How To Cut Window Openings Using The Proxxon Scroll Saw

 

Hi Everyone!  As you may have already figured out from a few of my past pots, I have been building and selling tiny houses.  If I didn't have my Proxxon Tools, I don't think I'd be able to accomplish the things I'm now building.  I design all my own patterns. I thought maybe some people would be interested in seeing how i cut the window openings using the scroll saw.  Follow along with me and ill show you how I do it   :-)

Supplies:

   

   Proxxon 2 Speed Scroll Saw DS 460

   Proxxon Cordless Belt Sander

   1/2" wood  ( any thickness will work depending on your particular project)

   Drill and 1/4" drill bit

Using my own pattern, I draw the design on whatever thickness wood I'm using.  For this house I happened to be using 1/2" MDF.

Now that i have my pattern drawn, I cut it out using the Proxxon scroll saw.

Next, I determine where i want my windows placed.  I draw the shape of the windows on the wood.  In order to cut out the windows, you must drill a hole in the center of the window shape.  I always use a 1/4" drill bit in my drill.  Now I move the piece to the scroll saw and remove the blade. Drop the blade down through the hole and reattach the blade to the saw.

Now your blade is connected and ready to cut.

I've kind of got a system of how i cut to get perfect corners.  Get the blade over to one of the edges and saw to the corner.  then back up a tiny bit aur curve the blade to the next corner. Once you get all the way around the center blank mill be able to pop out. I just lift the piece up and it falls out.  Next, I turn the piece the opposite way and cut down to the other corner.  This does take quite a while to cut each window, but it works well.

Occasionally I may have to sand on the inside edge if there's any roughness, but my Proxxon Cordless Belt Sander cleans that right up.

This method will work when cutting out any shape in the middle of a piece of wood.  Thanks for following along with my little lesson.  Till next time...

                                                                      

                                                            Colleen  :-)

    

Building A frame For A Trade Sign

Hi everyone!  This is part 3 of building my trade sign.  This is the final step aside from painting it, which will come at a later time.  Follow along with me and I'll show you how I built the frame. 

Supplies:

  Proxxon Belt Sander BS/A

  Proxxon  Table Saw FET

  Proxxon Micro-Bandsaw 115/E

  Clamps

  Wood Glue

  Brad Nailer and Brads

  Pine Trim Molding

First, I needed to cut, glue and clamp the trim across the curved top of the sign.  Using the 6table saw I cut a length of trim with excess on both sides. Knowing that this piece had to be flexible, I needed to soak it in water.  I wish I had taken a photo, but I forgot.  I soaked it in our pool for two hours. Removed it and bent it across the top curve.  Using clamps, I held it in place till it dried.

Once it was dry, I removed it. I cut it to size with a tiny bit extra. I then glued it and re-clamped it.  Next came the sides. I held a piece of trim up to figure the angle I needed to cut it. I wanted that piece to slide up under the top trim.  I marked it and cut the angle with the band saw. Checked for length and trimmed using the table saw.  I applied glue and attached the side. I repeated for the other side.

I measured and cut the bottom trim. When all the pieces were glued, I used the brad nailer and brads to secure everything.

Lastly, I used the Belt Sander to sand off each corner for a perfect fit.

My project is complete, except for painting.  That's coming at a later date. I'll be sure to post a picture when its painted!  Thanks for following along  :-)

Colleen

 

Making A Nautical Trade Sign Part 1

 

Hi friends!  Today I'm starting kind of a lengthy project.  I'm designing and building a nautical trade sign to hang on the wall. I'm splitting it in 3 parts because each element is a project in itself.  The first is cutting and carving this whale. The second will be a ship and the third will be a wood sign with carved elements to mount parts one and two on.  Follow along with me.  Lets get started  :-)

Supplies  

   Proxxon  2 speed Scroll Saw DS 460

   Proxxon Cordless Belt Sander  BS/A

   Proxxon Power Carver

   Proxxon Precision Rotary Tool FBS 115/E

   Clear #1 white pine board   1x8x6

   Wood Glue

   Brad Nailer

First, I started by drawing my whale directly on the pine board. This was some pine I had left from another project. 

Using The Proxxon Scroll Saw, I cut out the whale.

Now the fun begins!  Using the Proxxon cordless belt sander, I began to round off the edges. I also used the Proxxon rotary tool and Proxxon power carver for details.

Next using the Proxxon rotary tool, I worked on the eye.

Lastly. I cut and carved the flipper.  I laid a small piece of wood on the whale and drew what I felt would be the appropriate size.  Using the scroll saw, I cut out the flipper.  I used the belt sander to round off the edges, then I attached the flipper to the lower portion of the whale with wood glue and a brad nail.

This part 1 is complete except that it will be painted when the other two elements are finished.  

Thanks for following along with me.  Stay tuned for 2 more segments to this project.

Colleen :-) 

 

How to make a continuous calander

Merry Christmas to all of you.   Hope your all warm safe and with family and friends.

 The days have flown by, and it is soon to be another new year.  What do we need to do?   Oh yeah, we do need a new Calander, don't we?   Every year.   I have a solution, we can make a Calander to last forever and it's easy, and kind of cute.   Best of all, everyone has little piece of wood to make it with.  

Not sure if you can see the tiny little Calander in front of the books there, I should have made it bigger.  But it is a little whale.  I made it for a kid's room.   The concept of blocks for days and months can be used to make it into almost anything or any size.  Maybe even an adult something.  

Let's see how easy this is.    I used the following:   A piece of 1" thick cedar that was cut off of a fence rail in the making.  It is about 7" long and maybe 2 1/2"wide.  If your wood is a different thickness you need to multiply your measurements by that number.  (for instance, If your wood is 2" thick make the whale twice as big and the blocks cut out will be 2 x 2 instead of 1x1   The  cut out of his back would be 2 2/3 x 4. etc)  I used 1" wood because 1st of all it was there, secondly it makes the calculations easy.   Here is the pattern below that works for 1" wood.     

The whale is cut out as a whole from the 1" cedar.  I used the Proxxon mini bandsaw to do this. And to cut the 2 vertical parallel cuts (Those should be 1 1/3" deep)

Then I switched to the Proxxon mini scroll saw to make the corners on the squares as it was a little too tight for the bandsaw.   

 The top 1/3" is cut from this piece we just cut out.  This will be the pieces used for the months.   Now after you get that piece it needs to be cut into thirds so there are 3 pieces which are 1/3"  x 1/3" and 2" long. 

 I used the Proxxon mini bandsw,  BUT, that is a little close for the fingers.  I recommend using the Proxxon mini scroll saw.    Now cut the remaining rectangle in half.  This gives you (2)  1" x 1" pieces.  These will be the days.

Now it is time to sand this pretty cedar wood.  

I used the Proxxon OZI/E delta sander for most of it.  

  

I also used the Proxxon cordless belt sander.

 

And the Proxxon cordless rotary tool to drill some eyes

I sanded the parts really well and then I wrote the numbers on them.    You need to know which numbers to put on the cubes.   On the first cube put the numbers 0-5.  On the second cube put the numbers 0,1,2,6,7,8,9.  Now you can make any number from 01-31

On the long skinny pieces write you months.

If I did it again, I would glue (2) 1" thick whales together and make it twice as big.  Also make sure you get a pen that won't run when you apply finish.  Or better yet wood burn those numbers and months in.  Then stain it or paint it.  

This thing is All done.   

I picked a warm day on purpose! 

It's been fun, sure glad you visited, and give this one a try.  It's a super easy one and let the kids help with the math. 

 

Take care everyone and have an awesome New Year!

See ya all next year...........Carol