The Illusionist's heart

You're in love.
You like woodworking.
You hate to buy industrial-made junk-jewelry.
You want to give something personal and special.
You don't want to cut your heart out to give it away either.

This Instructable is for you!

I'll show you how to make a wooden 'cartouche' - just a piece of wood - that can be transformed into a beautiful heart.

Give the cartouche to your love. If after two hours she's still asking you what it's good for: take it back, and change her into a smarter version.

Where I got the inspiration from? Did you see 'The Illusionist'? That famous movie with an outstanding Edward Norton? Remember the wooden heart? Didn't it inspire you to build one your own?

All you need:
- a beam of hardwood (square shaped - three inches thick)
- the usual woodworking tools
- a lot of patience

Step 1: Cut the beam

Sand ONE side of the beam to get a smooth surface. No need to sand the other sides.
Cut two cubes out of the beam.
Use a circular saw. Don't forget gloves, goggles & ear plugs.

Comments

[chris_atsituab11]

really cool! but i still can't understand on the screw part.

[dermord]

nice job!!, but isnt exactly like the ilusionist movie (the one from the movie can contain a picture inside)

[bricobart]

Thanx and yes, it isn't the same at all. This is a simplified version of it - 'The Illusionist's Heart For Dummies' ;-)

[dermord]

still its really difficult xDD hehehe

[tech dawg]

I don't understand how to do the screw part I'm building this and I understand everything up to the part with the screw how does the price turn?

[bricobart]

The bolt side is fixed all together, the screwhead side turns.

[TwistedJack]

so the thread side is locked in place but the head is filled down enough to fit in the hole but not come out the other side?

[bricobart]

That's it! Screw & side A are glued solidly together, side B (the side which only has a hole) turns.

[haroldandjoe]

I only have hand tools and a regular drill, no drill press. I tried first with purpleheart. It was pretty infuriating. It's just way too hard a wood to shape and drill accurately without a press. So finally, I decided to use the basswood I have. This is unfinished, but I'm pretty satisfied so far. It actually lines up! I'm thinking about using a dowel as well.
Very nice instructable!!

[haroldandjoe]

the basswood heart

[Gato Nipon]

Ouch !! When I sand wood at least I put some latex gloves. I grip better and if you sand your hand there's 75% chances to not even touch the skin. I hope that heals soon. Ouch again.

[triangularsaw]

Is it possible to simply cut the shape from a piece of wood, then saw it in half?

[bricobart]

It is, but you're gonna be in trouble while drilling the axis holes in the two halves. It's o so difficult to have the same angle in the two halves...

[mads281086]

Hi bartolo
It´s a great instructable and I want to go out and get started now! but.. one question. The screw. When you turn the finished pendent, wont the screw separate the two pieces?

[mads281086]

I mean.. I can see from the pictures that it isn´t so.. But my mind is baffled!

[Daftehh]

Hey thanks man!

[bricobart]

Nice work! Congratulations!!!

[DTC13]

You are missing where the top/front half rotates to reveal the photo.

[or_ford98]

My dodgy heart... i need more precision lol

[bricobart]

Looks like my first one ;-) Your next one will be better, sure!

[DTC13]

Great look but your missing the last step

[bricobart]

And what step is this supposed to be?

[opticalfx]

Great job! I'm a little lost as to how far down you round off the head of the screw in step 5. and if you enlarge the holes to the thread dia. or the shank dia. of the screw.
If I can pull off this one off I want to make a larger one (like cart562's) for my daughter.
And again Nice Job.

[bricobart]

Thanx a lot. Hope it works out well!!!

[bricobart]

Thanx to all of you who voted for this Ible in the woodworking contest. It didn't make it to the top, but you know what? If I look to my wife I know I won already! ;-)

[cart562]

This was another thing that I actually got around to making in Woodshop class and it's mostly my fault but it took me 3 tries. I didn't see the need at all to start from a cube and I love working with what i have, so I used flooring. The first try, I didn't angle the cuts enough and i drilled the holes off so that failed. The second time, I cut it across the grain and this kind of mahogany just likes to split, so it did. The 3rd time, however, was right after i broke the 2nd piece and there just happened to be enough scrap left over from my wooden bowl!(another thing on the site) So that went off without a hitch. Two other people in my class liked this idea so much that they decided to make the same thing; both of them made the angle really steep which made for a long, and quite stylish heart. I'm going to make a few more just for fun.

[bricobart]

It IS not an easy project, I know! Me too it took me 3 tries before I was really getting satisfied. That's why I used big cubes this time to get it done.
Nice work, that heart of yours, by the way.
Just one tip: make it a bit smaller next time. Or look out for a HUGE girl! ;-)

[cart562]

Naa, I have a big heart (:

[cart562]

I also just used a dowel for the center

[tech dawg]

This is sooo sick!I love this so much!

[bricobart]

Thanxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!!

[tech dawg]

I wish i could make one!

[rpowell-1]

Hey there, i was wondering what are the dimensions of your initial cubes? :)
I have my wood all ready but i'm worried i make it too thin. Thanks.

[bricobart]

Hi rpowell! My cubes were something like 4 inches. Actual thickness is 8mm, that's 0.25 inch more or less. Better start a bit too thick and then go thinner & thinner. Good luck!!!

[theyesman]

Did you get the idea of this from "The Illusionist" movie?

[bricobart]

Oh yes;-) I love this movie!

[batman96]

You need to edit the instructable and give credit to the movie for inspiring you.

P.S. I love that movie too!

[bricobart]

I'll do, you're right!

[sabu.dawdy]

a heart to die for .. lol.. no i am not being cheesy. in fact if the color combination was red/orange, black/pink .. it would had been allot more awesome

[bricobart]

My wife proposed something similar: using two types of oil, for example.
Feel free to interfere in the process, I'd like to see those new hearts!!!