move through. Yeah, no way I'm doing that. CNC work.<br />
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The black lines cut all the way through. The gray lines are grooves a half-inch deep in the 3/4" lumber. The top curve is for the roll top, the horizontal bit in the middle is to keep cubbyholes in place. A little trimming the ends of the slats and sanding the inside of the groove and it fits together surprisingly well.<br />
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<h4>
So Finally</h4>
Assembly (with 3d printed elephant heads as hardware to open the roll top), some stain, and a zillion coats of shellac later, it looks like this.<br />
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But the important thing is that it contains about 50% more than the old one. <br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-76154501495957473722017-06-03T10:18:00.000-04:002017-06-03T12:18:52.710-04:00Dice TrebuchetI blame <a href="http://www.dorktower.com/2017/05/11/tower-of-power-dork-tower-11-05-17/" target="_blank">John Kovalic</a>.<br />
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(Go read the strip now before I ruin the joke any farther. Back now? OK.)<br />
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I've got a few dice towers, but a dice trebuchet? Not so much. So clearly, I needed to make one.<br />
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The frame, made from 3/4" birch plywood, is easy. A little CNC work for the supports, routing out spaces for 22mm bearings at the top, cutting through all the way in the center to make room for the axle to move freely, and some sockets in the base for the uprights. A little sanding and it all fits together nicely<br />
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The other wooden parts are mostly made from standard stock. At the center of everything is a short section of solid 3/4" square birch. It has 5/16" holes bored at the ends and all the way through the middle. Why 5/16"? Because that's almost exactly the diameter of the 8mm holes in the centers of the bearings. A 5/16" dowel for an axle fits very snugly. Since I've got it around, more dowel forms the throwing arm and the counterweight arm. I'm increasingly using the 3d printer to create jigs and other placement aids, and this project was no exception. All drilling was performed with the use of a jig with a 5/16" bore and a small frame allowing it to be centered on a 3/4" width.<br />
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Then it's off to more 3d printing. The basket at the end of the throwing arm is 3d-printed and presents a vastly easier solution than cobbling together a more realistic but teeny sling and release mechanism. It's big enough to accommodate 3d6 for any reasonably sized dice if you're playing <a href="http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/" target="_blank"><i><b>GURPS</b></i></a>. I assume it'll hold die for other games, but why would you want to play those? <br />
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The counterweight is, appropriately, a small dice bag, so it can serve as an ammunition supply as well. There's a small hook on the counterweight end of the arm to hang it off of, but it can be taken off to add or remove dice, changing the force of the projectile. If dice aren't heavy enough (and, to be honest, they probably aren't), those little glass stones can be used which double as level markers
for games like <i>Munchkin. </i><br />
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And how effective is it? It's not bad:<i> </i><br />
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That's a fairly standard d6 being propelled across the length of a fairly standard dining table. With a bit of a backstop and/or a smaller counterweight (this was using a stone icosahedron), the trebuchet could actually be used to roll dice. Or to destroy your enemies.<br />
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UPDATE: For the benefit of those with CNC machines, <a href="https://www.inventables.com/projects/dice-trebuchet" target="_blank">I've published the Easel design</a> on Inventables, so you can make your own. <br />
<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-32550127389705637152017-03-26T12:21:00.002-04:002017-03-26T12:21:21.331-04:00Steampunk Nautilus StylusMore stylus sillyness in the style of the <a href="http://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2013/06/iplume.html" target="_blank">iPlume</a>. To reiterate: a stylus for a touchscreen device is basically a conductive stick. It needs a conductive tip to touch the screen and a conductive body to carry the current through you. <i>Anything</i> conductive which touches you <i>anywhere</i> will do.<br />
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I saw <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2122752" target="_blank">this rather nifty design</a> for a finger-mounted pen and figured I could capitalize on that. The styling was rust paint (I do enjoy that stuff, don't I?), a couple of fins and some gears, which just happen to fit on the mountings for the screws holding the parts together, and if they weren't glued in place, they'd rotate just fine. Too late, I thought of ways to preserve that motion. Oh, well; maybe some other time.<br />
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The way this works is by replacing the ink cartridge with a copper wire. The twist of wire at the front is ground down a bit, providing the necessary quarter-inch surface required for the screen to read it. <br />
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But rather than directly touching the wearer's finger, the wire passes through the body of the housing and touches the back of the wearer's hand. And it does, indeed, work. Not well, though. I may fit some spongy conductive rubber over the end or something so that the tip smushes a bit on the touchscreen, both for increased area and to protect the screen from scratches.<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-5734787815684077602017-03-26T11:14:00.001-04:002017-03-26T11:14:44.466-04:00Yes, More FurnitureThe additional bookshelves we need apparently aren't going to build themselves, even though I've given them every opportunity, so here and there, I have to take action myself. Certain persons to whom I am married require more immediate access to unread books, keeping the queue of stuff to read close at hand and not confounding them with books already read. Solution? Combination footstool/bookcase.<br />
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Unlike <a href="http://tetsujinnollama.blogspot.com/2017/03/storage-solution.html" target="_blank">the game cart</a>, I went to the CNC for this. I used an awful lot of dado joints, but in a far more sophisticated way. The basic structure is simply a cube open on two faces, but internally, it's more complex<br />
