Hey. Anyone have holiday crafting projects they're working on? I have a few things I churn out on years when the whim takes me, and something I think is rapidly becoming a new tradition (see below).
Holiday Crafting Projects - Traditions and One-Offs
- Thread starter Defenestrar
- Start date
So, for the last couple of years I've been keeping the lower end of our Christmas tree trunk.
I throw it in a corner for the next year to dry out. Then I trim it up on the band saw a bit.
I then split that in two, mark center, and mount one on the lathe (enough material for each kid to have an heirloom to feel guilty about throwing away when I pass).
Here's partway through knocking bark and branches off and approaching round. I've notched where I'm thinking of having a base with bark still attached.
Then I make a few practice runs up where I don't plan to keep. Just getting a feel for the wood and how it's going to cut. It's also a good reminder of why I rarely turn fir or other soft woods (tearout, pitch, etc...).
Now for some skew work (my favorite tool) and the majority of shaping.
Then some sanding, parting the practice work, and mounting into a chuck for finishing the top of the tree.
Final sand, part, and slap on top of the tool chest for a picture. (Note the hidden face).
Presto chango! A Christmas tree from the trunk of a Christmas tree!
I throw it in a corner for the next year to dry out. Then I trim it up on the band saw a bit.
Here's partway through knocking bark and branches off and approaching round. I've notched where I'm thinking of having a base with bark still attached.
Now for some skew work (my favorite tool) and the majority of shaping.
It's against the natural order!!!
But seriously, that's pretty clever. Any problems with gummy resin?
No, i was selective in avoiding pitch pockets when picking the part to keep, and a year to dry helps a ton as well. More annoying was the number of small knots due to it being a young tree selected for plenty of branches. Sharp tools and attention to the cut are enough to manage that though.
There are plenty of people who turn green fir and pine (it smells great), but it does alter tool maintenance a little bit if you get too much sap.
There are plenty of people who turn green fir and pine (it smells great), but it does alter tool maintenance a little bit if you get too much sap.
That's cool. I had started on making some snowflake ornaments but between getting COVID over Thanksgiving and winter starting early I only managed to get a couple of practice snowflakes in. It's gonna be a "next year" gift set.
That's some nice scrollsaw work. Do you ever use a helical blade for tight corners or inside spaces? Or are they always straight blades?
Thanks. I've only done a little bit with a scroll saw before so it's all been (a single) straight blade. I'm gonna have to look into those helical blades. The tight corners I'd just been letting the blade chew it out moving perpendicular to the wood. Works but isn't the cleanest cut.
Very nice if you're new to scrollwork!
Helical blades are great for tight corners, less so for straight lines or fast cuts. They're also really nice for starting a cut from inside a piece (i.e. drill a hole, then mount the blade through the hole).
Helical blades are great for tight corners, less so for straight lines or fast cuts. They're also really nice for starting a cut from inside a piece (i.e. drill a hole, then mount the blade through the hole).
Been under the weather with covid for three damn weeks. Finally coming around and trying to finish up something for the family Yankee swap, assuming we still go.
Minimalist wallet / card holder.
Minimalist wallet / card holder.
I know my mom sewed several card holders, which is perfect because both she and I resorted to Visa pre-paid cards as gifts for several people getting those holders.
Sorry about the 'rona. I totally kills the gumption to sit and do stuff, but not the desire to do it.
Sorry about the 'rona. I totally kills the gumption to sit and do stuff, but not the desire to do it.
Just some last minute decoration before guests arrive. Took some tacky orange LED tealights and made them a little more presentable. Some printer paper cut into rings, some tape, and some circles of reflective wrapping paper off-cuts.
Looks better in frosted or crazed glass tealight lamps than in completely transparent votive holders, but both are now a little less tacky.
In use:
Looks better in frosted or crazed glass tealight lamps than in completely transparent votive holders, but both are now a little less tacky.
In use:
Nice. When you have too many mini Christmas trees, are you going to cut the trunk off one, buy some tiny chisels and make micro trees?
Nah - I'll dump tgem on the kids. That's a family tradition I learned from my parents 