Homemade dice

Hello again.   If you got a little time, I have a fun little project today.   Let's make some dice.  I thought most games require 2 dice, some require 4, but I play a game with friends that need 6 dice so that is what we will make today.  Yes, I know dice are cheap enough, but the satisfaction that comes with making something out of nothing is always fun.

This doesn't take a lot of resources.  All you need is a short piece of wood that can be cut down to 3/4" by 3/4" size.  I chose a piece of pine because it is relatively soft and that will be helpful later on.  Other equipment and supplies. 

Proxxon mini table saw

Proxxon mini chop saw

Proxxon cordless belt sander

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

Paint

wood treatment.

To get started we need to cut our wood down to size.  I did this by cutting a strip 3/4" wide and high.  Using the fence on the Proxxon mini table saw makes this easy.   ++by all means use a push stick and keep your fingers away from the blade. 

  Now we have 6 little cubes

off to the Proxxon micro press to make our marks in dice making

I chose a round punch to make the dots on the dice.   This does a good job of making them all the same.

Remember when you are planning your dice that opposite sides of the cube will equal 7.   In other words the 6 is opposite the 1, and the 4 is opposite the 3.

Once the dots are all imprinted it is time to paint the dots.  You don't have to worry too much if the painting isn't perfect.   We will take care of that in the next step

Using just a couple of Proxxon's sanding tools, the OZI/E delta sander and the Proxxon cordless mini belt sander it is easy to erase all the wayward paint

Knowing that I used a soft pine, I chose to use a pre-stain on my dice prior to the final finish.   And they are ready to play.  I like how they are quieter on a table top

Thanks for visiting .Hope you come back next time and we will make something interesting.

Thanks Proxxon.   Carol

How to Make a Summer Bouquet with Proxxon Tools

 My summer flowers are blooming early this year, thanks to my Proxxon MICROMOT tools. You can easily create a similar bouquet to brighten your days, too.

Supplies:

• ½" to ¾" wood or MDF blanks
• 1/8" dowel rod
• Acrylic paints
• Buttons
• E6000 adhesive
• Proxxon Table Saw FET
• Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Delta Sander
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115

Instructions:

1. Draw a few basic flower shapes. Here are the ones I used.
   
   
   
2. Cut a blank large enough to accommodate your flower shapes. You will also need a base. Mine is 4½" x 4½".
   
   
   
3. Mount your flower shape patterns on the blank. Cover one side of the blank with painter's tape. Mist the back side of the pattern with spray adhesive, and mount on the taped blank. The painter's tape makes removal of the pattern easy without leaving any sticky residue.
   
   
   
4. Cut out the shapes on the bandsaw. The extra narrow scroll saw blade makes cutting on the bandsaw almost like using a scroll saw. Alternatively, you could use the Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460.
   
   
   
5. Sand all surfaces with the Delta Sander.
   
   
   
6. Using the bench drill press, drill holes for the dowel rod stems on each flower shape.
   
   
   
7. Drill random holes in the base. Drill a few of the holes on an angle. Drilling a random pattern and number of holes, as well as drilling angled holes, allows for added options when arranging the flowers.
   
   
   
8. Cut dowel rods to length. Mine ranged between 5½" and 8".
9. Paint the flowers, base, and dowel rods with acrylic paints.
   
   
   
10. Glue buttons onto the center of each flower.
    
    
    
11. Arrange your flowers, and enjoy!!
    
    
    

How to make a little bird feeder

Welcome back.  Yesssss I am talking to you, and the flowers and the warm sunshine and the little birds.  I am so happy to be defrosted and ready for spring.  I noted the birds have come back, and to look at my birdfeeders they are hungry.  Little birds were getting rude treatment at my big feeders so I decided to make a little one that would be just for them. See below the instructions on how to build this cute little bird feeder using Proxxon tools.

