It's Nativity Time!

[rafairchild2]

Spent this weekend starting my nativity work.  These will be gifts. I will be giving them out at Thanksgiving. One goes to a Spanish officer I work with. 

The 3 smaller ones were cut from 1/2" Walnut and Cherry wood.  This smaller is a Steve Good Pattern, which I really like as simple, yet classy.  Though I have to say, all those straight lines do make it a bit of a challenge. 

The larger more intricate tree was cut from Canary Wood and is a Sue Mey design.  I really like her designs, they are challenging for sure, but you come out with standout pieces. Combined with unique wood this is an heirloom piece in my mind.  Lots of hours cutting this! Canary wood is really nice to cut as it seems to be a little "oily" so blades cut true and last a long time.  I think I only had to replace the blades because I bent them when threading my pierce holes!  I started with #3 Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse, then moved to a #1 for the inside.  I used a #3 for the outside perimeter which I did last.

Sue's design is nice as it stays true to the Christmas story "The Shepherds and the Angels ~ Luke 2:8-21".

All of the pieces have a semi-circle 'bulge' behind on the base, they also have a 'cup' drilled with a Forstner bit.  This way the tea lights sit right in.

I finished all of them in raw linseed oil, this is my preferred finish.

Now comes the curing time, and then I will go over each piece with 3000-grit sandpaper.  Then a tac cloth to get rid of the lint.  I will be cutting a few more of the smaller ones, but need a rest first.  

Edited October 8, 2023 by rafairchild2

[Scrappile]

Nice pieces.

[daveww1]

very nice work

[rjweb]

Excellent work, RJ

[heppnerguy]

It is indeed time to start on more Christmas projects and what better than the ones you choose? I really like the projects and the nicely done items you choose. They will add some new interest in someone's decorations this year and years to come

Dick

heppnerguy

[barb.j.enders]

All of them will be heirloom pieces.  Well done.

[MarieC]

Very nice!  I am so impressed with those straight cuts!  Great Christmas presents....

[Ron Johnson]

Very well done Richard. 

[rafairchild2]

10 hours ago, MarieC said:

Very nice!  I am so impressed with those straight cuts!  Great Christmas presents....

Thank you Marie.

One of the tricks I learned is to try and cut as much as possible with the "waste" area to the right of my blade.  I use Flying Dutchman and noticed that it favors the right side, and that's where it will drift to. I find I have the best control and best lines using this rule.  Plus, if I screw up, most of the time it will be in the waste area and not the "live" area.

[FrankEV]

Very nice work.

I like the trick you gave in your reply to Marie.

[MarieC]

6 hours ago, rafairchild2 said:

Thank you Marie.

One of the tricks I learned is to try and cut as much as possible with the "waste" area to the right of my blade.  I use Flying Dutchman and noticed that it favors the right side, and that's where it will drift to. I find I have the best control and best lines using this rule.  Plus, if I screw up, most of the time it will be in the waste area and not the "live" area.

Thank you so much for that tip!  I learn so much on here!  Thanks again

[rafairchild2]

Another set of Nativities completed today.  Sue Mey design as well.  I did these two designs, and a third is ready for cutting for next week.

Now I take a short break from nativity cutting and this week will be working on a Flag, Eagle, and Statue of Liberty. (I combined a couple of Steve Goods designs into one).  This will be for a French Officer I work with at NATO.

 

Edited October 9, 2023 by rafairchild2

[Scrappile]

Those are really nice.

[rdatelle]

Those all came out great. I love the Christmas tree one. i'll have to try and find that pattern.

[rafairchild2]

6 minutes ago, rdatelle said:

Those all came out great. I love the Christmas tree one. i'll have to try and find that pattern.

It's a Sue Mey.  She sells them on her personal site and Etsy.