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I'm finally getting back into my woodshop and making something again. Health issues had just about completely put an end to my woodworking two years ago. I lost almost total use of my right leg, and none of the doctors could figure out what was wrong with me. Then last January a mild, but large bruise formed on and around my right knee, and the pain started going away. By about April I was able to put weight on it, but then it took me until about June to walk on it without cane or crutches. The bruise gradually went away along with the pain. I still have some balance problems, but I'm walking again. Just not nearly as well as before all this. I started going back out to the shop in the Fall, but at first I just stayed an hour or so, looking around, and then went back to the house. My son was doing the required maintenance for me when something absolutely needed to be done, but his idea of putting tools and supplies back when finished using them is in a pile just inside the shop door. I still have a significant pile to put away, but I was eager to see if I could make reindeer again. This one is the first in almost 2 years. I made 7 total Wednesday afternoon of the two larger sizes that I make. This is Mrs. Rudolf, slightly smaller than Rudy, the largest, who is almost 4" tall. She is about 3 1/4" tall. The next size down from the Mrs. is Trudy the teen daughter and then the smallest is ear ring size at about 7/8" tall and I call him Rudy Jr. I named the sizes years ago as a way of keeping track of the quantities and sizes that I was making. I've actually made smaller, at about 1/2" tall, but the average success rate of about 4 good in 10 made me quit. I've been making reindeer every year since 2004, except for these last 2 years. Well, with these, this year now isn't a total bust, so only one year, last year, without making any. Every Christmas Season I've just been making and then giving them away to any woman who helps me in some way during the Christmas Season. Every sales clerk, waitress, nurse, etc. gets one if they want it. For some strange reason, the women and teen girls seem to love these things. Most men are insulted if offered one, but I do give them away to woodworkers who want them. As I wish the women a "Very Merry Christmas" at the completion of my business with them, I hold my hand out palm down with a reindeer in it, then drop it in their hand when they reach out. Their excitement makes it worth doing. I've been hugged and even kissed on the cheek, but the smile Is all I'm after, and the chance to improve the "Christmas Spirit" in them. I lost exact count, but it's somewhere around 15,000 total reindeer that I've made since starting this. Reindeer are not the only thing that I make, but it usually keeps me busy from September on, when I'm in the shop and not working on a larger or more pressing project. I took this photo immediately after cutting her out. No eyes or red nose yet, Not even de-fuzzed yet. The eyes and nose are put on with black and red marking pens after de-fuzzing. Then a coat of clear lacquer. These were completed yesterday, before we went shopping, and one has already been given away. I've been avoiding it as much as possible this year, but Suzanne wants to go to the big mall, and traffic is very likely to be a mess around there. She doesn't handle driving in heavy traffic well any more. I don't either, but she thinks I do better than her, but we are very likely to make this venture to the Concord Mills Mall today, so I doubt I'll be making any more reindeer before Christmas this year. Hopefully, I'll be able to get started early and make a bunch of them before the Christmas Season next year. For those interested, that's the clamp that I used to hold the pieces of the reindeer blank together while I'm cutting it, and most 3D patterns, that the reindeer is sitting next to. It's about 6" long and made from 12 mm Baltic Birch plywood about 1" wide, two 6" long pieces of #8-32 stainless steel all thread, four hex nuts, two #8-32 wing nuts, six #8 flat washers. Only the all thread needs to be stainless. I use the stainless steel all thread because the mild steel version are too soft and stretch easily with many repeated uses. I don't have that trouble with the stainless all thread. Charley Attachments First 2021 Reindeer IMG_20211221_161725.jpg 78.8 KB · Views: 15

This is my second from Jim Blume's Americana series and I plan to cut at least one more. Like the first which was a wagon wheel, this is cut from 1/4 Maple ply stained natural with multi coats of spray clear gloss sanded between each coat. The back is 1/4 Pine. The frame is cut from a 1X Pine board that I actually tried out my new router for the first time. The frame is stained with and antique oak. I'm posting two pics. One of the single finished project and another with both I have cut. I feel they complement each other.

Going to add some colour

Here was all the orders I did for people at work. I always stack cut 3 at a time. I'm good til next year. The Fox and Raven was just me messing around. I adjusted the slot after I took these pictures to make the Santas and Snowmen line up properly. The pattern was off a little.

Glad to see that you are on the mend! I could not imagine being out of my shop for that long. I lovemaking the reindeer, not as many as you. Giving them as gifts like that is a wonderful idea! I usually cut the small ones at our wood working show it is fun to watch the reactions people have when the little guy falls out of the middle. I usually use Cherry when I make the real small ones or any tight grained wood.

