First Real Project: Hawaiian-Themed Paradise Box

[CCTDad]

I've finally ventured beyond signs and made a mahogany paradise box on my Shapeoko XXL. I live in Hawaii so I V-carved the front, back, and top with three different, actual, Hawaiian tapa cloth patterns. I took photos of tapa cloth, cleaned them up, and converted them to curves in VCarve Pro, so the patterns are imperfect because the tapa cloth was imperfect, which is, of course, perfect. Finished in Danish oil. As you'd expect, all I can see are the flaws...

[rtibbs]

Nice job on creating the vectors!
Great looking project. We all know we’re our own worst critics.

The only thing I noticed is your machine is way to clean

[highpockets]

Beautiful work.

Thanks for sharing....

[CCTDad]

Thanks!

New spoilboard! I ditched the previous board with the threaded inserts and went with T-track on this one, and so far no regrets except for the fact that the knobs I'm using are constantly a threat to the dust boot. I've got to find another lower-profile solution. Masking tape and superglue is great occasionally, but not a sustainable option for all cuts.

BTW, the PVC in the SuckIt is a great adapter. You just have to stand around in the hardware store trying different combos until you get it right. The yellow tape makes for a nice friction-fit.

The green wire on the router is grounding. I was having serious problems with jobs quitting halfway through so I grounded everything and put ferrite chokes on all cables, then added a powered USB hub to make sure that it wasn't a signal problem. I don't know which of these things helped, but I've had absolutely no problems since so I gotta think it was at least one of them.

[Bob Reda]

Very nice

Bob

[scottp55]

Liking the appearance of you vector cuts!
Very nice job...Congrats!!
scott

[alfredom]

Very, very great work, well done.

[mtylerfl]

Beautiful work! Excellent design customization!