instructables

Inverse Solar System

by MarkH342

This is my rst Instructable. I didn't plan ahead for it so it is light on photos. I thought it was worth publishing because a
few of the steps I took can be applied to other projects.

I was inspired by this project:

Modern Mantel Clock

Step 1: Produce (or Purchase As I Did) Edge Glued Panels

I bought premade edge glued panels at a local quality lumber store. I did that to save one step and because it can be
di cult to end up with panels that are nice and at. The ones I chose are Spanish Cedar. I chose a softwood because for
some of the operations, hardwood would be really hard on tools.

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Step 2: Glue Panels Together to Form a Stack

For this step I anticipated that trying to glue 5 layers
together would be di cult, with the layers sliding
around on the glue while clamping. I am an amateur. So I
clamped them while dry and drilled holes to use to bolt
them together. I don't think I would do this again. It was
really hard to get the bolts out after the glue dried!
I almost forgot an important detail. When putting
together a stack like this you need to alternate grain
direction. Horizontal rst layer, vertical the next. This is
what provides strength and stability.

Step 3: Cut the Desired Shape

Use a band saw to cut the shape. Then use a disc sander and an oscillating spindle sander to re ne. I don't have these
tools so I found a local wood shop that rents space by the hour.

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Step 4: Drill Holes for Planet Rods

I wanted to drill these holes as accurately as possible. Drilling by hand would not do, and there was no access to use a drill
press. So I made these single use bushings from scrap pieces of wood.

Step 5: Add Planets (or Whatever)

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I purchased the wood balls for the planets from a vendor 1/8" diameter brass rods are easy to nd online.
on Etsy.
I hope this gave you some ideas. If not I will never post
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ToyingAround again! JK

I used watered down acrylic paint to color the planets.

Then I used Tung oil or similar to give them a low gloss.

Step 6: Addendum

It was pointed out that I didn't include any dimensions. Actually the whole post is light on details. But here is a drawing I
worked from. I did the design using the CAD program Rhino.

Great job, you should be proud of yourself, I think you will have inspired other people to make
similar,
Thanks much. Instructables inspired me.

Great job!!!! For an amateur you really are amazing. Good luck in future projects.

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Wow. Thanks!

When I saw "inverse solar system" I hoped it was going to be clever inside-out representation
where the sun is the mass of wood around the outside, and the sphere in the middle represents
the space outside the solar system (or something). But that's my brain for you. Oh well.
Still, beautifully made and clever nonetheless. I look forward to seeing more lovely creations from
you :)
Thanks. That is a great way to interpret it. Actually, after it was complete, I imagined that rather
than the planets being held in orbit by the sun, they were being controlled by an external, hidden
structure.
I love this! The craftmanship is impeciable and the design is so cool!

Thanks very much.

This is simply awesome...great job! You can be very proud, it is a beautiful piece.

Thanks!

iiiiii lloovvee iitt!!!!@!!@!@!@!@!!@!@!@!!@!@!@!@@

Well, thanks very much!

The project is great but fails to give dimensions. I didn't notice at first.

Thanks. Yes, it is very light on details. I will add this drawing.

I wonder if we could lay up cardboard, as wood will not be an option for my classroom.
Beautiful project! Would love to try a dimestore version.
That is a nice idea, to make a dime store (dollar store?) version. I think several layers of
corrugated cardboard would work.
I would suggest making it a full circle rather than the the partial I did.
Skewer sticks could be used in place of the rods.
The class could decide whether to include Pluto or not, and whether it went inside or outside of
the circle.
The most challenging part would be the spheres. Styrofoam balls would be the easiest, but
environmentally unfriendly, choice. Paper mache?
With the small tweak of putting Jupiter on the same pole as the sun, could easily add Pluto..
#DontForgetPluto
2 Skinnee J's - Pluto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kheWroUS5LQ
Thanks WORMSS. Here is Pluto, relegated to outsider as it should be. (I don't really have a
strong opinion on whether Pluto is a planet or not)

I agree, totally against the reclassification of Pluto

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So gorgeous! I want to make one of these for the library at my school!

Actually, this is not inverse in so much as this is how our solar system is traveling through our
universe. Beautiful work BTW!.
Thanks. You're right. The solar system traveling as a team through the univerese.

Awesome Job! Love the look of the sandwiched panels and your painted planets.

Thanks. The sandwiched panels and the alternating end grain is what most appealed to me.

Nice project.

Absolutely beautiful!

Beautiful, beautiful project.

Very Nice!

Awesome job,I wish I had one

I like the technique you used to get that shape!

Thanks!

Excellent piece. I want one! Please post again. :)

Wow!! What a gorgeous solar system display. These should be in science classrooms, I think
being able to see the planets like this would help put it into perspective for little minds :D
Thanks! I think for a classroom something more accurate would be better. Do a search for Orrery.
I'm thinking of making on of those following instructions on Instructables.
That looks beautiful. Well done and thank you for sharing your work :-)

If you had problems getting the bolts out, could I suggest drilling most of the holes slightly
oversized. Use only two or three to hold the alignment when assembling, and once the majority of
the oversize-hole bolts are in and tightened (but before the glue sets) remove the snug-fitting
bolts.
Thanks, Alex. That's a very good idea.

Congrat really nice .

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

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