75th Birthday Present Oldometer

I wanted to make my Mother something Special for her 75th Birthday, and this is what I came up with. I made this last year for her Birthday, and she didn't get it at first, after explaining it, she laughed. Today, I will show how I designed it and Made it.

What's Needed:

Cad/Cam Program, I used Vectric Aspire

CNC Router, I used my X-Carve CNC

90* V-Bit

1/8" Endmill

9 1/4" x 7 1/1/4" x 3/4" Wood, I used a piece of Select Pine lumber

Rustoluem Ebony Stain

Rustoluem Matte Clear

Paint Brush

Cloth or Paper towels

Detail sander

First I made some boxes in Vectric Aspire, to hold my letters and numbers. Added the word, Oldometer in the first box. Added the numbers in the 3 boxes, putting the 4 and 5 in the same box. Moved the 4 up and the 5 down, just like a odometer on your older cars. I had to use the Vector trim tool, to trim parts of the 4 and 5, check out my video, on how I done this. Then added Days, with the number of days that you would have lived in 75 years.

Too follow along how I did this, check out the video.

I then switched to the Toolpath side, First using the Vcarve toolpath, for the lettering and days, using a 90* V-Bit.

I then used the Pocket Toolpath, using a 1/8" Endmill and 90* V-Bit, for the Year numbers.

Be sure to preview your Toolpaths, to make sure everything is carving right, before actual doing the carve.

Next I stain my wood, before carving. I used Rustoluem Ebony stain. Brush a coat onto the wood, and let it set for about 3 minutes, then wipe off the excess. Let this dry for about a hour or two, then I sprayed a coat of Matte Clear. Then I let the clear dry overnight before carving.

Note I done two pieces of wood, just in case I messed up on the first piece.

Then I clamped the stock in my CNC, and begin carving, first using a 90* V-Bit, then a 1/8" Endmill for the pocket toolpaths.

Then I used a little sander I bought at Hobby Lobby, to sand the fuzzies.

Once sanded, I blew the piece off with a air hose.

Then I sprayed a couple coats of Rustoluem Matte Clear onto the piece, let it dry overnight.

Then I gave it to my Mother for her Birthday. Thanks for checking out my Instructable.

Note if I had to make this again, I think I would use a piece of Red Oak wood, instead of the White Pine.