I made a plank with two faces! - Intro to Woodwork

Last week we had an orientation to the UTAS School of Art Woodwork Room as part of our Introduction to Fabrication unit.

I finished a rough cut piece of wood using a variety of machinery... in other words, I made a plank of wood.

This blog is a quick introduction to some of the machinery we will be using to make timber picture frames as our assessment pieces.

THE SLIDING COMPOUND SAW

OHS requirements: 

sturdy covered shoes (preferably steel caps), hearing protection and safety glasses. Never put hands more closer than a foot away from cutting blade. Slide material in from the left. Use another piece of timber to move any offcuts away from the cutting area.

Sliding compound saw

First we cut a large rough cut plank of Tasmanian Oak into smaller cuts using the Sliding Compound Saw. Then we cut pieces of rough cut Radiata Pine to have a go at finishing the rough cut timber.

Uneven, rough cut, Radiata Pine timber. 

Our teacher Jon Hemming demonstrating the correct use of the Sliding Compound Saw

THE BUZZER

OHS requirements: 

Sturdy covered shoes (preferably steel caps), hearing protection and safety glasses. Do not place your hand anywhere near the blades. Use wooden tools/aids to push timber over the blades. Do not leave the machine while blades are still turning, even if motor is off.

The Buzzer or Plainer

The next step is to use the buzzer to evenly smooth the surface of the rough cut wood.

Jon adjusting the "fence"

You can adjust the buzzer for different thicknesses of wood using the "fence" and you can even tilt the fence to plain off a corner etc.

The Out-feed and In-feed tables are separated by the blades.

Out-feed and In-feed tables are also adjustable. The In-Feed table is always a smidge (less than a millimetre) lower than the Out-feed table and the blades. This is so the blades can actually cut away at the wood. Jon warned us not to attempt to adjust the Out-Feed table unless we know exactly what we are doing as the Out-feed table is carefully lined up with the blades and is usually only adjusted when the blades have been changed.

It is the blades that do the cutting. With the machine off, Jon is showing us the blades attached to a cylinder that spins very fast and does the job of plaining the wood surface. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TOUCH THE BLADES. Jon is a professional and knows what he is doing, if you must touch the blades then PLEASE ensure that the machine is OFF and the cylinder has  stopped spinning! 

Jon demonstrating using the first step of correct buzzer technique 

(note buzzer is not switched on)

Jon is pushing the rough cut wood through the buzzer using a wooden pushing device to protect his fingers and hand. Notice too the big yellow guard that keeps you away from the blades. He feeds the wood in WITH not AGAINST the grain so that the buzzer can smooth down the wood fibres.

Jon demonstrating the second part of correct buzzer technique. 

(Note Buzzer is not switched on)

Jon uses his other hand in a ninja claw position to help push down on and stabilise the wood as it goes along the "fence" and towards the blades. When his clawed hand is directly above the blades he lifts it up and replaces it after passing over the top of them.

Jon demonstrating the third part of correct buzzer technique. 

(Note machine is now operating and he is actually plaining the wood)

The third part of the technique is to lift you clawed hand when the wood passes over the blades then replace it when the area you were supporting passes over the blades.

The newly smoothed "facing" of the timber is marked with a "facing" symbol

Now that the surface of the wood has been smoothed to Jon's satisfaction he marks it as a "facing" with a little fishy symbol. The tail of the fish should point down to where you intend the side facing to be.

The thumb fists technique

(Buzzer is switched off in this image)

Jon shows us the thumb fists technique used to push the side facing along the blades. This keeps fingers from getting caught in the blades. There are also wooden implements that look like massive salad spoons with a grove cut out of them that can be used for pushing smaller bits of timber over the blades.

Jon demonstrating the thumb fists technique on the buzzer

(Buzzer is switched off in this image)

Digitally enhanced close-up if the front and side facing symbols

This new facing is called the "side facing". It is marked with an arrow head symbol that connects to the facing fish symbols tail. The face and the side face should now be precisely 90degrees. This can be checked with a "square".

Checking the facings with a square

Finished "side facing" in comparison with rough-cut side.

THE THICKNESSER

OHS requirements: 

Sturdy covered shoes (preferably steel caps), hearing protection and safety glasses. Do not place your hand inside the machine.

The Thicknesser Machine

Now that the facings are done with the buzzer, the other sides can be machined with a "Thicknesser". Blades of the thicknesser are at the top, above the tray. The tray can be raised or lowered. The timber is passed though the machine WITH not AGAINST the grain with the facing side down. Jon suggested not trying to take off more than 2mm thickness in any one pass though the machine

Jon adjusting the tray height.

