How to Make a Pumpkin Decoration Using an Old Book and Proxxon Tools

 This fun and easy project is perfect for autumn home decorating. 

Supplies and Equipment that you'll need:

• Old book
• Hot glue and glue gun
• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E or Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460
• Orange acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Jute twine to make tendrils
• Artificial leaves
• 2" to 3" twig for the stem

Let's make a book pumpkin:

1. Remove the cover from your book.
   
   
   
2. Draw half a pumpkin shape (similar to the one below) as a pattern.
   
   
   
3. Trace your pattern onto the first page of the book.
   
   
   
4. Cut the pumpkin pattern using the bansdaw or scroll saw.
   
   
   
5. Manipulate and fan the pages to soften the spine.
6. Hot glue the edges of the spine together.
   
   
   
7. Next, glue the first and last pages together. You'll have something that looks like this.
   
   
   
8. Now, working with small sections of the book, paint the edges of the pages. I watered down my paint to about 2 parts paint :: 1 part water. As the pages absorb the water, they take on a nice rippled form.
   
   
   
9. Separate each of the pages to achieve a full pumpkin. Set aside to dry.
   
   
   
10. Make tendrils by wrapping the twine around ¼" dowel or large knitting needle. Secure the ends with pinch clothespins, Liberally mist the twine with water. Bake in a 250°F oven for 20 minutes. When the twine is cool, slide it from the rod and cut into lengths for tendrils.
11. Hot glue the twig, leaves, and tendrils in place on top of the pumpkin.
    
    
    
12. Display your book pumpkin with pride!!
    

Carole

How to Make the Perfect Hard Wood Tatting Shuttle with Proxxon Tools

I remember my grandmother sitting on our front porch swing, and tatting. When I was old enough to learn, her eyesight was too poor to teach me. So, as a young adult I taught myself to tat. My tatting has taken a back burner to other fiber arts that I enjoy, but I recently resurrected my tatting supplies. And, I decided to make a tatting shuttle. My Proxxon tools were perfect for the task.

Here are the supplies and equipment that you'll need to make your own tatting shuttle:

• 3" x 1" x ¼" close grain hard wood blank
• Tatting Shuttle Template
• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E or Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Let's make a tatting shuttle:

1. Print the Tatting Shuttle Template. Mount the pattern pieces on the wood blanks. Cover one side of the blanks with painter's tape. Mist the back side of the pattern with spray adhesive, and mount on the taped blank. The painter's tape made removal of the pattern easy without leaving any sticky residue.
   
   
   
2. Drill the holes using the bench drill press fitted with a ¼" bit.
   
   
   
3. Cut the shuttle shape using either the bandsaw or scroll saw.
   
   
   
4. Sand the surfaces using the Delta sander and progressively finer grits of sandpaper. I use the Delta sander mounted in the Precision Vice FMZ so both hands are free to manipulate the piece I'm sanding. You want to sand the shuttle until it is smooth as glass, so the fine threads used in tatting don't snag on any part of the shuttle.
   
   
   
5. Wrap a skewer or thin dowel rod with sandpaper, and sand the interior of the holes. 
   
   
   
6. There you go!! You have a tatting shuttle. If  you don't already tat, I encourage you to learn. There are many good how-to videos online.
   

Carole

How to make a flying bird mobile

 Hi again.  Time for another easy but impressive little project I think you will get a kick out of.   We are going to start with a ratty old piece of cedar board and turn it into an elegant decorative piece.  Or it could be a cute little mobile for the child's room.
Let's get started.   

                    First let's collect our supplies.

• 1/4" cedar board- wide enough for your pattern.
• Proxxon mini scroll saw- Proxxon mini band saw could also be used (your choice)
• Proxxon OZI/E delta sander
• Proxxon Cordless mini belt sander
• Finishing solution of your choice.  (I used 2 part resin- I wanted shiny)
• Proxxon Mini drill press
• Fishing line 10-20 lb test

I started by making a pattern of small birds.  I might hang this in a window.

 

Next, I transferred the pattern 4 times onto my cedar board.   Pay attention here to wood grain.  Cedar board with a wide grain likes to crack along the grain if the area cut is thin.  I did not want the bird's wings chipping off so I oriented them to follow the grain.  (We still need to be careful of the bird's tail and his beak)

First to the Proxxon mini drill press to drill holes where we will string up the birds.  Check that the balance will be right so they dont hang sideways or something.  😤

Over to the Proxxon mini scroll saw,  I carefully cut out the little birds.

The next part is very important.   I hate sanding as much as you do.  But with the Proxxon tools it really isnt that much of a chore.   I started with the Proxxon mini cordless belt sander and basically took off the edges all around the birds perimeter.  

Next I picked up the Proxxon OZI/E delta sander, and using 80 grit sand paper I sanded the birds all over.  I want everything as smooth as possible.  Cedar really polishes up nice if it is sanded really well.  A glossy coat will show every scratch or rough area so it is worth really being fastidious here.  

 

   

Now, just when you think you are done,  you're not.

Change the sanding paper on your Proxxon OZI/E delta sander to 240 grit and go over everything lightly.  Now you are done sanding.

*helpful hint*  If you want to preview your final result take a wet paintbrush and lightly patint the surface with clean water.   This will show any defects that will also show up in the finsh.  Sand those rough spots once again.  Now let the pieces dry really well.

