As I stated in my original post about this wooden piece, it is quite the intricate project. Worth every minute you spend on it! You will need:
Begin with your design of choice. I made 16 spokes but you may want to simplify and use my design your inspiration. Put your spin on this project, you can use new wood, an old pallet or scraps from your stack of artistic materials. I prefer the pine for the of cutting, the sharp edges and clean look.
Create your pattern and trace your pattern onto the wood. My spokes measure 15" long x 6 1/2' wide. Yours may vary with the size you choose to make. This thing is really quite large and very heavy. if you make a wider pattern, you may need a wider board. We used a stacking method to maximize the wood we used.
Once cutouts are finished, lay out your spokes to ensure fit is proper. I used toothpicks as spacers. I also painted the front & sides prior to attaching to the backing board. Go for the look you are interested in; layered colors, sand down for vintage look, stain or put a wash on it.
After completely dry, prep the plywood by cutting a circle, large enough to put 2 brads or screws between the center section and the cut out near the outer edge. See photo for what that looks like. I also created curved pieces to encircle the outer edge. Both plywood sections are necessary for stability. The outer plywood backing is used for hanging the piece.
Next, lay out your spokes to ensure proper fit, make any adjustment & get ready for gluing and attaching. Using epoxy or fast acting glue begin with the first spoke, clamp or weigh down while glue dries. Using a compressor or screws & screwdriver, turn over & fasten together from the back side. This may take a little longer, but there are no holes to fill, sand & paint.
One by one, glue & fasten each spoke to the plywood. The toothpicks are placed between each spoke to keep even as they were lined up, glued & attached I used 2 brads per lower section of spoke (or 2 screws) for stabilization. Once all the spokes are attached, get the outer circle pieces prepared. You will be working on the plywood side. Again, using the toothpicks as spacers, attach the plywood pieces all the way around the perimeter of the architectural structure with 2 brads or 2 screws. Whew.
The eye fish mirror is epoxied (or glued) to the center. The inspiration photo I found had a wooden hemisphere painted like the rest of the piece and was very interesting. I love fish eye mirrors and couldn't resist using it on this.
Hope your project goes smoothly. Be patient with the attaching the plywood to the spokes portion of the process. It seemed to want to shift around while I was putting it together and never stopped shifting. Alas, once it was finished I was as relieved the whole thing was over and it did look like something!
- Architectural pattern
- 2 8' - 1' x 10' pine boards
- Pencil
- 24" square of 1/4" plywood ( or a scrap of wood, choice, same size)
- Compressor with 1" brads or 1" drywall screws with screwdriver or power screwdriver
- Jigsaw
- Toothpicks to be used as spacers to attach spokes to plywood
- Epoxy or fast drying glue
- Fish eye mirror (purchased at auto parts store, pried from the plastic framing)
Begin with your design of choice. I made 16 spokes but you may want to simplify and use my design your inspiration. Put your spin on this project, you can use new wood, an old pallet or scraps from your stack of artistic materials. I prefer the pine for the of cutting, the sharp edges and clean look.
Create your pattern and trace your pattern onto the wood. My spokes measure 15" long x 6 1/2' wide. Yours may vary with the size you choose to make. This thing is really quite large and very heavy. if you make a wider pattern, you may need a wider board. We used a stacking method to maximize the wood we used.
Once cutouts are finished, lay out your spokes to ensure fit is proper. I used toothpicks as spacers. I also painted the front & sides prior to attaching to the backing board. Go for the look you are interested in; layered colors, sand down for vintage look, stain or put a wash on it.
After completely dry, prep the plywood by cutting a circle, large enough to put 2 brads or screws between the center section and the cut out near the outer edge. See photo for what that looks like. I also created curved pieces to encircle the outer edge. Both plywood sections are necessary for stability. The outer plywood backing is used for hanging the piece.
Next, lay out your spokes to ensure proper fit, make any adjustment & get ready for gluing and attaching. Using epoxy or fast acting glue begin with the first spoke, clamp or weigh down while glue dries. Using a compressor or screws & screwdriver, turn over & fasten together from the back side. This may take a little longer, but there are no holes to fill, sand & paint.
One by one, glue & fasten each spoke to the plywood. The toothpicks are placed between each spoke to keep even as they were lined up, glued & attached I used 2 brads per lower section of spoke (or 2 screws) for stabilization. Once all the spokes are attached, get the outer circle pieces prepared. You will be working on the plywood side. Again, using the toothpicks as spacers, attach the plywood pieces all the way around the perimeter of the architectural structure with 2 brads or 2 screws. Whew.
The eye fish mirror is epoxied (or glued) to the center. The inspiration photo I found had a wooden hemisphere painted like the rest of the piece and was very interesting. I love fish eye mirrors and couldn't resist using it on this.
Hope your project goes smoothly. Be patient with the attaching the plywood to the spokes portion of the process. It seemed to want to shift around while I was putting it together and never stopped shifting. Alas, once it was finished I was as relieved the whole thing was over and it did look like something!
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