1st Place Woodworking (16 x 16 x 29")

Techniques and Materials Used

I used every tool and machine in my woodshop, constructing over 35 custom jigs, forms, molds and fixtures to build No. 2 Celestial Compass. I researched, learned, experimented with many basic and advanced woodworking techniques to include steam bent lamination (legs and rings), resawing and machining my own veneer, radial matched and segmented veneering (table top), parquetry, woodturning, epoxy casting (spindle core), and hand cut shell inlay.

I incorporated and used 12 different species of domestic and exotic hardwoods. They are Black Palm, Bloodwood, Cherry, Gaboon Ebony, Goncalo Alves, Leopardwood, Mahogany, Maple, Oak, Sapele, Walnut, and Yellowheart. Each Ring has three different species of wood laminated together. I hand cut and shaped all of the inlay with 31 pieces of Paua shell (Abalone) inlay, 8 Mother of Pearl diamonds, the brass “No. 2”, and my signature with Mother of Pearl. The core is cast mica and UV epoxy over a turned Walnut spindle with three Yellowheart segmented rings.

The most prominent feature is when No. 2 is viewed under a UV/black light: all of the Yellowheart and the core glows.