Inverse Solar System

This is my first Instructable. I didn't plan ahead for it so it is light on photos. I thought it was worth publishing because a few of the steps I took can be applied to other projects.

I was inspired by this project:

Modern Mantel Clock

I bought premade edge glued panels at a local quality lumber store. I did that to save one step and because it can be difficult to end up with panels that are nice and flat. The ones I chose are Spanish Cedar. I chose a softwood because for some of the operations, hardwood would be really hard on tools.

For this step I anticipated that trying to glue 5 layers together would be difficult, with the layers sliding around on the glue while clamping. I am an amateur. So I clamped them while dry and drilled holes to use to bolt them together. I don't think I would do this again. It was really hard to get the bolts out after the glue dried!

I almost forgot an important detail. When putting together a stack like this you need to alternate grain direction. Horizontal first layer, vertical the next. This is what provides strength and stability.

Use a band saw to cut the shape. Then use a disc sander and an oscillating spindle sander to refine. I don't have these tools so I found a local wood shop that rents space by the hour.

I wanted to drill these holes as accurately as possible. Drilling by hand would not do, and there was no access to use a drill press. So I made these single use bushings from scrap pieces of wood.

I purchased the wood balls for the planets from a vendor on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ToyingAround

I used watered down acrylic paint to color the planets. Then I used Tung oil or similar to give them a low gloss.

1/8" diameter brass rods are easy to find online.

I hope this gave you some ideas. If not I will never post again! JK

It was pointed out that I didn't include any dimensions. Actually the whole post is light on details. But here is a drawing I worked from. I did the design using the CAD program Rhino.