Some of you saw the announcement on my FaceBook page, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to hit the old gang here either?
I'm trying to pull off a large scale collaboration where each participant contributes one ring to one large scale chain maille sculpture. If you belong to a club and want to work as a group, it will save on shipping. I added a page to my blog to describe the project.
Perhaps I missed it - how many rings do you need to acquire? (How many is 100s?) What is the anticipated timeline?
If you want just one from a single turner you I suspect you will post this on some other forums as well. Perhaps you can shrill at some vendors booth at a symposium or two, i.e., display a few turned with an xxx tool and have them and a handout in the booth.
Something you might make a little clear on the blog is the cross-section. This statement is there "What is not 100% clear in the picture above is that the ring is round in cross section like a doughnut." It would be a real shame if someone missed that and sent one with rectangular cross-section, such as the samples in the photo you include on the blog. Perhaps it would be best to make a simple cross-section drawing with dimensions. A single good diagram with a few words about wood type and grain orientation might be simple and clear and all most turners need. A flyer could stick to the why, when, and how and reference the blog for background.
I didn't watch the video so maybe this was made clear there. (I started to watch it but I need a 3 minute video instead of a 15 minute one!)
I built the website and the video after answering these questions on FaceBook 100 times each.
Facebook may be the worst platform for such information, for that reason. I have been referred to Facebook pages by vendors and others and after much browsing and hunting I gave up. I could not find any way to search Facebook for specific information, often a problem with forums as well. To me, Facebook seems great for spontaneous chases down rabbit holes. Just scanning through the chaff was such a huge waste of time I eventually gave it up. The last time I checked I had over 100 things continuing to wait for my attention.
I think a concise web page is far better for information and instructions. A question anywhere online, Facebook or otherwise, can then be answered with a single link. The format of that initial page is important, often best with a single screen that both catches the attention, clearly states the objectives and in this case, the basic specs. That web page can have clear links to secondary pages with as much detail as needed, background, how-to instruction, videos both long and short, progress updates, contact info, etc.
All this is a lot of work. I think your page would be clearer with the simple addition of a single diagram, especially for those of us who are visually oriented but will rarely sit through a video.
Your ring thing does sound like an interesting project, quick and easy to contribute to, important since I'm assuming that you also will have only one ring in the project.
BTW, another idea is to do a free demo/hands-on class at regional clubs, perhaps providing the wood blanks and handouts. Everyone learns something and each may result in 8 or 10 more rings, nice progress towards the long goal.
So, to be clear and concise...yes, I need one ring from many, many people.
I'm also really, really trying to make this project "happen" with as little of "me" being involved and "pushing" as humanly possible. I don't want to beg 250 people to make a ring, if that makes sense? Instead, I want people to see it, and WANT to become a part of it? It's kind of about being equals, no ring being different than another, anyone can participate...etc.
This is the first piece I did, on my own. I could certainly do the One Ring project on my own too, but I thought it would be a lot more interesting to try a global, grassroots collaboration instead? The Ring in the photo about is about 14" across and a different weave than the One Ring Project will use. The scale of the One Ring rings should make the final piece somewhere around 60" in diameter.
I like the idea of demoing for clubs, but I am actually hoping some people will do that for me? (see above.) I want people going to their clubs and championing this at a grassroots level, and maybe doing the demo or workshop themselves. I'm hoping to annoy my local post master with boxes coming to me every day full of wooden rings.
But, I've said too much. the fun about a magic trick is not knowing how it is done...
Steve, how critical is the 1" thick dimension? Are we talking a nominal thickness of rough sawn stock or does it have to be a finished thickness of 1"?
I have lots of 13/16" oak but I have no 1" thick oak....
None of the dimensions are "machinist tolerance". I don't actually know how thick the finished ring in the picture is? I'm guessing at 1"...3/4 is too thin.
You can certainly just slab off a piece of wet oak and use that too. The burning process drives out a lot of moisture.
