Crucifixes

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Here’s the difference between what we call a cross and a crucifix: the crucifix is a cross with the corpus of Jesus on it.

The cross is made of oak 1/2” wide by 3/8” thick. The trunk is 6-1/2” tall and the arm is 3” across.

As you can see, the cross is half lapped for a solid fit. I first finished the cross using a wipe-on poly. After drying, I the nailed in the corpus and sign. The base is completed with white latex paint. Since the base was to be painted, there was no sense in using expensive oak for that so I used #1 pine.

Walnut was used here, 2-1/4 wide, 4/4 thick, the trunk is 16-1/2” tall and the arm is 10” across.

As you can see, the cross is half lapped for a solid fit. I first joined the cuts and then used a roundover router bit in an unusual way. I simply wanted to soften the edges of a tablesaw cut. I used only the angled vertical portion of the roundover bit, with none of the curve.

My customer wanted a dedication to his parents. I told him it needed to be on a ligther colored wood for it to be burned on an seen.

We chose oak. to counterbalance the visual effect of the dedication at the foot of the cross, I didn't use the manufactured INRI but made my own.