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!