Bench Tips- A Fanciful Project

Sometimes, when I am sorting through my slabs and trim saw cutoffs, I come across a particular piece that I know I want to make something with, but at that time I can’t picture exactly what.

- Bob Rush

I have always been fascinated with necklaces that have a long, dangling centerpiece, so when I came across a piece of Brazilian agate that looked like it would work for a necklace centerpiece, I couldn’t resist using it. It was left over from a larger piece from which I had made a very large display cab. The cut-off-piece was about 5 inches long and ¾ inch wide. I didn’t feel like just making a straightsided, boring cab. I wanted to challenge my lapidary skills by utilizing more carving, especially with inside curves. I sketched some different ideas and finally settled on one that required carving semicircles in multiple sizes on the outside of the long sides of the cab.