How to make a cute little plaque using the Proxxon rotary tool with the router base

Hi again, Carol here with a new project.

Today I want to show you how to make a cute little plaque using a couple of Proxxon's nifty tools that I haven't really used much before now.  Introducing Proxxon's professional rotary tool and it's accomplice, Proxxon's router base attachment. This project will show you just how easy these tools are to use and what you can do in just a couple hours.  This is definitely a beginners project.  I have never used the router base attachment on the rotary tool before this project so as a rank beginner I will show you how easy it is.   I think with just a little practice, you, and maybe even I, could make something awesome.

Proxxon professional rotary tool

plus Proxxon's router base attachment and router bits.

To get started let's collect our equipment and supplies:

1.  I used a piece solid  birch wood measuring 1/2" x 7" x 10"  just about the size of a piece of notebook paper.   I had it lying around as a cutoff from a previous project, but if you need to cut a piece to size the  Proxxon mini table saw would make short work of that.

2. Proxxon professional rotary tool equipped with Proxxon's router base attachment and a straight bit.  In the picture above you can see Proxxon has a nice assortment of bits that come as a set.

3. Plaid paints:   I used Bright magenta 20591E,  True Blue 101,  Yellow lemon 226, Concord grape 20595E, Orchid blush 4623, Nutmeg 944, Vivid orange 2904, Light flesh 229, Spring white 430, Bimini blue 2142E, and Shamrock 21479E.

4. Proxxon OZI/E delta sander.

5.  Sealer of your choice,  I used a 2 part resin..

This project actually started with a dream I had a long time ago.  I woke up one morning and was trying to remember what I had dreamt that night because I knew it had been so happy.  All I could remember was I had told someone that I was happy as a pig in peanut butter.   I loved that saying so much I wrote it down and have been saving it for a project.   Well now is the time   I chose the little pig you see in the picture because he does seem to be quite happy and pleased with himself.  🐷

In the next step I added my saying and then using transfer paper I transferred the picture onto my wood.

I adjusted the Proxxon rotary tool in the router base to cut at a depth of about 3/16" and simply followed the lines I had drawn on the wood.  Except when I got to the piggy's face I decreased my depth a little bit so that my lines would be much narrower.  Big fat lines would not work on his little face.  

That was easy and fun too.

Now we paint! Plaid paints are my choice!

I just painted my colors inside the grooves I made with the router.  If the paint gets outside the lines, no worries, the next step will clean it right up.

I used Proxxon's OZI/E delta sander to sand the whole thing.  Sanding removes any stray paint that has gotten onto the plaque.   Be sure to sand the edges and corners to round them over a little bit.

I used a two part resin to finish this but spray sealer would work just as well.  I'm practicing with resin for a future project so stay tuned.  So now the project is complete and ready for the kid's room.   I surely enjoyed making it.The piggy and the sentiment still make me smile.   Till next time, thanks SO much for visiting!.  Thank you Proxxon tools and thank you Plaid paints.   These two companies make me happy as a pig in peanut butter!   Carol 

How to Make a Triangular Picture Frame

Who said that picture frames have to be rectangular??? What about a triangular picture frame? A triangular frame is easy to make, and perfect decorated as a Christmas tree.

Supplies to Make a Triangular Picture Frame:

• Scrap lengths of ¼" MDF (medium-density fiberboard)
• Scrap piece of ¼" MDF about 3" x 1½"
• Wood glue
• Gesso
• FolkArt Peridot Extreme Glitter acrylic paint
• FolkArt Brushed Gold Brushed Metal acrylic paint
• Wooden skewer
• Hot glue
• Acetate
• Cardstock or light weight chipboard
• Photo

Equipment to Make a Triangular Picture Frame:

• Proxxon Table Saw FET
• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Professional Rotary Tool and Drill Stand
• Proxxon Delta Sander

Instruction for Making a Triangular Picture Frame:

1. Decide on the dimensions of your frame. The sides of my equilateral triangle measure 6½", and I cut the MDF into ½" widths. 
2. The rabbet is a step-shaped recess cut along the back edge of the frame to receive the protective acetate, photo, and backing. To make the rabbet: Adjust the blade height on the table saw to about 1/8". Make a cut 3/8" from the edge of the board. Make successive, parallel cuts moving toward the edge of the board.
   
