My Washington Raindeer

[Greatgrandpawrichard]

30 Years ago I found a Reindeer Pattern that was big enough to be cut out on a Bandsaw. I tried it and my wife absolutely loved it, but she wanted the deer to be smaller so that she could use them as Christmas decorations. So, I used my scanner and I kept reducing the size down to about 3 inches tall by ¾ ths. Of an inch thick. Thus began a love affair with those little critters that has spanned 3 Decades!

 

I have made them and shipped them all over the world. I have them in all 50 states of the USA, Every Province of Canada, England, Sweden, France, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Australia, New Zeland, Hong Kong, and Japan.

 

They are a Tradition for me that I enjoy and I make them all year long, I have made them out of Rosewood, Purple Heart, Teak, Ironwood, Walnut, Maple, White Ash, Pine, Fir, Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Aromatic Cedar, White Cedar, Red Oak, White Oak, then I laminated different woods together for unique looking deer and several other woods that I have accumulated through the years. I have named them Washington Raindeer ( in honor of the State of Washington and what it seems forever to do here on the west coast of Washington.).

 

The first few years I struggled with cutting them out but I finally managed to get a consistent way to cut them out that fits my style. Not to mention that I upgraded my scroll saw from a $199, 16 inch Craftsman Scroll saw to a 20 inch RBI Scroll Saw that I finally wore out last year. So I replaced it with another RBI 26 inch saw.

 

In the last year, with my new saw I have challenged myself with making the Raindeer smaller and smaller. My latest size is a tiny 7/8 inch tall baby deer.
 

I now have 5 different pattern sizes that I use consistently.

Dick

 

 

[Dak0ta52]

You did great on these, Dick. I'm sure your wife is elated. (Happy wife, happy life!)

[Wichman]

The pattern that I use (from Wood Gears) is very close to your pattern. My current size is 7/16" thick,  1 7/8" long, and 2 1/2" tall.  I use mostly 1 x 2 pine (construction castoffs). These are very popular.

[Denny Knappen]

I sure love compound cutting.  Very well done.

[daveww1]

terrific job

[Scrappile]

I love to compound cut... Have not tried the reindeer yet.  Guess it is time I do that... I have made several compound cut Nut Crackers... They were great fun to make.

 

[rjweb]

Paul, those nutcrackers are great, I remember you showed them last year, I think you posted where the pattern came from then, but I lost it, if you have it I would appreciate,thx RJ 

[WolfmoonCT]

Those are awesome.  I have not tried to do any 3D cutting yet.  Some day I'll have to try.

[Greatgrandpawrichard]

Here's 3 of the sizes of patterns that I use if anyone wants them.

 

Dick

[Scrappile]

5 hours ago, rjweb said:

Paul, those nutcrackers are great, I remember you showed them last year, I think you posted where the pattern came from then, but I lost it, if you have it I would appreciate,thx RJ 

https://jeplans.com/Catalog/Catalog2.php?targp=JECAT&JECAT=CompoundScrolling&JEACN=SSNC01

 

Edited October 13, 2021 by Scrappile

[rjweb]

Thx Paul, RJ

[Charlie E]

Very nice! Cute little fellas. 

[wombatie]

Cute.  My husband makes them and give them away around the street.

Marg

[rdatelle]

Love the reindeer. I've done a few of them. Might have to do a few more. Paul. I loved that video. You do great work.

[GusGustin]

SO GLAD YOU INCLUDED that pattern .. Isn't this the same one that Alex Snodgrass does on his band saw by MEMORY ?? Have you seen him do that? Takes him about 15 seconds for each one !!!! hahahahaha .. doesn't even use a pattern! 

But .. I'm going to use YOUR pattern .. thanks !!!