I had some redwood fence boards sitting around, so I figured I'd start cutting some large versions of my Escher Reptiles. Only later did I realize they'd make a pretty cool table. I cut 6 semicircular segments, and I was off to the races.
Tools:
Tools:
- access to a CNC Router, laser cutter, waterjet cutter, or whatever will cut your material. Or a scroll saw and a ton of skill and patience.
- Wood. I used some super cheapo redwood fece material. 5.5" x 3/4" x 6'. Use whatever you want. This can be adapted.
- 2' x '2' x 1/2" plywood square as a base.
- 1 Quart Glaze Coat, from Lowes
- Bondo for smoothing out the sides and bottom
- 3 Paint colors (I used gray, gray and gray)
- glue to hold the puzzle pieces down to the plywood base.
- M.C. Escher of course.
- buildyourcnc.com. This guy's videos inspired me to build my own CNC. If he can build a CNC in his living room & bathroom, I figured i can build one in my garage. The design used in the tutorial video's isn't great (not very stiff), but it's what I built, and it works. Looks like the ones he sells are much better designed than the DIY one shown in the tutorial videos.
- Penny Desk.
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Signing UpStep 1: Cut your Reptiles! Paint them too.
Using the attached 'lizard-large.dxf' you can cut out your own escher reptiles. I do it in 2 steps:
Open the .DXF file, and you'll see both and outline, and a bunch of internal lines. I do the engraving both on the internal lines, and the outline. I do it with a 90-degree V router bit. After then engraving, you can cut out the reptile with up to a 1/4" diameter router bit. A larger bit won't cut the internal radii right.
Then, I let my kids paint them however they like. Obviously, if you're using really nice wood, you'll want to skip the painting and staining steps... This would look great with 3 types of hardwood, I'm sure. Maybe I'll try that next.
Open the .DXF file, and you'll see both and outline, and a bunch of internal lines. I do the engraving both on the internal lines, and the outline. I do it with a 90-degree V router bit. After then engraving, you can cut out the reptile with up to a 1/4" diameter router bit. A larger bit won't cut the internal radii right.
Then, I let my kids paint them however they like. Obviously, if you're using really nice wood, you'll want to skip the painting and staining steps... This would look great with 3 types of hardwood, I'm sure. Maybe I'll try that next.
lizard-border.dxf194 KB
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What about this... Make the tiles from 1/2" material (run the 3/4" through a planer). Glue them to a 1/4" plywood base. Using the CNC route a 1/4" x 1" rabbet on the bottom inside edge of the arc pieces, forming a 1-inch cavity you can glue the plywood base to. This way, the final thickness is still 3/4", the tiles have a good base, but the base isn't visible from the side--it's flush with the arcs, but inset from the table edge. You might try that when you do another with nice hardwood. Glue the tiles to a 1/4" plywood base. Using 1/2" tiles I've attempted to attach a small cross-section to show the idea. The plywood base extends 1" beyond the tiles, and the arcs slip down over this.
I think what I'd do is this: make the tiles from maybe even 1/4" wood (could that stay flat & stable over time?) I'd run everything through the jointer & planer to get very precise thicknesses. I'd use your idea of rabbeting the underside of the arcs to get a nice finish. Then, when all is said and done, it would be a tabletop/puzzle.
I showed this to my wife to see if she'd like one. She pointed out that there are quite a number of different Escher tile patterns, and chose a different one that she thinks would look really good with some exotic woods (but wouldn't make such a cool puzzle, though).
This pic is from http://www.precisionstrobe.com/jc/eschertiles/eschertiles.html
Not exactly sure what it means, but it sure appears to be a complement :-)
Thanks -Caleb
-Caleb