Barn Layerscape

[Dragon]

I also am waiting for a picture of the reed frame.
Thanks
Diane

[Jediscroller]

WOW! What a terrific insight into the design. Thanks a ton for that Susan. I've had one on the back burner for a couple of years that I just couldn't figure out how to lay out the pattern in layers. Time to dust it off.

Robert,
Outstanding work (not that I'd expect anything less of course)!

[Andy]

I'm enjoying this thread!! Thank you Susan. I worked one up that's also been on the back burner and you've got me thinking and scratching my head too. LOL I like the way you colored the different layers so you can see the pattern yet understand the for, mid, and background concept. And Robert, well done indeed!!!

Andy

[WyvernWench]

Let's see if I can explain the reed frame. It really is very simple. Now I will warn you that my example did not come out as well as it normally does ... I have never before tried to do one while taking photos to show. I quickly realized that I simply did not have enough hands to hold the reed, do the wrap, position the camera and then get my thumb out of the way of the lens.

My other error in this comedy is that I grabbed two scraps that were not quite the same size and then taped them together. Dumb, Susan! You will see that because I didn't take time to properly prepare them, they did cause some gapping. AHHH!

But I will still post this so you can at least see the idea ...

So, please, this goes very easy and turns crisp corners when you are NOT concentrating of photography. Grab some scrap wood and practice this before you do it on a cutting!

image1: This is similar to ironing on the veneer strips to the edge of a piece of 5/8" plywood. I have on the table two 12"x12"x1/4" plywood scraps, one piece of 5/8" reed about 3 yards long, a couple of pieces of 1/4" dyed reed, scissors, and my bench knife. I will also use a stapler, tacky glue, rubber bands,a large bowl of warm water, an alligator clip and a stack of gum packs.

image2 and image 3: You can see that the reed is very long. Roll the reed so that it can easily be placed in your bowl of warm water ... not hot! Reed does very strange things when soaked in hot water ?!? Let the reed soak for about one to two minutes.

image4: The reed becomes very flexible after the water bath. You can bend it easily without cracking. If you see any cracks you need to soak for a few more moments. Reed has one good side and one nasty side. The good side is usually shiny and when bend does not pop up any slivers of wood. As you work you may need to re-wet the reed using a misting bottle of water ... If it begins to lose the easy bending mist the reed, then let the water shine disappear ... about 3 or 4 seconds ... then go back to work.

Susan

[WyvernWench]

image5, image6 and image7: Trim one end of the reed to thin the edge. This is your starting edge. Place that edge several inches away from one corner and staple into place ... yep! staple it. Staples will secure it for wrapping and are thin enough that you will never know they are there are you are finished.

image8 and image 9: Run the reed along the edge to the first corner. Bend the reed around the corner and crisp the edge fold with your fingers. Now unwrap the reed and with a bench knife make a score line on the inside (plywood side) of the reed at the edge crisp. This lets the reed bend nice and sharp.

If your reed seems a little thick you can even remove a small v-cut at this corner to insure a nice sharp angle.

Go to the next corner and repeat until all corners have been scored. I am only going around once in this sample but you can add multiple layers of reed by continuing the wrapping process.

Susan

[WyvernWench]

image10 to end: Time for the glue. I love Arlene's tacky glue here and I have used a hot glue gun also for extra strength. Once each edge is glued and the reed set in place I will use an alligator clip to hold the two edges together. To make an easy gluing brace I have added a bunch of rubber bands and then used gun packs as wedges I'll let this dry, remove the rubber bands, put the gum back in my gum basket to chew later and I am ready to sand the join area.

You can see this reed wrap frame gives a neat little edging, a little bit of a shadow box, it's cheap to do

and ... if you aren't trying to take photos while you do it - easy to make.

Susan

[WyvernWench]

As my glue is still wet I will try and post the frame without the rubber bands and gum packs later.

Susan

[PuzzledMoose]

Susan,

Thanks ever so much for your time and effort in posting those pics. Now I understand what you mean. Nice idea.

Sounds like you need to be an octopus to photograph and carry out the process ...

[WyvernWench]

This was just a hoot this morning ... I need all five hands just to do the camera stuff on a normal day which often means I am calling in my beloved hubby for help. So there are two of us in a two foot square area both trying not to get into the picture. Second, it's cold in the studio this morning so I was set up over the heat vent ... another Dumb, Susan! The reed was instantly drying ... Grin, I got to laughing so hard that the camera table began to shake. I thought about quiting but was too far in to stop

Susan

[Dragon]

Thanks for all the information Susan. It now makes a lot of sense and looks nice. Seems like you had a good time setting this up for us.
Diane