On this project I used Inventables X-carve CNC machine:
Tools and materials I propose:
In this video I make a thumb piano out of epoxy resin and pine wood. The metal tines were made out of an old hacksaw blade.
First of all I cut some wooden blocks on the table saw. I secured them in place with tape in a plastic bowl. I then cut a round piece on the bandsaw to help me mount the blank on the lathe. I then mixed some resin with black dye. I degassed the resin in the vacuum chamber and then poured it into the mold. I degassed it again and let it cure for a few days.
Then I secured the blank on a face plate and started turning it true on the lathe, with a round scraper.
I reversed the blank by glueing it on a wooden block with 5 minute epoxy. I then hollowed the bowl with the bowl gouge.
The bowl was not deep enough, so I decided to add a segmented ring. I turned my table saw’s blade at 22,5 degrees and cut my segments. I glued the two halfs first. Then I flattened their edges and glued the whole ring.
I then sanded the ring flat and glued it on the bowl with 5 minute epoxy. I turned the bowl true and sanded it.
Then I glued two pieces to make the top of my instrument. I glued the piece on a melamine with hot glue. Then with the thickness planer I planed the top at 4mm thickness.
I then inserted my vector SVG files into easel and carved my instrument’s top, with my x-carve cnc machine.
Using a heat gun and a spatula I released the top from the board. I glued a support piece under the top and then glued the top on the bowl. I turned the top flush.
I then parted the piece off the lathe. I reversed chucked it on my bowl bottom cleaning jaws. I then finished the shaping. I sanded the bowl until 1000grit. I then moved on to my micro mesh pads and finally I polished it on my buffing wheel system.
I then cut two small support pieces. On one of them I cut a groove with a V chisel and a round file and glued a nail into the groove, with 5 minute epoxy.
Then I made a metal support out of brass. I shaped it with files and sandpaper. I then glued the supports in place.
I made the tongues out of an old hacksaw blade. I cut them to size with my angle grinder.
I then heated the ends with a blow torch and then hammered them against a hammer to create a round over. I finished shaping them on the grinder.
I then placed the tongues in their place and tuned my kalimba in a pentatonic scale I liked.
I really want to thank Inventables for sponsoring this project. My Kalimba came out great.
But that was it, see you soon with a new project video.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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