Callmaking Again, Twisted Wire for Twisted Minds

Finished this one today. This is one that I have worked on for quite awhile. Most of the time making specialized tooling to get the job done. After finishing this one the next will be quicker but the time will still invested will be close to 8 hours.



This is the progress, first I turn and fit the ends, but do not glue anything together.



Next I mark off a grid to know where to carve the flutes and the groove for the twisted wire. To do that I use a homemade indexing jig.



Using the jig I come up with this.



Next comes the carving of the flutes and slot for the twisted wire to lay in. Then I apply the finish, in this case 4 coats of teak oil over a weeks time, then it sits for about a month to let the finish cure. Next the wood parts are buffed and waxed. Next comes the assembly, a royal pain. But the end result is worth it.

I have started a set of 2 that I hope to have finished by October to enter in a callmaking contest.

That looks good DC

Nice work Sir!

Dang good looking piece

looks great!

Thanks for the comments. As to the inquires as to being for sale, the answer is no. This one is mine all mine.

Great craftsmanship DC, love it

That is out the box nice DC

looks great

That's a beauty, man! Good JOB

You're a true artist, DC.

Very nice

Very nice DC. One of a kind. Nice tooling. Good luck on the contest.

Is that ss safety wire twisted up with a pair of safety wire pliers?

Nope, it is craft wire twisted using a a vise and a hand held drill chuck. I took about a foot of craft wire, attached to ends in a vise, and the folded end in the drill chuck and twisted it by hand. I tried it with a variable speed drill and that was a total disaster.

Looks cool DC

Get you some safety wire pliers on eBay. I use twisted Monel wire for lots of stuff. Get that on eBay too.

I tried the pliers. My neighbor brought his safety wire pliers for me to try, my method gives me more control and it allows me to make any length I need. For another project I made a wire 3 feet long, and all of the twists looked the same, from one end to another.

The craft wire I use is copper that has been coated in various colors, but I only use silver or gold for this. It is a nice and soft wire easy to work with, I have tried many types and sources of wire, so far none has been easier to work than the beading craft wire from Hobby Lobby. None have been as cheap either. The knife makers can and do use real gold or silver, they can get a return on the investment, I will stick with the coated copper wire.

That's pretty cool, nice work

Very impressive

There's no denying your method is fine.

Watching

I like it

Very nice work DC