Making A Vintage Inspired Trade Sign

 

Hi everyone!  Every year at this time I make and sell canned peppers. I wanted to make a trade sign to set up at shows where I sell them. Follow along with me and I'll show you how I created this.

Supplies:

   Proxxon Super jig saw STS/E

   Proxxon Longneck Angle Grinder LHW/E

   Proxxon Chop and Miter Saw KGS 80

   Proxxon Belt Sander BS/E

   1/2" plywood

   Trim molding for the frame

   Photo for advertisement

   Mod Podge

   Wide brush for applying glue

First, I created my picture. I took a picture of my jars of peppers then asked ChatGPT to turn it into a vintage trade sign.  After tweaking and I was satisfied with my results, I had it enlarged at our local photo shop.  

Next, I used Mod Podge to glue it to my sheet of plywood. Let Dry

When it was dry I used a ruler and marked about 1/4" out from the photo.  Using the Proxxon Super jig saw STS/E, I cut it out on the line I had just drawn.

After cutting it out I smoothed the edges a little using the Proxxon Longneck Angle Grinder LHW/E.

With edges now completely smooth, I now put molding around the edge to frame it in. I Measured each side and cut the trim at 45-degree angles with the Proxxon Chop and Miter Saw KGS 80 so it would look like a picture frame.

After all 4 pieces were cut I laid them on to see if they fit. A few of the angles needed sanded so I used the Proxxon Belt Sander BS/E to touch things up.

I removed them and painted them black, then let dry.  After they were dry, I simply glued them to the board.

Here's my finished project!!  I really love how it turned out.  I can't wait to use it at my next sale.

Thanks for following along. Till my next Proxxon project...Colleen :-)

Let's make something using the Proxxon long neck angle grinder.

 Welcome to the New Year.  Christmas is over and we have some time on our hands.  I thought today we could try to make something using the Proxxon  long neck angle grinder.   I have used this tool in parts of many projects, but never really dedicated a project to it.   Let's see what we can do.

Equipment and supplies

6-12" piece of 2x 4 lumber cut off

Proxxon long neck angle grinder

pencil, paint, 

wood sealer

Proxxon mini bandsaw

Proxxon mini torch if ya got one.

optional backing board.

Dust mask and eye protection  (NOT OPTIONAL)  This makes a lot of very fine dust,   Not good for lungs!!

I am going to tell you how I made it and give you a few hints, but you will see, the creative touch is in your hands as you fashion your new keyholder or whatever you choose to make.

1st I drew a rough sketch of what I was aiming for.  I chose to do a small owl,

I put the Proxxon smooth cutting disk with tungsten carbide burrs onto my Proxxon long neck angle grinder to do the work of grinding on this 2x 4. but first I got rid of a lot of my excess wood using the Proxxon mini bandsaw.  

Next, using the Proxxon long neck angle grinder shape this piece of wood into the owl it wants to become.   I started with the face.   The eyes are lower than the beak and nose so I ground those away leaving the nose high

I used the proxxon mini bandsaw again to cut out some wood under his chin.  and began rounding his belly  

Beware- the long neck angle grinder is a carnivore and would love to have a little meat!!   Keep your holding hand out of the direction of the wheel spin,,,just in case.  Occasionally it grabs hold of the wood and will travel in that direction!!)

Keep refining the owl shape, nice round tummy, slightly curved tail, etc.   I used the edge of the grinder to define some little wings.

Lastly, rough up his feathers.  Best done again using the edge of the grinder wheel.  A nice photo of an owl would be very helpful showing feather directions and such.

  I added some paint, then ground some more.  Until I was satisfied.

I decided to put him on a board and glue a small branch where his feet would be and add some cup hooks to hold keys.   Create it your way.   This doesn't take long and is a world of fun.  Just be careful.

                                                      Thanks visitors for spending a little time with me.   This was a quick, easy project, and trust me. you will amaze yourself as you give birth to something out of that piece of old junk cut off 2 x 4.  I found this project to be really, really, satisfying.  

Thanks Proxxon.... I will be using your wonderful tool a lot more often!

see ya'all next time.............Carol W.  

How To make a Charcuterie Board

     Hi everyone. I've been trying to get back to my woodworking since I had surgery. I thought I'd start with something fairly simple, but also something that's pretty trendy right now. I wanted one of these for my Fourth of July picnic.  Follow along with me and I'll show you how simple it is to make one.

Supplies:

   Proxxon 2 Speed Scroll Saw DS 460

   Proxxon long neck angle grinder LHW/E

  1"x12" pine board  (you can determine the length you want)

   Drill and large drill bit

   Butcher Block Conditioner

First I determined how long I wanted my board to be.  That was simple because I had a pine board that was left over from another project. I just worked around a few knot holes that I didn't want on my finished board and cut out what looked like the clearest area. The only thing I really had to draw was the handle. 

I started out using the Proxxon Band Saw but quickly realized I wasn't going to have enough room to swing the board so I switched over to the Proxxon Scroll Saw. 

I was easily able to swing the wood and get the handle cut out.

