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Music boxs - Input anyone?

Mark Hepburn

Mark Hepburn

Artist & Chef
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
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Location
Houma, Louisiana
I made this triptych of music boxes for my dearly beloved's birthday. I wanted to put them in a cabinet I bought for her - also shown. below. By the way, for those of us who also like flatwork (and I'll bet there's a bunch here on this site), Vince Lehman's furniture is amazingly beautiful and the photos don't do the work justice. I'm not associated - just a very pleased customer.

Anyway, bought the cabinet for her and made these music boxes also. The bases are painted pine with just a paper on bottom so they amplify the music. The finials are rosewood and one is Chechen. the boxes are all from the same piece of spalted hackberry.

I'd like to improve on them in so many ways: fit and finish of the turned portions. I don't like how clunky the winding process is but thought it would be pretty cool when I made them. Also, I'd like to better line up the grain - especially the piece with the yellow base, which doesnt even look like the same stock. Finally, the finials aren't evenly curved. By the way, I learned the hard way (pardon the pun) that using kiln dried wood really isn't ideal for steam bending. If I'd only read a few more how-to's on the web...

Anyway, input of any kind would be most welcome.

Thanks!

tryptich - 001a - 2015.jpg

tryptich - 002a - 2015.jpg
 
Bill Boehme said:
I mustn't let let Mrs B see this. :D

Those are beautiful music boxes. I peeked at some Vincent Leman furniture... lots more imaginative than my flat boxes.
Click to expand...

Hey Bill. Thanks!

Since I made the first one, I'm on the music box treadmill now. Save yourself!!!

Just kidding. I really enjoy making them for her. She is without question my biggest supporter and cheerleader. Music boxes are an interesting challenge because of the mechanical aspect that has to be incorporated into the design. Got a looooong way to go.

Vincent Lehman's work is intriguing isn't it? Reminds me of the movie Beetlejuice. :-)
 
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