Easy to Make Burn Wires for the Proxxon Woodturning Lathe

 Burn wires are easy to make and use, and can add a great design detail to woodturning projects.

Supplies and equipment that you'll need:

• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115
• Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw MBS/E
• Scrap wood or dowel rod
• Variety of wire

Here's how to make a Burn Wire

1. You'll need one length of wire 12" to 15" long, and two handles.
2. Using the bandsaw, cut two scraps piece of wood each measuring about 3½" long x 2" high x 1" thick for the handles. I'm using a 5/8" dowel rod into two 3½" lengths.
3. Measure and mark the center point. Use the bench drill press to drill a hole for the wire at the mark.
   
   
   
4. Feed the wire through the hole.
   
   
   
5. Twist the wire to secure it in place. Repeat with the second handle.
6. Here's the finished burn wire.
   
   
   

You can use a variety of objects for handles. I've used large buttons, and secured the wire in place with jewelry crimps. Different thicknesses of wire will give different results. Any wire will work. Experiment with wires and handles. Be aware that with much use, the wires may break.

How to use the burn wire:

1. Turn a swallow groove on your piece with the point of a skew tool or parting tool. The size of the groove should match the size of the burn wire.
2. While your piece is mounted on the lathe and the lathe if turned off, pass one handle under the work. 
   
   
   
3. Align the wire in the appropriate groove, and gently pull on the handles to snug the wire against the piece.
4. Turn on the lathe, still maintaining tension on the burn wire. The friction from the wire against the wood "burns" a ring into the wood. Stop when it begins to smoke.

Be aware that while it is unlikely, it is possible that a hot ember from the burning process could ignite shavings. Take appropriate precautions. 

Carole

How To Make A Eagle Wallhanging Part Two

 

This will be the directions for making the bunting that hangs below the eagle.  For supplies you can refer to Part One.

I drew the pattern for the bunting then transferred it to the MDF. 

 

Due to the size of this sheet of MDF I needed to cut off some excess before I could cut it out with the Proxxon MICRO bandsaw.  For this I used the Proxxon Micro Jig Saw.

Now with a lot of the excess wood eliminated I was able to finish cutting out the bunting with the  Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw.

Using red, white and blue Plaid paint I painted the stripes and stars. Let dry

  

Now is kind of where the magic happens. Using scrap paper and black spray paint I made it look like it was ruffled. Finding the center spot at the top make a mark. Then using two sheets of paper cover all the paint except for a small wedge coming from that center mark. LIGHTLY SPRAY with the black spray paint.  Move the paper around from the center point out and lightly spray wedges. I gives the illusion of it being ruffled. Let dry.

I screwed two small eye screws into the top of the bunting.  I took twine and wrapped twice around the eagles branch going through the eye screws to hang the bunting. I coated both pieces with the varnish (back, front and all edges).  I also tapped in two picture hangers behind the eagles wings for hanging.

Hope you enjoyed my wall hanging!  Thanks for following along with me :-)...Colleen

Thank you Proxxon!

How to make a wooden flying eagle

 Hi everyone, it's me again, Carol W, .  Today I want to show you an easy project to make so you can spruce up a room without using any wall, floor, dresser or desk space.  That's right we are going to hang it from the ceiling.  

I had a paper one of these many years ago, but today we will make it from some thin pieces of scrap wood.    It is an easy project and I just love the outcome.  

Equipment and supplies.  

Wood,-- 1/4" - 3/8" plywood scraps,  Need a couple pieces about 6" x 18"

Eagle pattern- see below, or draw your own,

Proxxon mini scroll saw

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

Proxxon mini drill press

Plaid paints

sturdy string

Here is the pattern I drew, Note I separated the wings from the body and there is a cutout place on each where we will put them together.

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Transfer the pattern onto your wood, then cut out the eagle and his wings using theProxxon mini scroll saw

 

Note on the pattern whrere the holes are marked and use the Proxxon mini drill press to drill those holes, on the wings and on the eagle.

Test that the wings will slide onto the eagle body.  It should be snug but not impossible.

Using the Proxxon O/ZIE delta sander, sand everything smooth.  I love this tool, it gets into all the tight spots, and the sanding papers are changeable using hook and loop fastening.

Take the eagle apart now and paint it using Plaid's wonderful array of paints and let it dry.  

To hang the eagle, I used (2) 12 inch pieces of string for the wings and a 10" string for the eagle's body.   This made it hang like I wanted.  I tied these 3 strings first to the eagle then together at the opposite end then hung him from the rafters in my shop (till I find him a home).  

Looks pretty good, I think. I  cauight the cat looking up at him a couple of times.  

Well, thank you all for visiting,  Come back soon for another new project.  Take care!

Thank you Proxxon. com,  and Plaid paints.

How To Make A Eagle Wall Hanging Part One

 

Today I'll be showing you how I made this eagle wall hanging.  This is Part 1.

Supplies: 

  

  Proxxon MICRO-Bandsaw MBS 115/E

  Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/E

  Proxxon Jig Saw

  Proxxon Delta Sander

  MDF 1/2"

  Plaid Paint  assorted colors

  Hellmsman Spar Varnish

  2 Small Eye Hooks 

  Twine

  Picture Hanger (2)

I'm using 1/2" MDF simply because I have it on hand. Normally I would use birch plywood for something like this but wood is very expensive right now. MDF should not be used outside.  I'm eventually going to put this on my covered porch so I'll be covering it with a Spar Varnish.  I drew my pattern on the MDF.