All those funny plastic pipes you see attached to machines are for extracting saw dust.

The Thicknesser has two adjustments. One is the height of the tray and the other is the speed of the blades. The height can be raised or lowered in large increments using the top switch. For smaller finer adjustments there is a tachometer style dial with the height in millimetres  clearly displayed. The lower black dial is the speed adjustment, although if felt like the Thicknesser had one speed and that was grab the wood and shoot it out the other end like a gun. 

Thicknesser tray height adjustment dial.

Now that the timber has been finished we cross cut it into even lengths using the Table Saw.

THE TABLE SAW

The enormous Table Saw. 

This saw is worth the same amount as a new small car.

Table Saw OHS requirements: sturdy covered shoes (preferably steel caps), hearing protection and safety glasses. Do not place your hand anywhere near the cutting blades. Use other pieces of timber to shift off cuts. Move your hand in slow motion near the blades. 

Jon shows Sam how to correctly support the piece of wood being cut

(machine is not on in this image)

The Table Saw cutting blade is exposed while cutting. The saw has a series of "teeth" along its edge. These are the things that cut through the timber and hands, so keep clear.

Jon making a cross cut

The Table Saw is of course fully adjustable and any angle can be accurately cut on it. Notice Jon is wearing hearing and eye protection and keeping his hand away from the saw.

Liam and Sam listening intently to Jon's instructions.

(machine is not on in this image)

Here ends our introduction to the Woodwork area. 

This week (on Thursday) we will be starting our picture frame project... did I mention that a couple of weeks ago my Metalwork teacher Stuart, chopped of the tips of some of his fingers? He's going to be OK and I miss him heaps. Anyway, due to this unfortunate circumstance, I still haven't finished my Metalwork project of making a stool... but I do have until the end of term to get it done.

INK ON MY FACE - THE JOYS OF PRINTMAKING A SELF PORTRAIT

Self Portrait Single Colour Linocut Project

Today I got to rub ink and paper all over my face... well not my actual face, although that would make an interesting and slightly toxic experiment for core studies... I digress.... My first Printmaking theme (as a first year) is the dreaded self portrait. That's when you get to indulge in the narcissistic pleasure of exploring who you are in a visual format. Artists though out history have immortalised themselves on canvas, paper, stone and cave walls. This semester, it is my turn. Rather than spitting paint onto my hand, gazing into a mirror or calling up my sprit guide for a totem vision, I decided to use the latest technology and choose a photo.

the image I chose for my self portrait was taken late last year

The guidance we have been given in lectures asks us to explore aspects of who we are. To key into ideas of culture, gender, age, sexuality etc. Naturally, I chose the sexuality angle as it's a big part of who I am, being a bit of an activist and all. It didn't take long to find a picture I felt faithfully expressed who I am. I wanted to capture an intimate but non-threatening every day moment that any couple might experience. I wanted to look proud, defiant and maybe even a little smug. I liked this image because it captured the moment I was looking for.

tracing out using a graphics tablet

The next step was to break out the Wacom graphics tablet, open the photo in Photoshop and start figuring out which lines to trace. The whole time remembering that this image has to be a single colour (black) print on white paper and there's no gradients or shading.  How do you draw those bags under the eyes without making yourself look like a Granny in the process? The key is to not draw everything you see. You have to select the right amount of wrinkle or figure out how to give the impression of age without looking like a shrunken chip packet. The same process you would need to go though if you were looking in the mirror and drawing yourself. The image is going to be made by cutting grooves onto a piece of lino and then using it like a upside down stamp so you have to remember that cutting is not as easy as drawing with a pen or pencil. Note: It helps to make the photo layer slightly opaque so you can see your lines better over the top. I also used a few layers (one for my hair, one for my face etc) incase I made a massive mistake and wanted to delete a section.

tracing this image into Photoshop took about 2 hours

When I had figured out what to trace and how to make that hair of mine truly messy like spaghetti I added some shading lines as these always look awesome in a linocut. These types of lines remind me a bit of a topographical map (a map that shows elevation represented in line). I might play with this more in the future. I could use the lines to really emphasise shape not just shade.

The next step is figuring out how to transfer the image onto the piece of soft linoleum or "lino".

the print out has been placed face down onto the lino with carbon paper between

I printed out the A4 image on a standard ink jet printer and grabbed some A4 carbon paper to transfer the picture from the printout to the lino. Now here's the tricky part. You've got to remember that whatever you cut into the lino is going to be reversed when it prints. I put the carbon paper carbon side down onto the lino then placed the flipped face down print out on top of that. So the whole thing didn't wriggle about I lightly taped the carbon and printout to the lino securing it in place. Now when I draw over the top of all this I know the carbon paper is going to leave a mark on the lino.

use a hard pencil for a better mark from the carbon paper below

With the right lighting you can see the printout though the back side of the paper. Ideally use a hard pencil such as a 2H or 4H but HB will do the trick and draw over the black lines and fill on your print out. As you re-pencil these lines the carbon paper makes an impression on the lino below.

penciling over the image took about an hour

Now that the image is penciled over its time to check and see if the carbon paper has done its job... and massage your hand and wrist because an hour of that really hurts when you're not used to it!

