Assembly and handwork begin

The sign for Cap’n Elias’ Shipwreck Cove at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is a good size, measuring in at four feet wide by almost six feet high and just a little under one foot thick. It is going to be a beauty when we are done! It is fabricated of nine layers of Precision Board glued over a sturdy, welded steel frame. Our ShopSabre CNC router did the carving and cutting thus far, and now it is time for the handwork which is the fun part.

As soon as Henry got to the shop after school, he enthusiastically volunteered to help. I spread the glue onto each layer, and then Henry did the misting of the water with a spray bottle to activate the glue. After helping to lift each layer of HDU into place, he then planned out where I would put the screws to clamp things tight. We made great progress with his expert help. Since we used a fast-set glue, it wasn’t long until we could begin smoothing out the edges and start to carve in the wood grains. Henry, as always, was eager to give the tools a go.

Chandelier installed

Late this afternoon, it was time to install the giant chandelier in the Copper Crown Suite of the Hazelnut Inn. The first order of business was to tip it on its edge and then pack it into the suite. We gently hoisted it up to the ceiling with the shop’s chain fall. After temporarily placing it on the scaffold, we removed the chain fall and permanently hooked it to the sturdy ceiling mount, which was braced back onto the roof trusses. Things went smoothly and without a scratch; another milestone was achieved.

Ready for installation

Today, at last, was the day to do the last touch-ups on the Copper Crown’s chandelier and hook up the forklift to take it over to the Hazelnut Inn. The transfer went smoothly and it will sit in the courtyard until tomorrow afternoon. Then we’ll see if our plan to hoist it up into place will work. It is going to be exciting! Stay tuned…