Wood animals are shockingly easy to make! (with the right tools) - Page 11

[thenaturefreak]

Originally Posted by Danielle13

about how tall are your animals?

I made a snail that was 1.5 inches and a bunny that was 7 inches. I'm curious about how big everyones farm animals are, and how big your trees are.

Small Pine 5.25"
Large Pine 8.5"
Med Tree (w/ base) 7.5"
Tall Tree (w/ base) 9.75"

(height x width)
Cow 4.5" x 5.5"
Calf 3" x 3"
Horse 5.75" x 5.5"
Foal 4" x 3.5"
Goat 2.75" x 3.5"
Ram 3.5" x 4.25"
Sheep 3.25" x 4"
Lamb 2.25" x 2.75"
Duck 2.5" x 3"
Sow 2.25" x 3.5"
Piglet 1.75" x 2.75"

So far, I like to make everything to scale as much as possible because it is aesthetically pleasing to me. The smaller items are a bit bigger so they will not be choking hazards.

[RollerCoasterMama]

Thanks again for the paint tips! I did the dinosaurs and I'm SOOO much happier with how they've come out! The wood is stained, not caked on. A bit of beeswax polish or mineral oil ought to do the trick just fine this time!!!

[NoliMum]

Another question everybody:

How do you sand? I have found that my figures are the smoothest when I use an abrasive buff on the rotary tool, but they are about $3.50 for 2, and I use up one on almost every piece!! So they get kind of expensive.

I get so frustrated hand-sanding. It comes out so uneven, and any time I try to correct a tiny rough spot, it scratches up another part that was already smooth. I also have a hard time manipulating the paper around curves.

I've been eyeing the power sanders at the store, but they range between $30 and $200 and I have no idea which is right for this kind of work.

Thoughts? Ideas?

[isaberg]

I have a table belt sander that I really like, and then I use a fine grade sandpaper for finishing-touch hand sanding. If you aren't sure what you'd like to use, machine-wise, find a tool rental place and rent something - often they are very inexpensive for a half-day, not likely more than $10. Then you won't be spending big money on something you're not sure of.

[sweetpeppers]

I'm unhappy with the oil/beeswax finish. I really want something stronger. Holtziger animals say they use a water-based lacquer. Does anyone have any experience with that?

[isaberg]

Originally Posted by sweetpeppers

I'm unhappy with the oil/beeswax finish. I really want something stronger.

Can you be a little more specific about what you're looking for? "Stronger" is kind of unclear. Do you want something that's shinier? Thicker? The oil/beeswax sort of soaks in and doesn't leave a shiny external coat in the same way that, say, a polyurethane or shellac does. Do you care about "chewability," or do you not expect these to be nibbled on? If you don't, you have a much wider choice of options.

[glorybee]

I realize this thread is very old, but waaay cool!

[NoliMum]

Originally Posted by isaberg

I have a table belt sander that I really like, and then I use a fine grade sandpaper for finishing-touch hand sanding. If you aren't sure what you'd like to use, machine-wise, find a tool rental place and rent something - often they are very inexpensive for a half-day, not likely more than $10. Then you won't be spending big money on something you're not sure of.

Well after much back-and-forth in my head, I finally just went to the store and picked out a sander.

Skil Octo Sander

I love this thing. It is hand-held but small enough to hold in one hand while holding my object in another. I've slipped and hit my hand many times without any discomfort or damage. (No "sanded finger tips" which I get occasionally using the Dremel.) It is efficient and precise, and my only complaint is that it comes with only two grades of sand paper: 60 and 120. I need to check if they sell other grades separately.

[isaberg]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

I love this thing. It is hand-held but small enough to hold in one hand while holding my object in another.

That does look wonderful! A whole lot more portable than what I use, too. I didn't even know they made such a thing. I especially like the point on it - you could really do some fine work that way. Oooh, tools are so much fun.

Do you have pictures? I'd love to see!

(of the toys, not the sander. :-))

[NoliMum]

Originally Posted by isaberg

That does look wonderful! A whole lot more portable than what I use, too. I didn't even know they made such a thing. I especially like the point on it - you could really do some fine work that way. Oooh, tools are so much fun.

Do you have pictures? I'd love to see!

