Originally posted by boadywoods
<br />Where do you get the instructions on how to make these. I would love to try one.
Chris -
You've been a very busy boy - nice job. I agree with you that smaller and lighter is better. Most of my ornaments are only 4 inches in total length or less - most of the length being the finials.
About the finish - if you invest in a spray gun and a compressor, you will find that you can skip the sanding sealer step and still get magnicificent color. The secret is in the transfer rate of sprayed lacquer. An aerosol can just can't give you the transfer that you need - and you will spend a lot of $ on cans of the stuff. I go right from 600 grit sanded - blow it off with the air - and spray a coat of lacquer on. Sponge sand and put a second coat on. The cocobolo only needs one coat - but spalted woods need more.
Regarding instructions - here are some simple ones:
Machine a 1.5 - 2 X 4 - 5 inch block of exotic wood (other woods that work well for the body are aromatic cedar, mahogany, figured cherry, tiger maple).
Machine a 1 inch thick block that is slightly larger than the main body out of a contrasting wood - such as holly. Glut the pieces together - end to end - centering the smaller diameter piece on the larger. I use Gorilla glue - pretty strong stuff.
Drill a hole down the center for a 7 mm brass tube. Glue it in like you do a pen blank.
You can fit two of these on a pen mandrel - I use slimline bearing between and on the ends.
Turn your favorite shape.
From a smaller piece and using a chuck - turn your finials beginning with the tenon that will fit in the 7 mm tube. Test fit it. Once the tenon is right, you can turn your favorite shape - sand, part, and glue it in.
For the top finial, I drill from the tail stock with a chuck - the size for my decorative eye ring or whatever you are using for the hanger end. Then I sand, part, and glue it on the top. I then glue in the eye ring.
After it is all assembled, I use forstner bits to drill the 1/4" hole for the dowel (bird perches on it) and a larger size for the hole that simulates an entrance into the house.
I hang it from a Christmas ornament hook and spray it as described above - before putting the dowel in. After the first coat, I sponge sand, glue in the short dowel and spray the second coat.
I hot glue the bird in place - and I have a final project done.
I'll include a pic here - but maybe I should do a full pictorial tutorial? If there is an interest, let me know - I've got Christmas break and a few ornaments on the bench not done yet - would be happy to share.
This particular birdhouse was one of the few that did not sell at the crafts show - so we put it on our tree! BTW - I took the picture with the new Cannon Rebel XTi.
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