Using the MICRO bandsaw I cut the eagle out. Some times due to the size of the throat on the bandsaw the pattern may need to be drawn on both sides of the wood to get into tight areas.

Once it is cut out I used the Disc Sander TSG 250/E to smooth edges and the Delta Sander for tight spots.

Now I'm ready to paint.  I base coated the eagle with A medium brown Plaid Paint and let dry. I then drew in the details of the eagle with a pencil. I then painted in the wings, legs and eagle head with multiple colors of Plaid Paint.  Also painting all the edges with matching colors.

Next I cut the wood that looks like a branch under the eagle that will be attached to the bottom using the Micro bandsaw.  I lined the branch up under the eagle and screwed the two pieces together.

Next I painted the branch and the eagles Talons.

This is part one.  Next in part two I'll be showing how I made the bunting.  Thanks for following along with me... :-)    Colleen

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How to Make a Useful Key Holder from Reclaimed Wood

 This key holder used to be a rack for cheese knives, but it had outlived its usefulness, and was falling apart. So, I decided to reclaim parts of it and refashion it into a key holder.

I used these Proxxon tools:

• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon MICRO Woodturning Lathe DB 250
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Here's how I made the Reclaimed Wood Key Holder:

1. I started with this fallen-apart cheese knife rack. The top piece was just glued on, and had fallen off.
   
   
   
2. I used the bandsaw to cut away the bottom piece, but saved it for a future project.
3. I used a 5/8" dowel rod to turn pegs to hold the keys.
4. I used a center finder to mark the center of the dowel rod.
   
   
    
5. I mounted the unmarked end of the dowel in the three jaw chuck, and centered the marked end at the tail stock.
   
   
   
6. I turned four different pegs, and sanded each while still mounted on the lathe.
   
   
   
7. Next, I used FolkArt UltraDye to color each peg. The UltraDye produces a vibrant color while still allowing the wood grain to show through.
   
   
   
8. Then, I sanded the two reclaimed wood pieces using the Delta sander.
   
   
   
9. These two piece were then glued together.
   
   
   
10. While the glue was drying, I again used the center finder to mark the centers at the bottom of the pegs, and screwed in a hook for holding the keys.
11. Now I have a functional key holder made from reclaimed wood.
    

Carole

How to make a box kite

 OK, I want to bring out the kid in you this week.  We are going to make a box kite using our Proxxon tools and hopefully it will fly and so will your spirits.  Trust me!

Supplies and equipment:

6    1/4" x 36" dowel rods

4   Walmart bags

2-3 drinking straws

kite string or suitable substitute

scissors

gorilla glue

contact cement 

plastic tape

measuring tool  yardstick or tape measure

speed square if you got one. 

Proxxon scroll saw

Proxxon profession rotary tool

Patience  ha ha

Here's our plan

Let's get started.   The first thing to do is to  cut (4) 14" pieces of dowel   These will be our cross pieces.  I used the Proxxon Scroll saw to do my cutting.  But I could have used my Proxxon mini bandsaw just as well.  You choose,

I made some indents using the Proxxon professional rotary tool.  This will help keep the parts from slipping while I lash them together.  

I lash them together in the middle with string, wrapping it around every which way until it kind of holds it together as an X.  Then I applied a drop or 2 of gorilla glue to strengthen it.   Gorilla glue is very strong but also very light.

Meanwhile I cut my straws into 2-3" lengths.  I need 8 of these.  I cut them about half way through at their halfway point.   These are really going to help keep things together.  I don't know if you noticed how hard it is to stabilize two round things together...😆
I slipped those over the 4 outside 36" dowels at the 6 " mark.  Note the picture below as how to use the straws.  

I put a drop of glue into 2 adjacent dowel sticks straw holes in each of the 4 36" dowels  then put two pieces of each cross members into the straws then propped them up to dry.  Try to keep them at pretty much 90 degrees to each other.

When it is good and dry turn it over and do the other sides just the same.   Now we have a skeleton.

Part 2, making the skin.

  Take 3 Walmart or similar bags and lay then out straight as you can.  Measure 12 inches out of the middle so that when cut it turns into a big loop.  Cut it down the side so you now have a sheet of plastic 12" wide.  Starting at one corner secure the plastic to the side using contact cement.  Then wrap the plastic around the frame as far as you can get.  I got around 3/4 of the way so I needed to add another length of plastic bag.  I attached the second plastic  to the first with a line of contact cement and finished the journey around the frame.  I cut off the excess and secured the end to the first piece at the first corner.  To add strength and durability to the wispy plastic I took clear packing tape around all the edges of the plastic.    

Part 3  Kite string

First let me say.  "goooood luck"   I went to Walmart, dollar tree, dollar general, etc etc.  I believe they have done away with it.  I did find a kite at dollar tree with a miniscule amount of string.  So use what you can.  Light but strong.  I finally chose yarn.  

Cut a piece 36 inches long and secure it to the top of the kite and the top of the bottom section of the kite.  (12" up from the bottom).  About 12- 14" down from the top, tie a small loop.  Attach your "string to' this loop.

Hey,,, guess what.  If there is some wind outside we are ready to fly.    I had to wait 3 days to get enough wind for take off.   But it was worth it.!  You are never too old to fly a kite!  Try it.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                   ↖Me, having a great day.    

Thank you all for visiting.  I do hope you give it a try.  Invite the kids or grands so you have an excuse.to play.    I had soooo much fun.

Thank you Proxxon for your fine tools that make making stuff so easy.  

Till next time.   Carol