Large Map Of Scotland

No better way to start of the new year than making a large map. This time it is a map of Scotland and it is going to be shipped to….yup, Scotland.

We were contacted by a gentleman wanting a wood map of Scotland measuring a little less than 36 x 36 inches. After a few emails back and forth, we learned it is for his Whiskey room so he can put pins in where distilleries are located. Cool right?

The map is to be cut out of weathered boards, mounted on a backer board and framed.

Here is the map pattern we printed out for cutting.

Oh, and he wants the small outlying islands as well.

Time to get busy. First up…getting the weather boards ready to make a panel for the map.

Jim had to cut the boards to approximately 1/2 inch in thickness so they would be easier to cut through on the scroll saw, while still giving it dimension.

The sides were squared up on the jointer.

Then glued and clamped.

Once the glue was set up, we did a sanding of the panel, while keeping the weathered appearance.

For this map and all its small parts, we had to do things a little different. The frame and backer board had to be cut out, painted and assembled first. Check. You will understand why as we go along. Here they are not yet assembled. They were also painted in the house because out here in the shop, it rarely got about 5ºC.

The customer wanted the mainland portion of Scotland to be a certain size, and the frame under 3 feet, but still include islands that are a little farther from the mainland. With keeping everything to scale and all in one frame, it would have been huge, so the consensus was to place the Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland Islands) in a separate frame.

When we printed out the map, we printed two. One to use for cutting out the map, and the other as a guide for placing the islands.

It was tricky in spots because the scroll saw has a 16 inch reach. No problem. Turn it off, re-adjust the map, turn it on, keep scrolling.

And with that we were off to the races. Mainland Scotland was all cut out.

In order to keep track of all the small parts, after each piece was cut out and given a light sanding, it was glued into place using the second print out of the map for reference.

The small frame included two sets of islands, the nickel is there for size reference…

And this set…

Another picture of some of the small islands in the large frame…

Here are the two maps together…

Now to get out the bubble wrap. Lots of bubble wrap. Fingers crossed this makes it to Scotland in a timely manner and in one piece. Looking at you Canada Post.

Later