(Part 2) Best unfinished wood according to redditors

I used to have the client's provide the hard drive, but I started to feel that wasn't very professional so I started providing it now and just upped my total price. If it's only 128gb then I buy this for $20 and the 256gb are about $40. Since the usb is really small I attach this wooden piece to it with a nice knot. Then you could deliver it in a box like this. The boxes I use say "Our Wedding" on them and have little white paper shreds holding the usb up. I then put some business cards beneath the box and tie a ribbon around the whole thing.

This is all Amazon sooo

Hoodie

Skeleton Pop

Plush

Socks for some reason

Keychain

I'm trying to make a large LED grid (23x10 with 4inx4in squares), and I've been experimenting with what the cheapest way to do it is. I can make one of these for around 75 cents USD. The layers are:

1. Balsa square backplane: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MM185Q2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
2. Reflective aluminum tape (helps increase the brightness a bit)
   
3. Single WS2812B RBG LED: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014QKWJDU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
4. Soldered on connectors: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV70C78/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
5. 4x4 housing square made from gluing together 3 4x1s from home depot
   
6. Tracing paper square
   
7. Nylon Silk cloth square: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XSBDWXX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   It's pretty easy to construct (the hardest part is soldering on the connectors), but I have several complaints I'd love cheap alternatives to.
   
   

• The frame is thicker than I'd like. I think I can fix this by just sawing off some of the edges - going to play with this later.
  
• I don't know for sure the tape is helping compared to light colored wood.
  
• I'm slightly concerned about heat, but I'm testing that now.
  
• I'd love to find a cheap 3-pin connector so I don't have to solder all of these.
  
• **The main problem I'm having is sufficiently diffusing the light over the square.** The camera makes it look more pronounced than it is, but there's a definite circle in the middle where the LED is. I've tried facing it the other way (towards the reflective tape), but then you get the shadow of the LED ribbon, which looks worse. I've also tried more/different layers of diffusion material. Materials I've tried (in many combinations and at many distances) include:
  
  • Tissues
    
  • Regular paper
    
  • Card stock drawing paper
    
  • Paper towel
    
  • Toilet paper
    
  • Nylon diffusion fabric
    
  • Tracing paper
    
    The ones that work the best are the tracing and nylon, but it's still not great.
    
    Happy to talk about the project, and would love advice if anyone has done something similar!
    
    ​
    
    Edit: I just tried making the housing thicker (from 0.5in to 1.5in) and it made it a LOT better. I think I'm happy with it now as long as I can find a way to clean up the edges.

I have a small woodworking business on etsy and ebay as a side hustle. I buy materials as I need them. This allows me to not have to wait 5 days for free shipping and not have to stock up and store as much stuff that I might not need in the near future. Plus there are no decent woodworking shops within 300 miles of where I live. I can have replacement material delivered to my door in 2 days...

I used to get most of the materials off of ebay, but every seller has different shipping preferences and costs. Amazon and their "2-day free shipping" has made my processes run a lot better. That being said, I really only care about the "2-day free shipping." The other stuff doesn't add value to my life. I would rather just have the option to pay a lower price for the "2 day free shipping" and pay more for other stuff if I wanted to get it later...

here are some examples of things that I typically buy as I am running out...

https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Woodturning-Goncalo-Tigerwood-Wooden/dp/B078KYYQY3/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=pen+blanks&qid=1555097279&s=gateway&sr=8-11

https://www.amazon.com/Carving-Carvers-Workers-Whittle-Beautiful/dp/B07HL7V2HG/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=W75CADHHWTCU&keywords=spoon+carving+blanks&qid=1555097353&s=gateway&sprefix=spoon+carving%2Caps%2C228&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Woodturning-Cigar-Choose-Finish/dp/B07DFM6XZ3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=WOV6MXV9DJ92&keywords=pen+kits+for+wood+turning&qid=1555097379&s=gateway&sprefix=pen+kits%2Caps%2C227&sr=8-5

Mind you I have only used this stuff to carve this one tiny thing but I figure I can always upgrade to different tools if I stick with it for a while and decide these things need an upgrade. Next time I buy supplies, I’m definitely finding another retailer for larger pieces of Basswood though. The selection on Amazon sucks a bit.

