My Jenga Block

[BobD]

Hi everyone.
Here's my Jenga Block carving...I'm proud because I used a REAL jenga block. The grain was tough, but with a sharp knife, I made it work.

i finished it with a dip in an ebonizing stain I was making for a SSW article (the old vinegar and steel wool stain) and love the color it got!

The pencil is for size reference!

Let me know what you think!

Bob

[Marci MN]

Sharp!!

What is this stain? Are there directions for it here on this site? I like the darkness of that stain.

And speaking of Jenga Blocks, where is Lightfoot lately?

[BobD]

Marci,
It's easy--take a glass jar and fill it 3/4 of the way full with white vinegar. Shread a piece of steel wool and add a few rusty nails or screws and put a piece of cardboard on the top. Let it sit for a couple days and test it out on a piece of scrap.

The stain reacts with the tannin in the wood. Woods like cherry, oak and walnut react best (I'm not sure what the Jenga wood was) but if you put strong tea on the wood before staining, it works as well (tea is also high in tanin).

The article will be in our sister magazine, Scroll Saw Workshop.

Bob

[Tucson Bill]

Well Bob, I gotta tell ya, as a springing mountain lion it kind of leaves a lot to be desired! However, as an arrowhead it is GREAT!!

I might have to go find me a Jenga game to buy. I was thinking of cutting some basswood to the proper size, but I guess that is cheating according to the original thread.

[Ashbys]

Well done , Bob.
Is it a sharp as it looks ?

I like the facets .


Ash

[BobD]

I worked hard to get those facets (I used to be a geology major, so I know what flint looks like)...It was difficult with the flacky wood (not ditzy, but it would crumble under my knife <grin>)

It could do some damage it hit a piece of tissue paper <grin>

Bob

[Claude]

Nice arrow point, BobD - now all you have to do is the Indian, the bow, the horse...

Claude

[Bandaid]

Nice carving on the block Bob.
Just a tip on the vinegar stain. I've used that recipe before to make a stain that gives a good simulation of barn wood. If you are going to use steel wool (personally I've had better success using just nails), make sure to rinse the residual oil off the wool that is left on it from the manufacturing process, otherwise it takes a longer time for the acid in the vinegar to take effect.

Reg

[Callynne]

Nice arrow head Bob, you did a great job with that 'flaky wood'! Thanks for sharing the staining tips, I've never even heard of doing that! Thanks for sharing both with us! Deborah