Greetings all,
How to send small wood bits, like cubes?
Someone told me that it is done using an equipment like a bowl, where you put the wood bits plus an abrasive material like sand or very small metal spheres and the bowl shakes for some time, sanding the wood cubes (or whatever wood shape you want). I failed to find such an equipment at the internet. Sameone can confirm this method and point out where such equipment can be found?
Thank you very much,
Neto
I tumble-sand them in my clothes dryer after they are stained. Put several hundred checkers in an old pillowcase, add some shredded sandpaper, tie a Very secure knot in the end of the pillow case then throw them in the dryer on air dry for an hour (while I go somewhere else.) You can run many pillowcases at a time. Think how much a load of jeans weighs. It's Very noisy but effective.
Separating each color and each grade of sandpaper into its own pillowcase, the dust does transfer color to the lighter colors if they are in the same bag. You'll end up with many pillowcases, but I just pick up ugly ones at the thrift store for about a buck each. King size if you can find them, it's easier to tie a knot. Perhaps you could sew your own from canvas with a drawstring.
Each time I run a batch, I'll add about a 1/4 sheet of sandpaper, torn into 1" bits, and each piece folded so the sand is on the outside. Just leave the old worn out paper in the bag, it won't hurt.
Use an old dryer that doesn't heat anymore. You can probably haul one away for free, then you would have a dedicated tumbler and not get sand and dust in your socks and skivvies. Maybe then you could line the drum with a carpet scrap or sheet foam for soundproofing?
~Bryanna
I would add that you will probably want to sand first and then paint. Painting first and then sanding will mar the finish of the paint and dull the luster.
If you're using a finishing oil that requires a fine sanding after use, then you would want to finish and then sand. If you're using a spray paint then you will want to sand and then finish.
I color my checkers, pawns, dice and toy parts with a transparent stain. I like how the grain shows through. Sanding them after staining 'antiques' them even further, letting just a touch of natural wood peek though on an edge. I order hardwood cubes by the thousands from wood-n-crafts.com and laurascrafts.com and most arrive very smooth with crisp sharp edges. I pick through and sort out any rough or misshappen ones, it happens. These get sanded first to see if they are salvageable. I found it to be cheaper to order by the 500 or 1000 than to start with lumber and do it myself.
The 'german' pieces are very solid color, with thick looking paint, right? If you want that look, sand them smooth first. You might need to use a pore-filler primer. Maybe sand again. Then find a way to give them several coats of opaque paint, then sand with very very-fine grit, then finish with a spray-varnish or -urethane to give them a high gloss.
My checkers arrive smooth, then are stained, then sanded, then finished with walnut oil. They turn out in shades of color so the wood grain shows through. The edges are neither sharp, nor rounded over like good dice. They have a soft silky feel to the hand and are wonderful to play with.
On the other end, my dad made some 2" cubes for my son's 2nd birthday. Cut roughly by eye with a table saw, sanded only with 60 grit, then pushed together in a block and spray painted on each sided. They are not smooth at all, and the spray paint ran and puddled. Very crappy! Carlin uses these outside in his fort, and I don't mind when they get lost or dog chewed.
So, it all depends on the look you want, the materials you start out with and how much you quality check at each step of the way.
~Bryanna
http://BryannasTreasureBox.com
Ancient Games and Toys
I've sawed houses (similar to Monoply Hotels). I threw them into a large rock tumbler with saw dust and a handful of aquarium pebbles for about an hour or so. This worked great to knock off the rough edges. The end result was a smooth slightly weathered edge effect.
Next, I spread the houses out on a large piece of cardboard (prevents painted pieces from sticking) and sprayed them with a white primer.
I waited until they were completely dry then turned the pieces and painted all sides. After priming I divided the pieces into 8 groupings as I needed eight differant colored bits. I then did the same spray painting process with an inexpensive fast drying - Non toxic acrylic paint (Krylon). I completed this painting process in batches of 100 of each color. The bits turned out great with a high gloss finish.
Your good neighbor
www.goodneighborschannel.com
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Great Advice BTB!!! Thank you very much.
I still have some questios if you don´t mind.
First I saw the wood into the shape I want, let´s say wood cubes. Then I paint or sand first? From your explanation I paint and them sand.
I am very curious to know how the end product looks like. I asked a carpenter to make some painted wood cubes for me but he did a very grotesque job. Actually he used aneline, because it was the cheapest paint ( to make the project viable) and the cubes were not sanded at all. These cubes were in no position to be compared to cubes from German BGG.
Thus, applying the method you suggested does one can get near perfect sanded cubes? What kind of paint do you use?
How would you compare the wood pieces that you make with wood pieces that come from German games? Are they more or less the same?
Thank you very much again,
Neto