A little more smoothing and after a little clean up, here is the panel. I've applied the first of 4 coats of sealer... I'll have to wait to let them dry...
New Laser precision... Ok, it still requires some fine tuning and there is user error... I had to reposition the lasers everytime I changed out the bits...
Tonight I started working on the back plate. I drilled the holes for the 80mm fans, both for the screws and the air intake. Here is a shot of the plexi - The thing to remember when drilling plexiglas is to take your time and use a drill at a slow setting. My drill press' lowest setting is 220rpm. You can see I started out too fast because the spacing is far apart, as I progressed I slowed down, hence the spacing is much closer together. Here is a shot of the cutting wheel to make the holes for the fans... I had to drill from one side and then flip the plexi over to drill from the other. It was much easier that way. Here are the finished holes... Here the fans are mounted. Here is a shot of the gold leaf...
I knew there was an influence from my past. I used to and still do watch the old kung fu movies from the 70's... Did I just date myself?
Started Staining the case today. It will take 6-8 hrs to dry though... Here are all the pieces laid out. I had to take all the tape off and re-label them. Although it took some time. The tape really helped keep everything in order. Here is a shot of the gel stain I used. Here are the pieces laid out and marked. Started staining... Here is a close up shot of one of the rails... I liked how the stain set off the grain.
Excellent work. Question, what type of sealant if any are you putting over the good leaf ? Doesn't it flick off is it isn't sealed ?
Keep it coming. I love it really love it. Anything in wood is fantastic to me! +rep Sorry I didn't reply to you earlier. But keep it up. Wood workers unite! LOL and they said wood had no place in computers... BTW Not only do you have the same lasers, but the same table saw and fence I have. Delta saw with a unifence system. LOL too funny. What type of planer? I have a DeWalt planer, General jointer, Jet band saw and lots more. Thats 1 1/2" walnut on the bench waiting for a project.
I use a gold leaf sealant. The adhesive does a great job of holding it down, but the sealant insures it won't flake off. I'll add a picture soon.
I use the sealer first and then use the glossy clear coat to finish it off. Usually 4-6 coats... For the Front I've already put on 8. I'll probably put 2 more on, just to make sure.
Finishing the Stiles. The finishing touch was to gold leaf the slots on the stiles. I spent about an hour and a half taping and then leafing the slots. Just for one stile. Once I finished it, I said to myself there had to be an easier way. I would cut a small piece of gold leaf with a razor and then carefully slide it in the slot. (was that hard, any movement, wind or static electricity moves it.) So after the first one was done, I taped all for together with the outside edges out and started leafing it again. Here is a shot with the strip in place. I still hadn't learned how to do this yet. But then I realized I could use the gold flakes and pack them in... (voila) Sooooo... 6 slots and 4 sides later... Here is a close up of one (2 really) slots. And all the rest... Next the front...
Here is the front plate. You'll notice the slot for the DVD and the DVD button. I made the DVD Slot cover out of plexi and the button out of walnut. Either way they both get covered in GOLD!!!!
