Woodshop Projects

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Now we start the Christmas projects. This is my first reindeer in red oak. I'll document the process if any of you are interested. No CNC work involved. My wife supplied the drawing and I turned it into wood. I've made a few prototypes in pine, I was surprised just how much more time consuming it is working with oak. I still have to do lots of sanding and finishing, but I think the shape turned out nice. Based on the wife's gifting demands I think I'm going to be building these until the 4th of July... She want's something like 30-40 of them in different sizes and shapes, I'm not sure I have that in me or not..

 

[EddieWalker]

What are you using to carve the wood with? Back when I had more time to have fun woodworking, I really loved the results I got from a rasp attachment on my Dremel. Now when I do something like that, I tend to use a flapper disk on my grinder.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Most areas are pretty small and hard to get to. I don't think I will be able to use a grinder to sand with. I have a couple of different table top sanders, but I think most of the sanding will be using a Dremel with a sanding drum and rasp. Everything you see in the pic above was done with a bandsaw. When I do finish it, the goal is not lifelike, would whimsical be the right word? Like, you know for sure what it is supposed to be but it's purposefully not lifelike proportions or anatomically accurate. I think it's still going to be angular like it is but I haven't decided for sure yet. I may do some angular and some with the corners blunted and more flowy.

 

[BackRoad]

I thought he was 4 feet tall from that first photo! I was feeling really bad for you...since I had made some of the simple plywood deer that size.

But 6 inches tall from oak - piece of cake!

You might try a compromise with your wife. If total is under 10 = Oak.

If more than 10 = Pine!