* * * * *

             That which I have never done, should be easy, right?

When I saw this video on making a 3-D reindeer ornament on a scroll-saw [1],
not only did I tell Bunny about it (she has a scroll-saw and she is very
interested in making one of these) but I thought I might give it a try. The
video made it look very easy, the cutting pattern is simple [2]—what can be
so hard about it? Never mind I've never done anything on a scoll-saw, it's
easy, right [3]?

Umm …

[It's carnage I tell ya! Carnage!] [4]


Yeah.

What you should end up with is some scrap pieces of wood (check), two more-or
less-flat reindeer profiles (check…ish) and one 3-D reindeer (Houston, we've
had a problem). The reindeer on the left is a flat profile, but the neck was
so thin that the only thing keeping the head on is the cutting pattern glued
on the other side. The one on the right is another flat profile and
technically, is successful (sans one missing antler—there should be four).

The poor reindeer in the middle though—that was supposed to be the 3-D
ornament and well … the legs on the left side broke off at the “knee” (oddly
enough, they were thicker than the ones on the right, which amazingly, did
not break off) and the entire neck section is missing (go figure—I never
found it).

The scoll-saw also took a bite out of my thumb nail.

[This also shows just how small the reindeer are.] [5]


Fortunately, that was the only “injury” I sustained.

I did identify two things I could have done differently. One, if the pattern
was about 50% larger, I might have been more successful, as the original
pattern is quite small. Two, I should not have removed loose pieces as I was
cutting (say, the chunk from around the antlers, or the chunks from around
the leg area) as that would have provided some stability—towards the end I
was very afraid that the vibrations from the scroll-saw was going to rip the
legs and antlers right off.

Next time, I should do better.

[With some sanding, you can't even tell it was suppose to have four antlers]
[6]


But at least I got a flat reindeer ornament for my attempt.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igPeRMvsFw
[2] http://woodgears.ca/reindeer/scrollsaw_plans.html
[3] http://search.dilbert.com/comic/Understand%20Easy
[4] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2014/12/07/reindeer.jpg
[5] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2014/12/07/thumb.jpg
[6] gopher://gopher.conman.org/IPhlog:2014/12/07/ornament.jpg

Email author at [email protected]