Hi all!
At the start I want to point that I didn't invent this method. I saw it long time ago on some Polish website but unfortunately don't remember where exactly so can't give a credit at the moment. This method will allow you to make any size of buckets and barrels to desired scale.
Materials required:
Depending on the size you looking for, small dowel, wooden strips, PVA glue, Your favorite relaxing music
For my bucket I used paint brush slightly tapered on the end (diameter approx 6mm) and 2x1 mahogany strips
-Start with sanding two edges of the 2x1 to get close to trapezoid shape (I ended up with half dowel shape
)
-Put one layer of packaging tape on the dowel. That will allow to slide off bucket from the dowel.
-Cut 2x1 to desired length, they do not have to be the same but the more similar to each other the better. This will make work easier later.
-Apply small amount of glue on the part of the dowel that is wrapped with packaging tape.
-Turn on your favorite relaxing music
and start laying pieces of timber around the dowel adding small amount of glue on the edges, I used end of cocktail stick to do that. Depending on diameter of your dowel last piece might need to be smaller to finish laying them nicely around dowel.
-Give glue a moment to bond then carefully remove bucket from the dowel by twisting around. I can't tell exactly how long you need to wait as that depend how much time you spend laying small pieces on the dowel.
-When glue will dry completely you can put bucket back on the dowel for sanding and trimming.
-Last part is to cut the bottom for your bucked and insert in to it . Don't do that until you completely happy with your bucket.
As a finish I used Danish Oil and added reinforcements made from thin copper tape balckened using chemical blackener. I still need handle but I don't have at the moment wire that will be small enough. Smaller bucket is in early stage of sanding.
As for the making the barrel the dowel need to be straight that's the only difference. Simply you have to sand down more material on the both ends leaving more in the midle.
As soon as I have chance I will update this topic with detailed "walktrough" with pictures.
Happy modeling!
Arek
US
