I haven’t been well lately. I’ve been hurting bad. This morning though, I had to make a decision. Pain or no pain, I was beginning to hurt mentally as well. I had to get out of this house. So I went to the shop to find something I could do. I started looking around for something to fiddle fart around on without getting into some deep project like I do sometimes.
First I made a captured ring like the ones I’ve been seeing around Lumberjocks lately. 
Considering I had no idea what I was doing when I began, and the fact that I done it in a sitting position at a lathe that is set up to stand at, I think I done a pretty good fist attempt.
So what else could I do?
Ever since I managed to get a decent drill press I’ve been saying I was going to do a cube in a cube. There are many videos and how to articles about how to make these. If anyone is interested and can’t find info on it though, let me know. I can see what I can dig up.
I made this out of a piece of scrap I had laying around. The photo you see here is without a finish. It isn’t perfect, but this is the first one I’ve ever done on this as well.
So I carried it over to the house to show my kids. They looked at it with wonder. Once I explained how I done it to them though, they wanted to know what else I could do.
That sounded like a challenge to me.
So what’s next?
How about a cube in a cube in a cube. 
This was my first attempt. As you can see, it didn’t work out too well. 
This was my second attempt. It turned out more torn out than the first one.
My tearout problem was happening each time while trying to drill out the middle cube on the end grain.
What could I possible be doing wrong? I know my forstner bits aren’t exactly top of the line, but they’re pretty sharp. Then I had an idea.
I used one of these to measure the depth the hole had to be drilled for the middle cube on the end grain. Then, before cutting anything else, I drilled these two large deep holes. Then I slowly drilled the rest of the holes.
So I did complete the cube in a cube in a cube.
I still am not happy with it though. I did put a wax finish on these because they’re my first. I’ve got to figure out a few things though before I do any more.
So that brings me to a question.
If any of you reading this had ever done the cube in a cube in a cube, what kind of wood did you use?
I’m thinking maybe a softer wood will work better, but I’m hoping to get other opinions before I get around to buying anything for them. I used the mahogany because that’s all I had that would be large enough to do without gluing up material, and that would be defeating the purpose of this project. It is meant to be cut from a solid block.
Th problem I’m having with this material is that after I have cut the smallest cube, it doesn’t leave much material for the larger bit to cut while working for the middle cube. So when I get just so deep on the middle cube, the bit wants to dig in and rip chunks out of that thin material.
Will softer wood work?
Or will I have to invest in better forstner bits to accomplish this?
Opinions are much appreciated.