How to Make a Christmas Tree Using Four Geometric Shapes of Scrap Wood

 There are two ways to make this darling lighted Christmas tree out of scrap wood. The first way is to use one scrap wood blank the size you want the tree to be. The second way is to use four different scrap wood blanks, each cut to a different geometric shape. The size of the tree can be easily adjusted by proportionally increasing or reducing the size of the template shapes.

Supplies and Equipment:

• Scrap wood or MDF
• String of battery operated lights
• Scrap Wood Tree Templates
• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/E
• Bench Drill Press TBM 115

Instructions for Making the Scrap Wood Christmas Tree:

1. Print your pattern from the Scrap Wood Tree Templates. I used the single tree from one blank of scrap ½" Baltic birch plywood. 
   
   
   
2. 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. 
   
   
   
3. Cut out the shape using the bandsaw. Alternatively, you could use the Proxxon Scroll Saw DS 460.
   
   
   
4. Drill holes for the mini lights using the bench drill press. The size of the drill bit you select will be determined by the size of the mini lights.
   
   
   
5. Sand edges and surfaces as necessary using the Delta sander with progressively finer grits of sandpaper. I have my sander mounted in the Precision Vice FMZ, so that both hands are free.
   
6. Paint or finish as desired. I used FolkArt Home Décor Wax.
   
   
   
7. Insert the lights from the back side of the tree.
   

Carole

Homemade Christmas tree

🎄🎅Ho Ho Ho🤶🎄

Once again it is the season for all things jolly!!   Merry Christmas to all of you!!!  

Today I want to show you how to make a cute little Christmas tree.    And the good news is...it isn't going to hardly cost a thing.   We are going to use some scraps and yard waste.  

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Equipment and supplies

Proxxon mini bandsaw or scrollsaw

Proxxon mini drill press

cut offs from pruning trees  Pieces approx 12" long and 1/2" in diameter

Sturdy wire 12 -  14 gauge   approx 18 "

scrap wood 1/4" thick (for star)

2 square pieces approx. 4" x 4" for stand

Plaid paints

decor of your choice  (think dollar tree for small ornaments)

First thing I did was to collect quite a few straight pieces of limbs that I had pruned off a hydrangea bush.

Using a measuring tool I measured 4 each of 14" 12" 10" 8" 6" 4" and 2" and cut them to size using my Proxxon mini scroll saw.

I laid them out in the shape of a Christmas tree then used a straight edge to draw a line down the middle of them all   (see picture below)   Using white paint (my pencil line did not show) I made a dot at the center of each little limb.

Now using the Proxxon mini drill press I drilled a hole (the same size as my wire) into the center of each limb piece.

1

3

Note the brad point bit in picture 1 above.   This keeps the drill bit from skipping off the rounded surface of the twig.   Proxxon makes a nice set of these (HSS twist drill set with brad point  No 20 876) to go with this mini drill press

In the middle picture I was holding the twig but I found it much easier to let the Proxxon machine vise MS 4 do the holding for me.  This keeps it absolutely steady during the drilling process.

Next I took a slightly larger limb and cut it to about 2 " as this will be the trunk of my Christmas tree.  I used the Proxxon mini drill press to drill a hole down the middle of it as well.

I cut out my star and my 2 pieces of 4" x 4" pieces for the stand using Proxxon's mini scroll saw.    The star gets a hole drilled half way though it and one piece of the stand gets a hole in the center.  I do all this on the Proxxon mini drill press.  The piece of the stand with the hole gets a slot where the wire will fit.

Thread the wire up through the first stand piece then the "trunk" piece and up through the branches starting with the largest to the smallest.  End with putting the wire into the star and gluing it there.  Push all the branches up tight to the star then bend the remaining wire at the bottom.  Cut it off and let it slip into the slit you cut in the base piece.

glue the second 4 x 4 base piece over the first one.  This will cover the wire and keep it secure and it is a nice flat surface for the tree to sit on.

Spread out the branches so it looks nice.
Now paint and decorate your tree.   I used Plaid Paints for the bright colors.  Green for the tree then I added some white to the ends as snow.     I added small Christmas ornaments I got at the dollar tree store.

How's that for a homemade Christmas tree?   It looks cute on a table.   Could be used as a center piece.   It can be made whatever size you like.

Ok, now I am ready for Christmas.   It is always fun to make something.  It helps me get in the mood.  You all have a great Christmas now.  Ya hear...…   Thanks for visiting.  Thanks Proxxon and Plaid!
          See you next year...Carol