(of the toys, not the sander. :-))

Yes, but they are on my mom's computer. I'll get them on here soon tho. :

[sweetpeppers]

That's a neat looking sander. Do you do all your sanding with that? I tend to use the dremel to bevel the edges, but then I've got to handsand and/or use my (large) "corner cat" finish sander. I always use the finish sander now for the final sanding of the surface of the animal. I had a table sander for a little while that I used, but it really seemed to powerful for the little animals. It helped with the really hard woods I use though. I've really gotten into cherry wood. I don't even paint it. I just burn a few features on, and finish it with beeswax/oil. It's beautiful. And it smells nice when you saw/sand it.

[NoliMum]

I have been using it to do all the sanding, except it looks like I might need to hand-sand some really small details.

Beveling the edges, though, I do use the dremel. Then I sand over the beveled edges to make them really smooth.

[stellimamo]

Oh I like that sander!!
I use a regular palm sander mounted upside down in a vise to do all my rough sanding. I'm looking to replace my current sand with something a bit tough because of the volume of toys we do.

Originally Posted by NoliMum

Well after much back-and-forth in my head, I finally just went to the store and picked out a sander.

Skil Octo Sander

I love this thing. It is hand-held but small enough to hold in one hand while holding my object in another. I've slipped and hit my hand many times without any discomfort or damage. (No "sanded finger tips" which I get occasionally using the Dremel.) It is efficient and precise, and my only complaint is that it comes with only two grades of sand paper: 60 and 120. I need to check if they sell other grades separately.

[NoliMum]

Originally Posted by stellimamo

Oh I like that sander!!
I use a regular palm sander mounted upside down in a vise to do all my rough sanding. I'm looking to replace my current sand with something a bit tough because of the volume of toys we do.

Oh yeah? What kind of toys do you make? Where do you sell them?

[dfunk98]

Wood Question...

I hope I'm not asking a question that has already been answered...
I'm saving up for a scroll saw, hopefully I'll have it within the next month

I just don't know where to get the wood. A few places nearby have "scrap" bins, but I have no idea what's in them. My dad knows about wood, so I was planning on asking him to come with and help me sort it out. What is the best wood to make animals with? And if I need to buy it somewhere, where's the best place to go? I live in a pretty suburban area. There are very few lumber yards, but there's a Home Depot and Lowe's within a stone's throw of my house.

So, woodworking mamas, share your wisdom!!

[sweetpeppers]

Originally Posted by dfunk98

I hope I'm not asking a question that has already been answered...
I'm saving up for a scroll saw, hopefully I'll have it within the next month

I just don't know where to get the wood. A few places nearby have "scrap" bins, but I have no idea what's in them. My dad knows about wood, so I was planning on asking him to come with and help me sort it out. What is the best wood to make animals with? And if I need to buy it somewhere, where's the best place to go? I live in a pretty suburban area. There are very few lumber yards, but there's a Home Depot and Lowe's within a stone's throw of my house.

So, woodworking mamas, share your wisdom!!

Any hardwood is best. Pine will work fine, but it won't hold up as well. It dents a lot easier. Poplar is one of the softer (and cheaper) hardwoods that many people use. I personally prefer maple and cherry. They are very hard and heavy, they smell nice (particularly cherry), and they have a tight, closed grain. A wood like oak will be more splintery, because it is an open grained wood. If you go to Lowe's (which has a better selection of hardwood than Home Depot) and compare the hardwood selection, you'll figure out what I mean. With a little practice, you'll be able to tell the more popular woods apart.

[stellimamo]

Originally Posted by NoliMum

Oh yeah? What kind of toys do you make? Where do you sell them?

I just revisited this thread... I sell waldorf-ish toys on Etsy.

[tinasquirrel]

Just wanted to share this cool tutorial for a wooden apple orchard. The trees can be placed on the wooden base with pegs. Very cool.

http://weefolkart.com/?q=node/419

[dfunk98]

i made some!!

i know this thread has been a little slow lately, but i just had to share my animals. i just made them tonight and they still need some sanding, but i'm so happy with them.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dfunk98/WoodAnimals#

[bender]

Cool animals. Where did you find the templates for cutting? Or did you just free hand them?