Glove:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IVM1TKO/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_BN5WCbEJ88Z77

Blades:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P578XFV/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_zN5WCbWR8JJJA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037MI3K2/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_mN5WCb9TNQ5A5

Sharpening Tools:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FX9MHIG/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_iN5WCbFRFMWSY
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023W6RS2/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_lN5WCbSTS92ZX
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G2WY7WG/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_qN5WCbZ70WC0J

Basswood:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L91JK9J/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_UQ5WCbSS09KD7

you could forgo minis and use 1 inch wood circles painted or gluing on printed faction logos, giving you a tactical overlay feel.

This is your fantasy. You need to sell her on it. Day one suggest that she pick a room or a task. She comes home from work, and you have obviously been working all day, dinner is on the table, you are dressed nicely. You have a pleasant dinner, talk about her day, your day etc. After dinner ask if she wants to take a bath or relax while you clear the table and do the dishes. Then you focus on her. Foot and/or back massage, snuggling, sit at her feet, going down on her, etc.

This is not a one night thing. You have 3-4 weeks to perfect this. She will figure out what she wants from you. When you get to that point, then begin to introduce the kinky stuff. I guess that part depends on you.

You mention punishment so maybe present her with a wooden paddle (https://www.amazon.com/Yonor-Painted-Wooden-Paddle-Airflow/dp/B07JN9BL39) inscribe "She Rules" on it and hang it in the living room. Then burn her dinner one night and see what happens.

The point is show her the positives first, let her get used to them, and then present your needs in a way holistic with the rest of it. Don't make it be all about you.

Now add blocks to make it 3d.

I was planning on doing something like that with these, and just have there be a gift basket for each player. But I already did something similar for our Xmas session, so I figured I'd just keep it simple this time.

I can't remember where I got mine, but these are pretty similar! https://www.amazon.ca/Walnut-Hollow-Weddings-Projects-Basswood/dp/B074HKTGTF/ref=sr_1_5?ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-org00-mac00-other-nomod-ca000-pcomp-feature-scomp-wm-5&keywords=wood+coasters+amazon&qid=1558131881&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Actually I did find what I would consider a rose gold glitter, and here are the snowflakes!!

here is the link where I got in on amazon. It says 1.5mm but most the sheets measure between 1.6 and 1.7

https://smile.amazon.com/Baosity-Pack-Hexagon-Natural-Crafts/dp/B07JYBXXPT/

https://smile.amazon.com/Value-Pack-200-Hexagon-Counters/dp/B07662K53D/

I would think these, or some of the other suggested items they lead you to, should do the trick for quick prototyping.

I have used wooden peg dolls - they are very cheap and can be made into anyone, and wood is a natural material so, also good. You can always put a drop or two of an essential or holy oil into the paint, sort of blessing them.

https://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Wooden-Peg-Doll-People/dp/B07FNL468N/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=wooden+peg+dolls&qid=1555928202&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

I have had to do this pretty much because I have a personal pantheon that no one would ever have statues for. Making your own can be a spiritually rewarding activity anyway, even if some are available to purchase.

Thanks. https://www.amazon.com/Colored-Stabilized-Birch-Plastic-Composites-150x40x10mm/dp/B07F1RYCFZ. This is the closes i can find.

Use an acrylic paint pen, that way you can mark up the body of the magazine on a spot your hands won't really touch often (like the back near the top/middle). I found that sharpies just wipe off (even on the plastic bumper)


White:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D2LC8LH/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_FGiVDbKXH6KMY


Black:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D2M6B23/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_MIiVDb0QE6FWA

Could you heat wooden beads?

R.FLOWER Natural Wood Beads Round Ball Wooden Loose Beads Unfinished Wood Spacer Beads for Craft-making 200pcs (14mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CCZNXH1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jB8PDbC7J1N55

AMAZING idea. I followed the link but found to my dismay the cost when buying in/shipping to Canada is much higher.


I did find an alternative on amazon.ca which seems to be very well reviewed, offer good uniform cuts, and are Prime delivery eligible. Posting for anyone interested.

- https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07B3J5RLV/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_image_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I JUST ordered a box of 100x 1', and 12x 2", so I'll follow up with how well that goes when they arrive.

Thank you! Gonna look into those knives and the sharpening kit. As for the blanks, do you think this one from Amazon will work fine or should I just order them from Emmet Van Driesch?

For beginning with balsa, this is a decent starter set

For basswood, this is the set the Gimli came from. The height isn't always consistent bag to bag, but they're close and cheap enough to not care too much.

For bigger basswood down the road, depending on where you are, consider this mix box from Rockler. I got 20 pieces of varying sizes, all good wood. Bigger stuff than what you'll get on Amazon.