Everything in black is epoxy resin Botas pattern

Regarding closing up the deck ports, they drove me crazy since I top feed and missed the correct hole and scratched up the deck. I filled them epoxy and that worked good but eventually the deck so scratched up any way that I purchased the white magnet sheets and cut to size. They come on a roll and I can get several out of that roll. It also solved the vacuum port holes also.

Rolf you do remember correctly. In fact, I purchased one from them. If I remember correctly, it was the scroller's son who had the 3D printer. Let me what I can find.

I really do love the rustic style of framing. Might have something to do with me being sort if rustic myself. LOL

Awesome work and presentation. The 2 of them do complement one another for sure. I believe there are a couple more in that series that would be a nice addition for a collage. As to trying out your new router, it looks like you have it mastered quite well.

great job

Unique. Love it. Marg

Some new cuttings - Home sign for each season, projects size 7,5 x 8 inches, 3 layers 1/8 inch Video of making project Home patterns

Down Right Awesome work!! Love your Frames. I agree both plaques go well together.

Now that is Really Cool

Well here are a few of my newest cuttings. I like the Patriotic Trucks best. Still wish I could find some Bright Silver paint. That Glitter Silver looks ok. But I prefer Bright Silver. Oh well we do the best we can.

Believe it or not, it's 1/4" birch ply. I got 2 pieces that were white on the front and red oak looking on the back

I was wondering the same! LOL

Here in Canada the cost of 1/8 BB used to be $16 for a 60x60 sheet. I just looked and the new price is $38.50. 1/4 inch doubled to 52.50. A good thing I stocked up. KJP hardwoods in Ottawa only has 1/8 in 12x20 at $3.05 so if you get enough for 60x60 it is $45.65 a sheet. The prices as sure to go up even further so if you have a source I would stock up. KJP also sells 1/16 too.

It has a beard

I could answer.....but I would probably get banned from the site......lol

You can buy Baltic craft ply made in the USA here in New Zealand it is expensive for the thin stuff I bought some 2mm but usually keep a variety of sizes in my stock at home from 2mm up to 12mm it is available here in different size sheets I think it would be quite reasonble in the states. Cheers Mike

Magnifique Rodney, both are beautiful, you haven't two left hands like me. (It's a French expression that says you're skillful, you probably have the same expressions.)

It has been awhile since I have done much scroll saw work. I needed to practice a bit before making the ornaments. The pattern was from the Scroll Saw magazine. I made some out of 1-1/4" Cherry, Maple and Walnut. I cut them with either the FD Polar #5 or The PS Woods Super Sharps #5. Both of them are skip tooth blades and work well in thicker wood. The Super Sharps are more expensive but cut easier. They were finished with eagle can lacquer. I thought they were a bit plain so cut some 5/8" tall reindeer, stars or Christmas Trees. The small reindeer were cut from 1/8" Maple with a #3 FD Polar and a 3X magnifier lens. I made about 10 ornaments and gave most away to friends.

Kevin, I already have a great dust collection setup that uses my Festool vacuum at low speed and it is reasonably quiet. But with the multiple holes in the EX table the bottom nozzle is not as effective as the top. What I want to do is design a setup that I can connect to my existing nozzle and covers all of the holes from the bottom and not interfere with my blade change and clamps. While looking for this picture I found a design file that someone did for a Pegas . It is made for the 2" port which I don't want but may give me a design start.

I think it is Matting from framing.... I think he is in the framing business also.. It is good stuff... I use "Poster Board" from any store, even Wallymart,,, where I meat my kind of people.. on most pictures I scroll... Never had a problem with it..

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.. I may try it with just the 1/8 BB ply I have and see how it goes.. Honestly it doesn't need to be wood I suppose since I planned on painting it. I'm just not sure what's out there that's reasonably priced.. Edit to add: I made these ornaments on my laser... and would likely cut the backer on the laser too. The original design was for a large wall hanging but I resized these to be about 4- 3/4 tall.. The design also had a slightly larger backer.. I didn't intend to make the backers but the detail is so small that they're hard to see good without a contrasting color on the back.. So that is why I was wanting the thin ply to use as a backer and paint it.. I may scrap the whole idea and just make them the wall hangings that they was designed to be.. I just like to "try" to make things different than the original design.. I purchased a bundle pack of these themed crosses ( about 75 different designs ) that was designed for laser / cnc.. and just playing.. I think most of these could be scroll sawn as well.. I know they could with slight modifications.. Not sure they could be this small sized though..

There is no such thing as a smooth one coat paint on wood unless you are happy with you pieces feeling like sandpaper.

I use a Harbor Freight air brush for top coats. For me it works great. Easy and fast to clean.

UPDATE - Rolf what you are asking about was on the SSWW site. I will message you.