3. Cut three ½" wide strips for the sides of the frame. These need to be cut longer than your desired finished length to allow for cutting the corner angles. Since I was using scrap, I cut my strips to about 8½".
4. Set the angle gauge on the table saw to 60°.
   
5. With the strip help securely against the angle gauge, make the corner cuts. After making the first cut, measure and mark your desired length along the edge of the strip opposite the rabbet. Repeat for the remaining two sides.
   
6. Use wood glue to glue the three sides together.
   
7. On the back side of the frame, mark the center of the bottom strip. Drill a hole for the support piece, taking care not to drill all the way through to the front of the frame.
   
8. Print the star pattern and adhere to the small scrap piece of MDF. Cover the surface of the MDF with painter's tape. Next, spray the back of the pattern with spray adhesive, and adhere pattern to top of the painter's tape. The spray adhesive holds the pattern in place, and the painter's tape makes for easy removal. Cut the stars on the band saw.
   
9. If necessary, sand any rough or uneven edges with the Delta sander. Often when using MDF, you don't need to do any sanding.
10. Cover the frame and star with a cost of gesso.
    
11.  When the gesso is dry, paint the pieces. When the pieces are dry glue the star to the top of the frame.
    
12. Cut acetate, photo, and cardstock to fit the frame. I secured these in place with a bead of hot glue.
13. Insert a skewer or toothpick in the hole you drilled on the bottom strip of the frame to serve as a support. 
    
14. Enjoy your triangular frames!!

How To Make Detail Sanding Pens for Fine Woodworking

While Proxxon carries great electric detail sanders (Pen Sander PS13 and Belt Sander BS/E), sometimes a woodworker still needs to use manual sanding. That's why I made these detail sanding pens for fine woodworking. They are wonderful for those tiny, hard-to-access areas, like in fretwork. The original pattern for these detail sanding pens can be found on the Scrollsaw Workshop blog.

Supplies and Equipment for Making the Detail Sanding Pens

• Scrap wood pieces 1" x 6" (or longer)
• Thumb tacks
• Fine grit sandpaper
• Pattern for sanding pens (search for "detail sanding pen")
• Proxxon Band Saw MBS/E
• Proxxon Scroll Saw DSH/E
• Proxxon Professional Rotary Tool IBS/E and MICROMOT Drill Stand MB

Instructions for Making the Detail Sanding Pens

1. Print the patterns and adhere to the wood. Cover the surface of the wood with painter's tape. Next, spray the back of the pattern with spray adhesive, and put that on top of the painter's tape. The spray adhesive holds the pattern in place, and the painter's tape makes for easy removal.
   
2. Cut the outline shapes of both the large and small sanding pen and kerfs on the large sanding pen on the band saw.
   
3. Cut the notch on the small sanding pen on the scroll saw. (See note below.)
   
4. Using the professional rotary tool and drill stand, drill a 1/16" hole in the large sanding pen for the tack that will secure the sandpaper in place.
   
5. Realign the rotary tool and add a sanding disc to sand the pieces.
   
6. Insert the tack into the drilled hole. If it extends beyond the pen piece, trim with wire cutters.
   
7. Cut lengths on fine grit sandpaper to wrap around the sanding pens, and secure with the tacks.
   
8. Enjoy your completed detail sanding pens!!
   

Note: I was not pleased with the notch arrangement for securing the sandpaper on the small sanding pen, so I modified the pattern as show below. I eliminated the notch and used a tack to secure the sandpaper.

Used along with the Proxxon detail sanders, these will do the job for fine woodworking.

Carole