WorkShop Entry - machining those bases

Apologies in advance for the curt descriptions in this post. It has been a very busy and of course a very strange week. I am lucky in that the threat of Covid-19 has not impeded my work too greatly. Good luck to everyone in dealing with the virus.

I completed the work on the two orrery bases from the previous week. What was interesting about this process is how, due to their shapes, separate techniques were employed to reach the same results.

Skims on both the top and undersides of the bases are taken. The round base was then taken over to the lathe.

The diameter of the base is brought to size and then a grove is turned on the top face, this is to house the brass chapter ring. A profile is then turned on the outside edge. The last job is to sand the surface down to a smooth finish.

Over on the mill the edges of the square base are squared up and brought to size and the profile is added to the edge.

Various fixing holes are drilled and the grove for the chapter ring is chased out.

The square base is then sanded until smooth. Both bases are cleaned with white spirit in preparation for treatment. The square base is treated with Danish Oil, three coats over a 48 hour period. The round base was finished with a Rosewood stain giving a darker complexion to the wood. Once dry both bases are buffed with wax to bringing them to a shine.

I will be finishing these orreries off very soon. Here is a sneak peak.