Trying to make a barrel

[carr52]

Howdy from South CarolinaWell I'm gonna try and make a little barrel. Got the idea when I knocked over my pencil cup for the 100 th time. It wont keep me from knocking over my pencil cup but at least it will look better than the mason jar I have them in now. If it turns out that is.Tom

Edited May 27, 2008 by Johanna
edited for clarity, merged threads

[TwinOaks]

Looks like a good start. If I may suggest, you can make 'rivet holes' by using a stylus ( or any pointy object) to press them in. Check out the wood grain patterns shown by Spider on his wallets.

[carr52]

Looks like a good start. If I may suggest, you can make 'rivet holes' by using a stylus ( or any pointy object) to press them in. Check out the wood grain patterns shown by Spider on his wallets.

Thanks for your input. I need all the help I can get. I'm learning more with each project. I think I learn more from you guys.

Tom

[TomSwede]

Hey, you stole my idea!!

Naah, just kidding but I did think about this a when I was in Scotland the other week and visited some eight distilleries and got to drink from their most precious casks. One was from 1966 and their oldest one so I took some pics and thought about a miniature leather replica. I'm a Scotch whisky fanatic!

I will be following your work on this one with excitement.

Will you be trying to make it oval with some wetmolding too, think that's a tricky one but I'm trying to figure out a good method for doing this. Just got so much other work to complete before any attempts.

Tom

[carr52]

Hey, you stole my idea!!

Naah, just kidding but I did think about this a when I was in Scotland the other week and visited some eight distilleries and got to drink from their most precious casks. One was from 1966 and their oldest one so I took some pics and thought about a miniature leather replica. I'm a Scotch whisky fanatic!

I will be following your work on this one with excitement.

Will you be trying to make it oval with some wetmolding too, think that's a tricky one but I'm trying to figure out a good method for doing this. Just got so much other work to complete before any attempts.

Tom

Howdy Tom, I've got it stitched together and some what shaped. And yes I am going to try the wet molding. I'm thinking it might be easier to rough shape it before sewing it. This is just a proto type. I need the practice. On everything. But it's looking good so far. I'll try and take a photo of so you can see where I'm at so far. All I have is a cheap 50 dollar Radio Shack camera but I'll try.

Tom

[carr52]

Well this is what I have so far. The shape isn't quite right yet. I have an idea though. I'm gonna go to the hardware store and get a plumbing plug. The kind you put in PVC then tighten. It's made of rubber so I'm thinking As it tightens it'll stretch the middle of the barrel. Wish me luch. Hope I dont rip the stitchs out.

Tom

[TomSwede]

Kewl, it'll be great.

Thanksalot!

Tom

[Daman]

That turned out really great

[carr52]

I'm not happy at all with the wat it turned out.

But rest assured I wont stop till I have made a better barrel. A better barrel is a happy barrel.

Tom

[PaganBear]

Artists are always our own worst critics....

I think that look great. nice work

[freak]

That's a great idea and i think it looks great as well. I just might have to make one of those.

The plug is a nice touch !!

[tazzmann]

I think it turned out great as well. Very cool idea!

and I agree with Freak...

The plug is a nice touch !!

[TomSwede]

I can see what you're not happy about but it really is a nice barrel anyway.

I was thinking a small inflatable ball could work for the molding. Just put it in empty, inflate to desired bulge of the barrel is achieved and then deflate but I don't know where to get small balls with working inflate mechanism but it should work with a good pump.

Overall look is really nice anyway and the plug is a nice touch too. Woodgrain looks good so you got your practice done allright.

Thanks for the insights of making it!

Tom

[Spider]

Hey Tom,

This is a cool concept. Remember that you have to separate the planks with deeper cuts and the grain with lighter cuts or as someone mentioned use the modeling spoon for the grain impressions.

I put the wood texture on tons of sh...stuff so it gives me great practice.

[Windy]

Turn an oval on your lathe (all leather workers have a wood lathe ...right )

then quarter it length ways. Slip it in your barrel then drive in three wedges

to push it out to the size you want. If you do not have a lathe to turn the

oval , I am sure you can take a large dowel of appropriate size and build

up the middle to make it oval using leather. If you have no large dowels

find a baseball bat that is the size you need. If all else fails make your

oval form from clay or some other suitable material you have laying around.

WINDY

[carr52]

Turn an oval on your lathe (all leather workers have a wood lathe ...right )

then quarter it length ways. Slip it in your barrel then drive in three wedges

to push it out to the size you want. If you do not have a lathe to turn the

oval , I am sure you can take a large dowel of appropriate size and build

up the middle to make it oval using leather. If you have no large dowels

find a baseball bat that is the size you need. If all else fails make your

oval form from clay or some other suitable material you have laying around.

WINDY

Nope, no lathe, So I'm making a mold by hand. I glued some 1 by 4 s together and now am in the process of planing and sanding it into the shape of a barrel.

Tom