Working very small pieces?

[Tasky]

I've been tasked with making some sets of "platonic solid" shapes...

They want "several sets each comprising a Tetrahedron, Cube, Octahedron, Dodecahedron and an Icosahedron", plus a pair of Decahedrons (specifically a pentagonal trapezohedron), which I'm told is non-platonic.

Or in general D&D parlance, they want some sets of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 20-sided dice.
These things need to be about 22mm diameter.

Given that they want about eight sets, meaning 56 individual pieces, and in a reasonably short time (ie before Christmas) - How would people here go about making these?

Is this a power tool job for the time constraints? Would you cut the facets on a bandsaw or scrollsaw, perhaps and, if so, how would you go about safely holding something that small up to the blade?
Is this a hand tool only job? How would you keep the work held?

 

[bugbear]

I'm assuming there's an implied "out of wood".

How would I go about it?

Frankly, I wouldn't go about it. It sounds very difficult indeed. Perhaps specialised work holding jigs might make it possible, but far more work than the result could justify.

Edit; this company make dice from all sorts of materials, priced to match.

https://www.artisandice.com/product-cat ... uids-dice/

I suspect they use disc sanders, and something a lot like a gemologist's faceting device. With that, you can shape anything you can abrade.

BugBear

 

[Nelsun]

Think I'd be tempted to just buy them... and pass them off as my own work Getting the sides all bang-on [just once] may result in rapid hair loss and complaints from neighbours about the air turning blue!

 

[AndyT]

A similar question came up a while ago. I found a detailed description of how to cut various platonic solids in the ever useful works of Holtzapffel and posted it here:

post880805.html#p880805

You'd need to satisfy yourself that it was safe enough before trying it:. My inclination would be to buy them in from someone else.

 

[WellsWood]

Do you know anyone with a 3D printer?

Can't begin to imagine how you make them out of wood without a very significant jig building session. I mean, if you had been asked to make many hundreds of each it might just be feasable/economical, but otherwise just buy them.

 

[sunnybob]

I'm accused of being scary with small pieces. no way would I attempt that, not even with my micro jig gripper.

 

[Tasky]

I'm assuming there's an implied "out of wood".

There is indeed.

Edit; this company make dice from all sorts of materials, priced to match.

I understand, from general discussions on these guys, they use some kind of CNC Router?
Certainly have heard of them, both regarding the wondrous things they make, and the insane prices they charge for a number of poor quality orders, as well as their insulting customer afer-sales service... It's definitely all machined, as evidenced by the grossly off-centre numbering on people's orders.

I suspect they use disc sanders, and something a lot like a gemologist's faceting device.

I was thinking of cutting two sides parallel and then using a small vise or micro-clamp of some kind to hold the work, while sanding down to size. The problem would be in getting the angles right, especially doing it by hand and eye rather than with anything mechanically adjustable.

Think I'd be tempted to just buy them... and pass them off as my own work

No way. That's one thing I couldn't do...
If I take this on, it'd have to be all my own work!

A similar question came up a while ago. I found a detailed description of how to cut various platonic solids in the ever useful works of Holtzapffel and posted it here:

Sounds interesting... I shall peruse in greater detail.

 

[Tasky]

Are these things any good?
http://www.axminster.co.uk/universal-wo ... set-600826

 

[boardgamer]

You'd have to be mad to attempt this (and you definitely would be by the time you finished). Assuming they are for use, not decoration, the accuracy required to make them roll randomly would be crippling.

 

[Tasky]

Assuming they are for use, not decoration, the accuracy required to make them roll randomly would be crippling.

Actually... and based on your username this may well upset you, but... they are more for decoration than legitimate use, though I'm sure they will see some action nonetheless.

The intended recipients (and the friend who asked me to do this) are all hardened D&D players, who collect dice as part and parcel of their particular hobby and already have some in things like steel, stone, pine, bone, antler, amethyst, tigers-eye and so on... none of which are likely that balanced anyway. The bone ones look hand-carved by a blind Medieval peasant, which probably adds to the authentic look but does nothing in terms of accurat gameplay.

But knowing I have a developing interest in taking my sporadic woodwork further (mainly because he's seen my Christmas List), he hit upon the idea of nice hardwood dice for less than the massive mortgage-rate prices charged by those Artisan fellas.

 

[WellsWood]

....nice hardwood dice for less than the massive mortgage-rate prices charged by those Artisan fellas.

Honestly, and i'm not trying to cast aspersions here, I think that when you've had a go at making a 20 sided die 22mm in diameter you may think they're not that expensive. I wish you the best of luck though, and hope you will keep us updated on progress if you decide to have a go - I for one would be intrigued to see how you get on.

 

[Tasky]

Honestly, and i'm not trying to cast aspersions here, I think that when you've had a go at making a 20 sided die 22mm in diameter you may think they're not that expensive. I wish you the best of luck though, and hope you will keep us updated on progress if you decide to have a go - I for one would be intrigued to see how you get on.

Well, best part of a year and much reading/learning/practicing of hand-tool woodworking later... I'm getting started in earnest on this project and managed a couple test pieces in pine and in oak. I've kept it simple and am using little more than my old dovetail saw, really. I'm sort of cheating with my bandsaw, but that's only for making tool supports. It's not touching the actual workpiece.

Stuffed up the D20 test attempt and not done much better on the D10, but the latter is at least the right shape and vaguely recognisible... Not as bad as I expected, but not quite as good as the few people on Etsy who've tried this. I've a couple more things to try too, so plenty more chances for basic successes!

Nothing worth posting pictures of yet, but it's a start.
The biggest (and pretty much only) challenges so far are accurately measuring & marking out the facets, and finding a way to hold the workpieces for sawing.

I am currently remaining hopeful....

 

[Rorschach]

Are you planning to charge for this? If so does the customer have any idea how much this is going to cost in the end?

 

[whiskywill]

Not quite what you are trying to do, but you could make them like this and use some wood filler in the holes. http://www.instructables.com/id/Plywood ... dium=email

 

[Tasky]

Are you planning to charge for this? If so does the customer have any idea how much this is going to cost in the end?

No charge, no. A gentle saunter, perhaps, or maybe an amble... :lol:
Nah, this is just me hobbying and making stuff for friends.... and theoretically my own entertainment, although it's quite the mind-bender and sanity-stretcher!

Not quite what you are trying to do, but you could make them like this and use some wood filler in the holes.

I did actually consider this, but at 22mm for the largest dice, I'd struggle even using matchsticks. At least this size is large enough for me to measure the facet angles.