How to Make an Easy Display Stand with Proxxon Tools

 This easy display stand is a great project for getting to know your Proxxon tools. You can easily adjust the dimensions of the stand to meet your needs.

Supplies and Equipment:

• 6½" x 4¼" x ½" wood blank
• 6½" x 1¼" x 1/8" wood blank
• Two 6" lengths of ¼" dowel rod
• FolkArt Home Décor Antique Wax
• Proxxon Table Saw FET
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115
• Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Instructions:

1. Use the table saw to cut the backing piece to size using the extendable table extension, if necessary.
   
   
   
2. Use the bandsaw to cut dowel rods to length and the 1/8" facing piece to size.
   
   
   
3. Mark pilot  holes for the support dowels on the backing piece. Even if you are changing the dimensions of your display stand, the measurements for these pilot holes will work.
   
   
   
4. Mark pilot  holes for the support dowels on the facing piece.
   
   
   
5. Using the bench drill press, drill ¼" holes in the backing and facing pieces. Use the adjustable fence to maintain accurate alignment of the holes. Use a piece of waste wood under the pieces to minimize tear out.
   
   
   
6. Use the Delta sander to sand all surfaces using progressively finer grits of sandpaper.
7. Insert the dowels in the backing piece with 1½" to the front. 
   
   
   
8. Add the facing piece. The support dowels and facing piece can be glued in place with a liquid wood adhesive, or left unglued so the stand can be dismantled for storage.
   
   
   
9. Add the finish of  your choice to the display stand. I used FolkArt's Home Décor Antique Wax. 
   
   
   

Carole

How to Carve the Perfect Pumpkin Using the Proxxon Jigsaw

 It's pumpkin carving season!! Make the job easy using the Proxxon jigsaw.

Supplies and Equipment:

• One pumpkin
• Sharpie marker
• Alcohol
• Cotton ball
• Proxxon Super Jig Saw STS/E

Instructions:

1. Begin by washing the pumpkin to remove any dirt. Rinse with a weak bleach solution to kill bacteria and retard spoilage. Dry well.
2. Draw facial features on the pumpkin surface. Or, if you're like me and can't draw, print a face and cut out the features. 
   
   
   
3. Tape the features to the pumpkin, rearranging until you're satisfied with the placement.
   
   
   
4. Trace the outline of the features with a Sharpie marker.
   
   
   
5. Draw a circle around the stem for the top opening.
   
   
   
6. Cut the top opening first. Use the scale on the jigsaw to adjust the angle of the saw plate.
   
   
   
7. I used a 15­­° adjustment so the jigsaw would cut an angle on the lid. This allows the lid to be easily removed, but the angle keeps it from falling into the pumpkin.
   
   
   
8. Make a small pilot hole along the cut path for the jigsaw blade.
   
   
    
9. Cut the top opening. Now, scoop out the seeds and fibers.
   
   
   
10. Readjust the angle of the saw plate to 0° for cutting the eyes, nose, and mouth features.
    
    
    
11. Stop frequently to clean pumpkin residue away from the blade and saw plate.
    
    
    
12. Use cotton ball saturated with alcohol to remove any stray marker lines.
13. Pumpkin carving was never so easy!!
    

Carole

How to make Toast grabbers

 Hi again,   Hey I have a new practical project for you.  Lately I've had a craving for raisen toast, so I made me some.  Got 3 loaves out of the recipe so... well thats a lot of toast.  Trouble is the sugar in the swirls gets so hot in the toaster and the bread is fragile.  Plus,I got tired of burning my fingers.  So, I made these toast grabbers.   Meanwhile, I got the Proxxon engraving set and was dying to try it out, so I made the toast grabbers and had a canvas of sorts to try out my new Proxxon engraver.  Let me show you what I did.

Equipment and Supplies

3/8"" hardwood   2" x 12"

Proxxon mini bandsaw    or Proxxon mini scroll saw   Either will work

Proxxon disc sander

Proxxon mini drill press

masking tape, 

small piece of 3/8" dowel  (about 3 inches)

6-8" of strong string

Drill and 3/8" drill bit

Proxxon engraving set

Let's get started.

Take your wood piece and using the saw of your choice create 2 pieces measuring 3/8" by 2" xc 6"

I taped them together, then using the proxxon mini bandsaw rounded off the edges of one side.

Then I took it over to the Proxxon disc sander and smoothed it out some more

I left the 2 pieces taped together and put them in a vise to hold them tightly together then drilled a 3/8" hole between the 2 pieces.  This left a half hole in each side.  See pictures. 

 Taking one piece of the wood I placed it into the slot on the Proxxon engraver and use the little Proxxon step vice to hold it securely.   Following the directions arrange your letters, set your size ratio and engrave your words.   Check it out.

I used a permanent pen to help the letters stand out.  I think it looks good.   Not bad for my very first try with the Proxxon engraver.  

Next

Place the small dowel piece between the wood pieces and retape them together.   Using a small drill and the Proxxon mini drill press drill 2 small holes through the wood pieces and the dowel. 

Take the string and lace it through the holes and tie it tight.  (green arrows below)  This is your pivot point.   

Now go grab some toast.

Thanks for visiting.  Till me meet again, go and check out the Proxxon tool website.

Carol