Pontus & Cito: Construction – part 2
Return to part 1 to catch up on the construction of these two new pieces.
I spread an even coat of epoxy on all of the laminations being careful to keep them in order.
I place the bundle on the bending form and begin assembling the top part of the clamps. I tighten them with an impact wrench. I can get an incredible amount of even pressure this way.
After the glue dries, it’s over to the joiner to clean up one of the edges.
Then it’s over to the table saw to make the corresponding edge parallel.
The components are now made, so I can begin to focus on the composition. Pencil lines, band saw cuts, and double stick tape help me at this stage to quickly refine the direction f the piece.
I use hand tools to facet the piece to really complete the composition. A thorough sanding and it’s time to sign the piece.
I sand all of the parts. The reward is that i now get to sign the piece!
I spray a clear, water-based lacquer on top of a very thin coat of oil, which I use to give the walnut such a perfect color.
I use the reflection to make sure that I have a perfectly even coat of finish on the piece.
I mix some artist’s oil paint into my gel polyurethane, and I brush it onto the ash pieces. I love the way it clogs the open pores and becomes such a focal point of the composition.
By Nico Yektai -New York based designer/maker Nico Yektai opened the doors to his Hamptons studio in 1995 after completing the MFA program at the School For American Craft at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The rigorous technical training complimented his background in Art History, which he studied, at Hobart College in Geneva NY. Yektai has synthesized this background into a singular style that has gained him national attention. Visit nicoyektai.com for more information
