Carved Fretwork

[f250]

Well, wow I'm finally finished. Just in time since I need to enter it in less than a week into the New Mexico state fair. We will see what happens there.

This is one totally awesome pattern with thanks more than words can say to Andy Deane. What an incredible pattern maker he is.

An equal amount of thanks goes to a true artist Dick Mirgalia, without his article in this magazine this would have never happened. This is one of my very favorties out of the many things I've done. If Dick hadn't coached me and encouraged me and kept me from despair a few times, you would not have this picture to look at.

Here you see an Eclipse 500 VLJ (very light jet) with a couple friends, yeah Ford Mustang Shelby GT500s. This came from a poster that Eclipse did and holding them next to each other is amazing...

Not to pat myself, but the picture just doesn't do it justice. The outside area is routed, then the fretwork is cut. From there the carving starts, let me tell you carving and sanding this fretwork was a TON of work.

The fretwork/carving was done on Basswood, it was finished by 2 soaks in 2 parts Danish Oil and 1 part mineral spirits. I soaked for 10 minutes each time and the two soakings came 24 hours apart.

I also made the frame, it is walnut with 3 coats spray high gloss poly. That frame was a challenge to make, hope I never have to do that again LOL

Thanks for looking

Tom

[marshall]

Tom: You did good, a slap on the back. I'm a Mustang car nut also, hope you have a special person that"s going to receive this work of art. And it is Art, don"t know if this is the way you feel , but in the eyes of others> it is !! Congrats > Marshall

[minowevie]

Tom, that is tooooo fine, just love how it came out. good luck in your fair. it will wen big time I am sure. you have worked hard, and it shows. say, I am a mustang lover also. I used to have a 68 mustang. and I saw one today for sale. she is so pretty. canary Yellow, with a black soft top. mmmmmm they want 2200.00 is that alot. dang. I only paid $400.00 for mine, mmm like 30 years ago. but she is pretty for sure. I think I will go back for a sencond look what you think. your friend Evie. ps. I sure could see me driving it. mmm I would be looking pretty i think.

[Wood Dog]

One fine job f250....lots of work sure paid off. Good luck at the fair. Keep us posted.

[JohnB]

G'day Tom,
I wasn't sure where this was going when you posted your "Works in Progress" thread.
I followed it pretty closely, and kept thinking to myself, "Damn, that's a lot of work for very little return over the scrolled pic."

Now, well NOW I can see it was all well worth it.

You have done a magnificent job their mate and If you don't pick up guernsey at the fair I'd be bloody well surprised.

[lucky788scroller]

Im with John on this one.I too was wondering how the outcome would be, and yes, it turned out looking great! Congrats!

[Plaquerd]

Tom:
Never had a doubt that it would look great!Nice work and a very nice pattern!

[greatdane2]

Tom, thanks for the lesson by pictures. A great result that shows another way of doing things. Just love this site but man, my to try list just keeps getting longer as I see what you guys are doing.

Alan.

[Gaia]

Tom,

Awesome job! A winner for sure! It definitely takes scrolling to a new level. All that work you did on it was worth the effort, the finished art is great.

Great work on the frame too.

Bobbi

[Andy]

Oh my, OH MY!! I've received the progress pics of this project through personal email as well as through subscribing to this thread so I didn't miss anything. The finished piece made my jaw drop though Tom!!! LOVE the finish applied. It seriously made the whole project snap. It all just jumps out of the wood. Nothing like I'd imagined and so many times better. You know how worried and concerned I was that this pattern wouldn't hold up to the stresses you put it (and yourself LOL) through. I'm completely elated, proud, humbled and mostly I'm honored to have been able to contribute to this. Flattery will get you everything you know!! Thanks for all your praise!! Thanks for all your effort and sharing!!!

Andy