The original image, the lino transferred image and the used carbon paper. 

Notice the reversed image.

At this point it was really late so instead of torturing my hand further I decided to hit the hay and cut out the image the next day in printmaking class. 

UTAS School of Art Printmaking Studio

(the black press at the left rear of the picture is apparently over 150 years old!)

UTAS School of Art Printmaking Studio

(this image only shows about half of the studio)

So the next day I get to class at 9am say hello to our tutor Michael Schlitz, and get down to what I think will be a quick cut out session... well, 4 HOURS LATER class finished an hour ago, I've wagged the friday art forum and I emerge from a pile of lino shavings with RSI and slight dehydration ready to do my first proofing print. We're not using the presses today. Today it is printing by hand with a special tool a "baren" that looks like a mens round hairbrush but with ball bearings instead of comb and a burnisher. Apparently one of the best burnishers to use is the bottom of a common everyday dinner spoon. Usually you use a baren for woodblock carving (which is the first non assessed exercise most people were doing) but I was cheeky and carved my lino first. I just wanted to get my first assignment done as there are 3 to do in 5 weeks!!! 

my lino cut (after inking because I couldn't wait to print)

this took 4 hours to cut out

I was so pleased with my lino cut. Particularly with the texture of the lines. I cut it out mainly with a medium V groove cutter but did use a large U groove on the big spaces. Michael had shown us how to sharpen our tools and during this process I learnt how important a good set of sharp tools can be. I managed this print with a dodgy, cheap partially blunt set but made sure I sharpened them after class because I almost cut though my lines a few times!

But making the lino cut is just the start of the printing process...

To print you "ink up" a roller by rolling out the ink onto the bench with a roller, then when the ink is the right consistency you roll it onto the lino. Then you place your paper on top, place another bit of paper on top of that and start rubbing with the baren and burnisher! 

So what was the result?

Here it is (drumroll)... the moment of truth... on proofing paper...

print 1

print 2

print 1 & 2 side by side (double the Phoebe!)

original image for comparison

Naturally I was delighted with the result. It turned out even better than I expected. I loved the texture lines in the background. I think the band of black on the top and bottom, which was purely unintended actually enhanced the print and I really enjoyed how each print is ever so slightly different from the other because of using a baren instead of the press. I learnt the importance of sharp tools, having a break and some ideas on using texture more in the future. I look forward to printing the design onto some Japanese mulberry paper (this is what michael recommends for baren and burnishing printing) and using it on the press with some heavy european paper next week.

The only thing to do was put the test prints into the drying rack and start thinking about the 2 multiple (2-3 colours) colour self portraits i will have to do next!

my first proof prints on the drying rack. 

(It can take a couple of hours for the ink to dry).

I'll post the final good paper prints under this text on this blog when they are done but like me, you will just have to wait for another week. 

Now that was epic but really rewarding. Loved it! 

THIS WEEK I CANNED A RAINBOW AND CREATED A LIGHT CAPTURING DEVICE... WHAT DID YOU DO?

The theme of my first assignment for Core Studies is light. The aim is to "capture light" in a faithful, unexpected and intriguing way.  I've played around with a few ideas and methods but heres the stuff I'm most proud of. So far my Core studies journal is 30 pages long and it's only been a week!

Miracle Brand Light Products

The Light Capture Unit (top and front view)

Light Capture Unit (back view)

Light Capture Unit Instructions (on back of packaging)

Rainbow in a can (front view)

Rainbow in a can (back view)

Rainbow in a can (label design)

Here's how these ideas evolved in my journal. I do have 28 other pages of ideas but most were really lame ones.

I created the light play cage but it turned into a cat toy...

Core Studies Unit Description

"Core Studies in Fine Art and Design is an introduction to fundamental themes, concepts and principals common to Art and Design practice. You will find that Core Studies compliments studio majors by developing a common formal language and conceptual framework between all visual art and design disciplines. Core Studies focuses on successful ways to develop any Art and Design project and encourages you to use a wide variety of different media and methods to explore these processes."  (Page 2, Unit Outline: FSA111 Core Studies in Art and Design 1A 2011)