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One side has two shelves sloped at a 10 degree angle to improve visibility from above, just tall enough to hold regular paperbacks. The other has a large shelf sloped shelf and a small horizontal one to hold whatever else needs holding. Going much larger than I usually do, I used a 1/4" bit on the router, which meant I could slide in the 1/4" boards used for the shelves, using a little glue and some tiny nails to secure them. <br /><br />
As ever, it's a couple of days for finishing the wood, some tiny wheels on the bottom, and some foam and velvet for the top.<br />
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It doesn't hold nearly enough books. Nothing ever does. But at least it holds most of the books she's currently hoping to read.<br />
<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-918576340103359522017-02-14T21:39:00.000-05:002017-02-14T21:47:42.339-05:00Crisis on Infinite MirrorsCertain persons to whom I am married like DC comics and those infinitely-reflecting mirror things. This suggests certain Valentine's Day presents.<br />
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Infinity mirrors, it turns out, are pretty simple. You need lights around the inside edge of a box, which is really easy to do these days with LED light strips. The ones I got could even be snipped to desired length. The bottom of the box is mirrored (I used inexpensive glass mirror tile). The top is half-mirrored. That's a little trickier, but there's inexpensive window insulating film for that. The only innovation on my part was firing up the CNC machine to engrave a bunch of superhero logos on a sheet of acrylic to use as the top. That was a delicate operation. The carving required very, <i>very</i> shallow cutting, so it was very sensitive to the slightest bend in the material. Sandwich the semi-mirrored film between two sheets of acrylic (one engraved), assemble, and:<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-48421114305323967062017-01-19T22:02:00.002-05:002017-01-19T22:03:05.930-05:00Gotham by DiceWe've been playing a certain amount of Steve Jackson Games's <a href="http://www.sjgames.com/dice/batman/" target="_blank">Batman dice game</a>. It's an excellent game (any competitive game I can get my lovely and talented spouse to play is a good one), but a little sparse by our standards. What's the natural thing to do? How about a custom dice tower.<br />
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This is mostly bricolage, as we structuralists call it. About a third of the buildings around the dice area are from <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:151430" target="_blank">this skyscraper chess set</a>. The remainder are from a <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:12673" target="_blank">Sim City play set</a> and some <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:954701" target="_blank">Hong Kong apartment blocks</a>. The manhole cover is...well, a <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1646928" target="_blank">manhole cover</a> the Gotham City utilities people use. The dice tower proper is a model of the KOIN tower, significantly resized and hollowed out. I added a couple of ramps for the dice to bounce off of and an arch for them to roll out.<br />
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The only thing I really designed was a base for all the parts, basically the base of the main tower plus an 80mm diameter ring at the end of the ramp. All the towers got spritzed with stone texture spray paint, while the manhole cover got the Modern Masters iron paint and rust activator. I really like that stuff. A little cyanoacrylate to hold everything together and we're off to the races. And now we'll have something far more interesting to bounce our dice off of next time we play.<br />
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<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541391510900008279.post-25757971813170871552016-12-28T10:35:00.000-05:002016-12-28T10:35:17.895-05:00Friends, Romans, CountrymenLast year, I used the CNC machine to build <a href="http://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2015/12/i-come-to-carve-caesar-not-to-bury-him.html" target="_blank">a knife block with an engraved marble face</a>. And that was cool and all, but how to top that? I'd wanted to make a bust-of-Caesar knife block, but that didn't work out. But two things changed. First, I got the heated bed, which in turn gave me a larger print volume. Second, I found <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:980541" target="_blank">a bust of Caesar</a>.<br />
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Design-wise, this was fairly easy, though I had to run it through a variety of tools to make it work. I started with 123D Design to scale it up to as big a footprint as my printer could handle, about 6" x 10", corresponding to a height of about 15". Then I did some boolean operations to "carve out" slots for the knives. Once I'd gotten the shape together, it was off to netfabb Basic to chop it into parts no taller than six inches. Alas, netfabb Basic is no longer available for download; happy I got it when I could.<br />
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And then it was off to the printing. I usually use a 0.4 mm nozzle. That's fine for the trinkets and game pieces I usually print, balancing fine detail with print speed. However, for this, I went with a full 1 mm nozzle. I didn't need nearly as much detail on a 15" bust as I would on, say, a 25mm orc figurine I'm printing for the <a href="http://derivativecrafts.blogspot.com/2015/09/have-i-mentioned-we-play-lot-of-castle.html" target="_blank"><i>Castle Panic</i></a> set, and I didn't need it taking forever. As it was, the four pieces of the knife block/bust took five to six days of solid printing time, even at a rather low infill percentage and tweaked in various ways to minimize support material. Assembly took several hours but very little work time, sanding down some rough top surfaces and then giving the Gorilla Glue time to cure.<br />
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So, results:<br />
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Not bad. Here's Caesar with a Chinese vegetable cleaver in his head.<br />
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Minus the cleaver, you can see the groove in his head. However, most of the knife slots are in back. It's big enough to hold four chef knives and four smaller ones; paring knives and such.<br />
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The join in the middle of the bust wasn't great; there was a bit of curling on of the pieces which even the heated bed didn't entirely prevent, or perhaps there were settings I could have changed. However, the others, like the neck here, worked very well indeed.<br />
<br />Iron Llamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08593249565706623705noreply@blogger.com1