Chip Carving with SketchUp

Its nice to be able to add surface treatments to wood turnings. What is even more NICE is not to have to hand draw them.
I recently started up my "chip carving" skills and you will see some highlighted on my up and comming humidors like the last post on "Threaded Vessels".
SketchUp is an ideal tool for chip carving patterns because it is good at repeating geometries, sizing, printing to scale etc. which is what chip carving patterns are all about.
I just open my "Virutal Lathe*" and use the quadrile pad for a 2D drawing space. Then I print it full scale followed by tracing (with grafite paper) it on the surface of the blank.
The initials on the Humidor over at "Turnedoutright" are chip carved on a Basswood medallion then affixed to the humidor.

*The Virtual Lathe is the workspace that comes with teh book "Woodturning with SketchUp".

Threaded Vessels

I just started working on a new technique for making vessels that seal.

Turning threads in vessels is certainly a skill as well as an art form, but sometimes the movement of wood prevents good seals due to poor thread engagement.

I wanted to make a humidor so I started modeling ways of using PVC fittings for the closures.
This prototype use a staved design, made of pine. Its threads come from a 5 inch pvc threaded pipe coupling. The top has a lens from an old big screen TV. The inside will be veneered with Spanish cedar. Maybe some chip carving as well ......

Below are pictures of my progress. I will keep this site updated.

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The workspace where the components were modeled.



The assembly notice the PVC threads and the lens in the top.



The real thing with the shop drawings to the left .