Bighorn Sheep

pattern by Jacob Fowler, cut and finished by Wayne Fowler

Introduction
Every now and then, Jacob goes over to the “light side” in terms
of his pattern subjects. While he enjoys designing patterns of carnivores,
such as birds of prey and big cats, he also successfully works with images
of herbivorous wildlife, such as this bighorn sheep and the chipmunk
featured in this issue.

I cut the sheep from a piece of 1/2"-thick yellow hackberry retrieved
from my assortment of mis-cuts and shorts. My supplier, Edgar Werner,
often sells these pieces to intarsia folks at wood shows. The piece
was cut on an Excalibur EX 21 saw.

Step 1. Photocopy the pattern, saving the original for future use. Apply clear packing tape to the surface of the wood prior to attaching the pattern using temporary-bond spray adhesive. Drill for all blade entry holes. I made the majority of cuts using a No. 3 blade, switching to a No. 1 (fine detail) blade to make the more detailed cuts. However, I believe that a No. 2R blade could be used to cut most or all of the pattern, as well.

Step 2. After cutting, peel off the tape and pattern. Using a belt or disc sander, sand both faces of the piece and smooth out the outer oval shape. Round the outer edges of the oval and polish the surfaces using the sander fitted with an extra-fine-grit (400/800) belt. Fold a piece of 220- or 400-grit sandpaper around your thumb, and remove any remaining burrs from the interior cut edges. Remove all sanding dust using a clean paintbrush or other tool of choice. Apply a thin oil, such as a combination of tung and walnut oil, to seal the inner edges.

Step 3. The sheep can easily be displayed hanging on a wall. For an alternative display option, create a slotted base to hold the piece upright. To make the base, cut an oval or rectangular shape from a 3/4"-thick work piece measuring approximately 5-1/2" x 2". Cut a rectangular slot into the center of the base that should measure approximately 2-3/4" long and is as wide as the thickness of the upright. (Slightly under-cut the slot, and then sand or shave the slot up to the required width.) Test fit the upright to the base, and adjust the size of the opening as needed. Sand and finish the base following the same steps as for the upright.

For questions concerning this project, please send a SASE to:  
Wayne at: 33 Longmeadow Cres., Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 3J6; or email him at: fantasiesisaw@rogers.com.

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