Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-04, страница 25

Introduction

The popularity of Harry Potter and the many owls in the books and movies peaked our interest so we started making owls for our craft sales. This snowy owl is our second and, hopefully, not our last. Because of the size of the pattern, you will have to be very certain that your saw is cutting at a true 90° argle. If you have any concerns about the closeness of the cuts or your saw's ability to cut true, I recommend enlarging the pattern to cut the owl on a bigger scale.

The finished owl was cut from a piece of aspen. I hcve also cut it from pooler and white maple. The problem with working with a softwood such as aspen is that the finished piece is very dirty a^:ter it is cut (as the sawdust is soft), so be prepared for a bit more cleaning up than usual if you go with a softwood.

INSTRUCTIONS

Make a photocopy of the pattern and glue it to the wood. I recommend using clear packing tape on top of the pattern to reduce the burn from the tight turns you will have to make when cutting the pattern. For cutting I recommend using a No. 5 or No. 2 reverse tooth blade to reduce chipping on the oottom of the piece. However, any quality blade will work. The finished owl (particularly for the eyes and beak) was cut mainly with a No. 2R blade.

After you have drilled the guide holes and cut out the fret pieces, brush out any loose dust, then use a solvent such as paint thinner to remove the paper pattern. Let the piece dry before you sand the two faces on a disc or be t sander. I find that then using a 1/4 sheet of 220-grit sandpaper folded ever and held against my thumb is a good way to remove any remaining burs and to lightly round the edges in orde- to give it a more finished look. Clean off the dust.

SUPPLIES

Wood: white wood (e.g. blond maple, holly or a softwood such cs aspen)—one piece 3/4" x 6-1/2" x 10-1/2" (for the owl) and one piece 3/4" x 5" x 16' (for the base). Suggestion: use the same species for both the owl and the base, since the owi shou d look 'ike it's in snow.

Tools: scroll saw with a No. 2R and/or 5R blcde: fixed disc or belt sander with fine or extra-fine (12C/220) disc or be t; dril' and/or drill press with 1/16", 1/4" and 1/8" bits and a countersink: router (ootionai); access to photocopier

Temporary bond spray adhesive (such as 3M 777

adhesive) Clecr packing tape Paint thinner

1 /4 sheet of 220-grit sandpaper

Carpenter's glue

Two 1' finishing nails

Four I ' No. 4 or No. 6 wood screws

Oil of choice

Glue copies of the base patterns to the second piece of wood and cut them out with a No. 5 blade. While the pattern is still on the cut base pieces, dr' four sma I 1/16" holes in the middle of the four marked X's on the base patterns (for the screw placement). Use a small finishing nail through each of these'holes to mark where the gu^;de holes go on the bottom of the owl and on "he bottom of the smaller base piece (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). Next, carefully drill l/8"-Dia. guide holes to-" the screws approximately 1/4" deep in the bottom of the owl and in the bottom of the smaller base piece where the finishing nails made marks.

Fig. 1. Marking for guide holes on the bottom of the smaller base piece with finishing nails placed through the 1/16" holes in the larger base piece.

16 • Creative Woodworks 8. Crafts April 2004