Equipment and supplies

Proxxon mini table saw

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

Pine boards 1/2" to 3/8" thick

2 small pieces of 1/8" plexiglass

wood glue

small screws

16" of rope or strong twine.   

6 x 1" wood slat

See the cutting pattern below I used the Proxxon mini table saw to cut my pieces.

The first thing I did was to build the fence that I am going to put around the bottom of this feeder.  This will help keep all the seeds from spilling out.

I have my two longer pieces and 2 of the shorter ones.  The long pieces will go on the long side of the bottom with slight overhang on each side. The shorter pieces will go inside of the longer pieces on the short sides of the bottom.  Confused yet?  👀  see picture below

Now I have glued it in place.  I add a few nails along the bottom of the fence just to be sure.  And I sand my edges smooth using my Proxxon OZI/E delta sander.   I love this sander!

Next I need to make a slot in the wooden sides so that the plexiglass front and back can slide in.

I need to remove the blade cover and splitter for the next step and set my blade height to about 1/4"  I want to cut only about half way through the wood, making a slot.

I set the fence about 1/2" from the saw blade and run both long sides of each of the side pieces over the blade.  It is not quite wide enough to insert the plexiglas yet so I move it just the tiniest bit either way and run those boards through it again.  Now I have a slot that will accommodate the plexiglass pieces.

Glue the bottom supports to the bottom of the sides. 

Then, glue the sides to the short side of the base then secure it with a couple of screws.  The plexiglas should slide in easily.  Note at the bottom the support acts as a stop so there is space for the seeds to fall through.   I've taken the protective plastic off the glass now.  Look how clear. 

 

A couple of screws or i-hooks on the side to tie the piece of rope to, then up through the top holes and  you are finished.  Now we can fill it with seed and hang it outside.  

This works good for the little birds because the big birds have a hard time holding on and eating from the narrow trough.  It is easy to fill because the lid lifts up.  

Poor angry bird too big for the new feeder.

This is a fast and easy project.  Proxxon tools are just the ticket.   Give it a try.

Thanks for visiting.   Love my Proxxon tools.

till next time....   Carol

How to Make a Slant Board for Leg Stretches

 Slant boards are used to stretch and strengthen leg muscles, especially the calf muscles. You can do an online search to find appropriate slant board exercises. Proxxon MICROMOT tools make is an easy project to cut and assemble.

Here are the supplies and equipment that you'll need to make a slant board:

• One 12" x 5½" x ¾" piece of lumber
• One 11" x 13" x ¾" piece of lumber or MDF
• Ten 1½" steel screws
• One 9" x 11" sheet of course grit sandpaper
• Wood glue
• Double-sided tape
• Proxxon Table Saw FET
• Proxxon MICRO Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Delta Sander
• Proxxon Bench Drill Press TBM 115

Let's make the slant board:

1. Here are the sizes of the finished pieces for the slant board.
   

   Side supports

   Back support

   Top

2. Use the table saw to cut 12" x 5½" and 11" x 13" blanks.
   
   
   
3. Use the bandsaw to cut the 12" x 5½" blank into the two side support.
   
   
   
4. Sand the edges with the Delta sander.
   
   
   
5. Measure and mark two holes on the outside of one of the side supports 1 3/8" from the top and bottom.
   
   
   
6. Clamp the two side support pieces together. Use the bench drill press to drill the screw holes.
   
   
   
7. Apply wood glue to the 5" edges of the back support.
   
   
   
8. Screw the back and side supports together.
   
   
   
9. Measure and mark three holes on each of the 13" sides of the top—at 3¼", 6½", and 9¾". Use the bench drill press to drill the screw holes. Screw the top to the side supports.
10. Round the corners of the sheet of sandpaper by tracing around the rim of a glass. Trim the corners with scissors. Rounded corners are less likely to curl and become loose. Use double-sided tape to adhere the sandpaper to the center of the top.
    
    
    
11. There, you  have it. Your own slant board. Now, go stretch those calves.
    
    
    

Carole