christmas projects

[Mindy]

I just wanted to share a couple of projects I did as Christmas gifts. I stack-cut two sealife puzzles (one for me, one for a gift) and four ornament designs. They're nowhere near perfect, but I was pleased and my gift recipients were impressed. I have some snowmen puzzles in progress now.

I increased the size of the sealife puzzle pattern to make it easier for a newbie to cut. I also decreased the size of one ornament so it would better match the others, and simplified the star pattern because it had too many frets for my level of skill and patience.

Things I learned on these projects:
- Thin plywood doesn't work well for fretwork. At least, not 'til I gain better control.
- Don't get the drill head too close when drilling blade-entry holes or pieces of the pattern will be whirled right off.
- Acrylic paint and oil finish literally do not mix.
- Change the blade often. However often I think, more than that.
- Thread the blade from the top, not the bottom.
- Make sure the pattern is well stuck.
- Hot glue is not the best choice for making stacks.
- Even "odorless" mineral spirits smell pretty bad.

Cheers
Mindy


I moved your thread to a more appropriate forum to maximize traffic and get you more responses to your post.

[wood-n-things]

I think you did a great job on all your projects. Don't be so hard on yourself and you did learn some valuable information.

[Rolf]

Thin is good but stack cut them to at least 1/4.
They look great to me!!

[Powakee]

Wowsers! All of those projects look great!

John

[Sunlion]

Very nice work. That puzzle looks fun, hehe like me trying to get some of my odd shaped tools to fit back in their box hehe. Nice work, and the ornaments look great, very neat clean work.

[avapilot]

you did a very nice job on both pieces .......the more ya cut, the more ya post!....keep those projects comin!...


bob

[Mindy]

Thanks.

[Bob Coltharp]

I learn something on every project, even those that go the way I had hoped. I think these look great and those that get them will be impressed even though you know you struggled at times.
Bob

[JimSawyer]

I've noticed that somehow, people can tell when there is a lot of work in something...
If it takes me 5 minutes and was easy, they're not so very impressed. But if I toil over something, there is a great WOW factor...
I don't know, it just seems to be that way...

Great work...!!!
Don't sell yourself short, (we all seem to do that). We see the microscopic errors. Others see the overall beauty...

I'd say you're well on your way to a rewarding and wonderful adventure...

[lucky788scroller]

Mindy, your cutting looks terriffic!!!