Finish with the product of your choice.  I am using 2 part resin because I am after a very shiny look.

When everything is dry and looking good, string the pieces with the fishing line.  The other ends can be attached to a small board or to a cross made with 2 board for a more 3-D look.    Hang it up and be proud.  You made that beautiful showpiece.

Hey its been fun.  I hope to see you next time.  Till then play safe, play nice.

Thanks for coming.     Thank you Proxxon for the nifty tools that are so much fun to use!

Proxxon Tools Come Out of the Workshop: How to Get More Out of Your Cordless Polisher

 I've seen ads and videos of scrubbers all over the web, and thought, "I want one of those." Then, the light went on, and I realized that I already had one. In my workshop. My Proxxon Cordless Angle Polisher.

So, I tested it out on a grody sink. You can see from the before pix how bad it was. 

I used one of the sponge heads that comes with the polisher and a paste cleanser. Wow!! No elbow grease required. The polisher did all the work.

You can see the results.

I'm making a list of household projects for my cordless polisher—a marble top table, shower stall, utility room sink. Of course, I'll use it in the workshop, too :)

How to make a plexiglas business card holder

 Hi everyone.  Hope you all had a good 4th of July.  It was hot here but still had a good time with friends  We had an indoor picnic so to speak.  Anyway, I chose a simple little project so as not to spend a whole lot of time out in my un-airconditioned workshop.  The challenge today was to find the right tools for the job.  I really dont have a lot of experience with plexiglas so I learned some tricks I want to share with you.  

What we want to make is essentially a little box.  The trick is cutting plexiglas without chipping or cracking it, then finding the right glue. 

 Ok. lets get started.  I made a pattern for myself that I felt would hold the cards in a nice way.  I drew my cut lines on masking tape.  I was off to the Proxxon mini table saw to do my cutting.  It went well for a little while but then I started chipping and cracking the little pieces.

Make sure you wear safety glasses as bits of hot plexiglas are flying.

Here is the first trick.  I took a slim slab of wood and taped the plexiglas securely to it.  I drew the pattern onto the wood and cut the pieces with the wood side up.  I got a very smooth cut and there was none of the flying plexiglas pieces. 

 

When I got all the pieces cut I began the gluing process.  The trick here is to leave the protective plastic on over the plexiglass to keep the glue off the glass.  Peel the edges away and lay a line of glue.  I use glue that is made for model making.  

Go slow, one side at a time.  It doesnt take long for the glue to hold. When the box is made, peel away the protective plastic and you got a nice little box.   Oh, I used the proxxon mini scroll saw for the finger cut-out on the front side.   Any extra plexiglas (overlap), can be removed with the Proxxon OZI/E delta sander.  But be careful not to scratch the plastic sides.    

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sorry for the poor picture.  The project acttually looks good 

Hope you all enjoyed the little project.   Catch ya next time.  Carol

Farmhouse Style: Crafting a Country Chic Cow Wall Hanging

This country chic cow is a moo-velous project for honing your skills at cutting out shapes—as well as using lumber scraps that all woodworkers seem to accumulate.

Supplies and Equipment Used:

• Lumber scraps ¼" to ¾" thick—hardwood, MDF, plywood, etc.
• 24" twine or narrow ribbon
• 12" ribbon
• Acrylic paints
• Picture hanging hardware
• Liquid wood adhesive
• Country Chic Cow pattern
• Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460
• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115
• Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/E
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Step-by-step Instructions for the Country Chic Cow Wall Hanging:

1. Print the Country Chic Cow pattern. Mount the pattern pieces on the wood blanks. Cover one side of the blanks with painter's tape. Mist the back side of the pattern with spray adhesive, and mount on the taped blank. The painter's tape made removal of the pattern easy without leaving any sticky residue.
   
   
   
2. Cut out the shapes using the bandsaw or scroll saw.
   
   
   
3. Drill holes using the bench drill press fitted with a 5/32" drill bit. Place a scrap of waste wood under the blank to minimize tear out. Set the adjustable fence to maximize drilling accuracy.
   
   
   
4. Sand edges of hooves and body using the disc sander.
   
   
   
5. Sand the edges of the head using the Delta sander. I use the Delta sander mounted in the Precision Vice FMZ so both hands are free to manipulate the piece I'm sanding.
   
   
   
6. Now it's time to paint the pieces. Paint the entire surface of the body and the head white, and the hooves black. Set aside to dry.
7. When the paint is dry, sketch areas on the head and body for black accents and for the nose on the head. Paint the sketched areas.
   
   
   
8. When the paint is dry, attach picture hanging hardware to the back of the body piece.
   
   
   
9. Using liquid wood adhesive, glue the head to the body.
   
   
   
10. Tie the hooves to the body using twine.
    
    
    
11. Glue a bow to the head.
    
    
    
12. Enjoy your country chic cow wall hanging. 
    
    
    

Other Country Chic projects include:

• Country Chic Valentine Peg People
• Country Chic Sheep
• Country Chic Pig
• Country Chic Bird
• Country Chic Chick
• Country Chic Three Cats
• Country Chic Cuts of Pork
• Country Chic Hen
• Country Chic Holiday Reindeer

Carole