"Sun Father" Pyro-Engraved Tablita Wall Hanging

Materials:

pine board
small gourd
dowel
acrylic paints
leather dyes
paintbrushes
polyurethane spray
instant glue
accelerant setting spray
alcohol
nail-in type frame hanger
band saw
belt sander
drill press (with flexible drive shaft and assorted wire wheel brushes and grinders)
various drafting tools
high temperature pyro-engraving machine
low temp wood burning pen
soldering gun

1. The tablita headdress is made from pine board that is not twisted or warped and has few knots. Place the board under a straightedge and begin penciling in the outline of the tablita with various drafting tools (figure A).

2. After the tablita outline has been created (figure B), cut out the design on the band saw (figure C). Sand the tablita on both sides and all edges with a belt sander (figure D).

3. Select a gourd the appropriate size and thickness for the "Sun Father" tablita’s face. Run the gourd through the band saw to create a half-round face that will later be adhered to the tablita. Place the gourd opening side down on the belt sander and sand until it has a flat and even opening.

4. Scrape and clean the interior of the gourd with brushes and/or grinders powered by the drill press.

5. Drill a 1/4-inch hole into the gourd and insert a 1- to 2-inch dowel into the hole (figure E). Glue it in place.

6. Draw the design on the surface of the wood piece with a variety of drafting tools. Draw the design on the gourd as well.

7. The line work is then pyro-engraved onto the gourd and tablita with the use of a high temperature wood burning or a pyro-engraving machine (figure F) that burns at approximately 2000-degrees. When all of the line work has been completed the two tablita pieces are sanded and cleaned with alcohol to remove any carbon and pencil marks (figure G).

8. Paint the "Sun Father" pyro-engraved tablita and its face with high quality acrylic paints and leather dyes (figures H and I). Let dry. Certain areas of the line work must again be pyro-engraved, and burn the edges with the soldering gun.

9. Create texture and dark brown or black colors on the surfaces with the pyro-engraving machine.

10. When all of the painting and pyro-engraving has been completed, secure a nail-in type wall hanger onto the back surface of the tablita and glue it to secure it.

11. Run a bead of instant glue along the bottom or flat side of the gourd face and place it on the tablita headdress. Spray it with an accelerant solution.

12. Spray the "Sun Father" pyro-engraved tablita outdoors with multiple coats of polyurethane and display.

Website: www.chavez-thomas.com