Woodworker's Journal 1994-18-5, страница 48

easy-to-make gifts, toys <£ accessories

^^^^ ome years ago, Gunther Keil discovered that his avo-_ cation hobb) woodw orking was more satisfying than his vocation, teaching German literature. Gunther made the leap from academics to crafting, and today makes his home on, and conducts business from, a 55-acre farm near Trumansburg, New York, on the west side of Lake Cayuga.

Gunther*s woodworking success came about largely because of his ability to generate novel ideas. He uses mainly domestic woods, such as cherry, walnut, maple, ash. birch, and oak, and sells most of his work through several w ell-know n national catalogs.

Gunther's greatest triumph to date: the "habitat." His habitat concept features a single large form that opens to reveal a v ariety of related smaller pieces. Gunther employs this concept in settings such as an African scene stored inside an elephant and our Jurassic scene, stored inside a smiling brontosaurus.

Gunther bases his work not so much oil realism or exquisite detail as on a fanciful approach depicting the various elements in each habitat. You'll find his habitats easy to make, even if you don't have a world of experience or a wealth of tools in your shop. In fact, although one might suppose that Gunther does most of his work on a scrollsaw. he tells us that from a practical standpoint, he's found the bandsaw to be accurate enough and much faster.

Before you begin, we'd add one cautionary note. We recommend that you not make this project as a gift for children under three years of age. In subjecting the small pieces to the Consumer Product Safely Commission choking-hazard standards, we found that the two smallest animals failed the size test. Moreover, toddlers, who like to put just about everything in their mouths, could also break off some of the more delicate parts.

What You'll Need

Those scrap cutoffs of walnut, oak. or cherry that you've been saving w ill be perfect for the small pieces. The center and sides of the dinosaur can be cherry and ash - what Gunther used—or just about any other woods that you have handy.

Gunther laminates contrasting woods for some of his pieces and paints others, but feel free to use your imagination and make the pieces as colorful or fanciful as you like. Also, don't feel obligated to follow our patterns exactly. Customize your habitat w ith other plant and animal species from the Jurassic period. If you get the children involved, you'll find that the habitat can ev en be a great learning toy, as they master the names of the different creatures depicted.

4fi September/October 1994

Woodworker's Journal