I used the Proxxon Long Neck Angle Grinder to sand around the edges of the handle and also around the edges of the entire board.

Next using my drill and a fairly large drill bit, I drilled a hole in the handle for hanging. 

                                       

                                      I gave the entire board a good sanding and wiped clean.

Lastly I wiped a butcher block conditioner on the entire board. I let it dry and put on a second coat.  You must make sure you use a product that is food safe.  I may put on a third coat after it dries overnight. Hopefully it will darken more with time and use.

Here's my finished charcuterie board!  I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. These would even make great gifts! 

Thanks for following along with me. 

Colleen  :-)

 

  

 

How to make fun salad tongs

 Hi everyone.   Today I have a fun and silly yet possibly useful project.   It's hard sometimes getting the kiddos to eat their vegetables isn't it?  Maybe this will help.  We are going to make some salad tongs that hopefully appeal to the kids.   Hoping they have fun using the salad hands, and this will get them to eat more salad.  Farfetched??? maybe, but one could hope.   Anyway it is a fun project, and features the Proxxon long neck angle grinder.   Lets get started.

Equipment and supplies

5/8 -1" pine board

Proxxon mini bandsaw

Proxxon long neck angle grinder

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

Plaid paints

Butcher block non-toxic food safe sealer

Wood glue

Dust mask

The first thing I did was to pick out some scrap wood, this is 1" pine left over from some other project.

I drew an outline around my hands onto the wood pieces.  (If you have kids, get their hands involved).

Next we cut out the hands using the Proxxon Mini bandsaw.  I love that it is so easy to use.

Next we will use the Proxxon long neck angle grinder to grind the hands slightly concave and the tips  of the fingers into a grasping position.   (see photo below).   Caution,  be careful and keep your hands away from the grinder.  This step is NOT for children!  Please use a dust mask for this part, It gets a little messy and a lot dusty.

When I got the basic shape, I took my hands over to the Proxxon disk sander and continued the shaping, ie smoothing the joints of the hand and rounding all the edges.

To add handles, just cut out a half circle from the leftover wood.   Optional- grind out the middle a little bit to make hand holds.   Then glue it on to the back of the hands.

Finish the smoothing process using the Proxxon OZI/E delta sander.

I used watco butcher block sealer on the palm side of the hands (non-toxic and food safe) and I used Plaid paints on the back of the hands for decoration.  

Once dry we are ready to dig into the salad, or better yet the kids will dig into the salad!

Thanks for visiting.  Hope you enjoyed this little project

Thank you Proxxon and Plaid, 

See ya next time....meanwhile, eat your vegetables!   Carol

St Patrick's day shelf sitter

 March...Time for St Patrick's day.   I love that nearly all months the have something to celebrate.  Today let's make a cute little shelf sitter to welcome in the festive time of leprechauns, shamrocks, rainbows, green beer, and friends.   This  blog is going to feature the Proxxon long neck angle grinder.  That is a powerhouse tool to be sure, and I had a good time working with it.   I think it is going to be a go-to tool in my workshop from now on.  Mine in the corded version but I hear they make a cordless rechargeable one now.  Wish list?      Christmas is coming ya know.     

 

I used a piece of 3/4" pine board for the majority of this project.

Tools and Supplies

3/4" pine board at least 4" wide

thin piece of wood for sign

Proxxon mini bandsaw or Proxxon mini scroll saw

Proxxon long neck angle grinder

Proxxon OZI/E delta sander

wood glue

Plaid paints of your choosing

glitter spray or sealer 

small screws  (optional)  for reinforcing glued joints.

Let's start with a plan:

this is a full size plan if printed onto regular paper

I copied the plan onto my wood and cut it out all the pieces except the hands  using the Proxxon mini band saw.

Using the long neck angle grinder I made some texture in my little man.  This will stand out when we paint it.  

I left the hands on the longer piece of wood when I used the grinder on them.  the grinder is powerful and I didn't want it that close to my hands.  Where the fingers are I used to grinder to form a groove so that it will sit on his little sign and look like he is holding it.  After I was done with the groove I cut them out on the proxxon mini scroll saw.

I tapered his shoes with the long neck angle grinder so they looked pointy.    I shaped his pipe using the Proxxon OZI/E delta sander.   And I surfaced his little plaque with the angle grinder as well.

Time to put it all together

The body sits on top of the bottom  and is secured with glue and 2 screws.  The legs are attached to the front of his bottom piece and the shoes  are attached to the bottom of his legs.  The hands are glued to the top of the plaque, made to look like he is holding it up.   I drilled a small hole in the corner of his mouth and glued the pipe in.   

Now paint!   Plaid makes beautiful colors, and so many to choose from.   I suggest you paint before you place the plaque, just to make it easier.   Finish it off with some spray sealer or glitter, or..... whatever you like.     On your plaque write your favorite Irish saying.   I love this one.  

May the roof above you never fall in
and may your friends below it, never fall out. 

I'm going to set him above my front door.   

Thanks for visiting!!!   

Thanks Proxxon and Plaid!!    

Catch ya next time   Carol