making inset panels (merged threads)

[Will1987]

I was thinking of a variation on the d-hedron where I would have each of the faces being "inset" (I'm not sure if that's the term but I can't think of anything else). I included a drawing to show what I mean. The easiest way I can think of to do it is as shown- just make the regular d-hedron as I already have and then glue pieces onto each of the pentagon sides mitred at the same angles- 60 degrees for the dihedral angle and 72 for the angles of the pentagon faces.
But is this the way something like that would usually be done? or would it be routered out of one piece, and if so can you give me a few tips on how to do that best? Would I need a router table? I shudder to think of having to realign each piece over and over again on a router table or even just routering face up, put a piece of guide wood on there so its a straight line, clamp it down anew for each pass I make, etc. And for 12 pentagon pieces in a row no less. I'm not even sure how I'd get those inside angles - the corners where the shaved down inner pentagons would meet. It'd get all messy unless I stopped short of the corner and what, dremeled or chiseled it out?
I gotta say I think I'll stick with the first method for reasons of time and sanity. But any comments, Don or anyone, let me know. Like I say I'd also like to know how this is generally done cuz you see it often in cabinets and things.

Thanks a lot,
Will

[Will1987]

I was thinking of a variation on the d-hedron where I would have each of the faces being "inset" (I'm not sure if that's the term but I can't think of anything else). I included a drawing to show what I mean. The easiest way I can think of to do it is as shown- just make the regular d-hedron as I already have and then glue pieces onto each of the pentagon sides mitred at the same angles- 60 degrees for the dihedral angle and 72 for the angles of the pentagon faces.
But is this the way something like that would usually be done? or would it be routered out of one piece, and if so can you give me a few tips on how to do that best? Would I need a router table? I shudder to think of having to realign each piece over and over again on a router table or even just routering face up, put a piece of guide wood on there so its a straight line, clamp it down anew for each pass I make, etc. And for 12 pentagon pieces in a row no less. I'm not even sure how I'd get those inside angles - the corners where the shaved down inner pentagons would meet. It'd get all messy unless I stopped short of the corner and what, dremeled or chiseled it out?
I gotta say I think I'll stick with the first method for reasons of time and sanity. But any comments, Don or anyone, let me know. Like I say I'd also like to know how this is generally done cuz you see it often in cabinets and things.

Thanks a lot,
Will

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj240/Dadarkilo/d-hedroninsetdiagram-1.jpg

[Don]

Hey, Will. You typically have only a few ways to go to acheive this look. What you are writing about is a spinoff of a paneled door, either a flat panel or a raised panel. These are built out of a perimeter frame and either a thin plywood panel or a solid raised panel center. Usually these panels "float" to allow for expansion or contraction. There are many ways to build "doors" like this and I won't get into all of them here. I'll just say that it would be quite a challenge to accomplish this on the dodecahedron. Could be done, how hard do you want to work?

Applying molding to the finished product is going to be the easiest way to adorn these things, once you get your saw set, all the cuts are the same.

The next way would be to route in a decorative groove a distance from the edge of each panel. Set up your router bench with a fence and stops, run each edge and turn. You'll have to get your stops in just the right place, but you are correct, the corners will have the radius of the bit. Not as bad as a 90 degree because yours will be 72 degrees. There are many decorative bits on the market for this, I think I'd start there if you are working MDF because it will look good and finish just fine with paint.

As far as routing out the entire center of the panel, probably okay for small sides where it would only take a few passes. Again make a jig that fits over the panel face. Either use a collar on the base or make the template larger (my choice for this operation). But you will not be able to stand doing large panels this way and if you weren't careful you'd end up with a lot of router passes "showing." Now if you have a CNC router, well . . . the sky's the limit on possibilities.

Others can chime in on making frame and panel, panels.

All the best, Don

[Don]

Hey, Will - I merged your thread.