Handmade Victorian Fretwork Christmas Angel Ornament

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This beautiful handmade wood Victorian Fretwork style Christmas angel ornament is perfect for your holiday decor. It is made from upcycled wood and is hand-finished with clear shellac.

Features:
Handmade from upcycled wood
Hand-finished with clear shellac.
Victorian Fretwork Style
Perfect addition to your holiday decor

Specifications:
Material: Upcycled Wood
Finish: Clear shellac

All the items I create are handmade using natural wood and wood products. Each piece is unique and may vary in appearance from one item to the next. The item you receive may differ slightly from the item pictured in the listing photos. The thickness of the wood used in your item may also vary slightly from the size specified in the listing.

It's important to note that the natural variations in wood grain, color, and knots make each piece one-of-a-kind and add to the item's character and charm. The variations should be expected and are not considered defects. If you have any concerns about the variations or would like to request a specific look or size, please contact me before placing your order, and I will do my best to accommodate your request.

Handmade in Tallahassee, Florida, USA

Hippopotamus Christmas Tree Ornament: Cutting the Patterns Apart

My Ornaments 

 I am using black limba boards that are 24 inches long for my hippopotamus Christmas tree ornament project. However, 24 inches is too long to cut on my Excalibur EX-21 scroll saw. I needed to separate the patterns, but there wasn't enough space between the patterns to use my miter saw. Smaller pieces are easier to cut on my scroll saw and drill holes for the eyes, so I use my scroll saw for the cross-cutting.

Ripping The Black Limba Wood: Hippopotamus Christmas Tree Ornaments

My Ornaments 

With the patterns applied, step two in my 275 Hippo Christmas tree ornaments project is trimming the wood to size. Black limba is expensive, so I carefully ripped one-inch strips from the edge. While one-inch-wide strips alone are of limited use, wood glue and clamps can effectively join them together. For example, if I face glue two of the strips together, I will get a 1x1-inch square. I can compound cut square pieces on my scroll saw into small birdhouse ornaments or turn them on my Shopsmith lathe. Five-inch-wide boards would have been the perfect width for this project. However, it was not available in five-inch widths.

I used my Shopsmith table saw with a thin kerf 7.25-inch Freud blade and a zero clearance insert to do the cutting. I also used two Microjig GRR-RIPPER push blocks to feed the wood through the saw.

Applying The Labels to The Black Limba Boards: Hippopotamus Chritsmas Tree Ornaments

 Custom Orders

I applied the pattern labels to the black limba boards, placing three labels on each board. Each board accommodates 27 hippos, and I have also started on a part of another board. This setup will yield a total of 275 hippos, plus four extras. I always aim to create some additional pieces in case something goes wrong. If all the hippos turn out well, I will ship the extras to the customer.

I wanted to crosscut between the labels with my miter saw, but I couldn't get the sticky labels aligned straight enough to ensure clearance across the entire area. In hindsight, I should have placed one label on each end and one label in the center. This arrangement would have given me enough room to use the miter saw.

Crafting a Custom Order: 275 Hippopotamus Christmas Ornaments

 

 

Custom Orders

As the holiday season approaches, I've been busy crafting some unique decorations for my customers. This year, I have an exciting custom order for 275 hippopotamus Christmas ornaments made from 1/2-inch black limba wood. The unique texture and rich color of this African wood will make each ornament a standout piece.

To bring my vision to life, I rely on Inkscape, an open-source vector graphics editor that I use on my Linux Mint operating system. Inkscape allows me to create precise patterns that fit the requirements of my project.

I am using half-sheet labels for this project. They fit the six-inch-wide wood, and this approach eliminates the need for messy spray adhesive, allowing me to work more efficiently and help keep my workspace clean. 

I spent some time trimming the labels to maximize the wood's use. This practice not only helps me reduce costs but also minimizes waste—a philosophy I strive to incorporate into all my projects.

Crafting Elegant Fretwork Shelves in Oak

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For woodworkers and DIY enthusiasts! If you're like me, there's nothing quite as satisfying as turning a simple piece of wood into something functional and beautiful. Today, I'm sharing how I make a pair of intricate fretwork shelves made from 1/4-inch-thick oak, all cut using my scroll saw. These little gems are perfect for displaying small items. The process was a mix of precision cutting, careful assembly, and a bit of patience while waiting for the finish to dry. I'll walk you through the steps, complete with photos from my workshop. Let's dive in!

Materials and Tools

Here's a quick rundown of what I used:

• Wood: 1/4-inch-thick oak plywood
• Pattern: I prepared a flowing, ornamental fretwork pattern inspired by Victorian scrollwork – think swirls and flourishes for that elegant touch.
• Tools: Scroll saw with fine blades (I used #3MGT for the intricate cuts), clamps, wood glue, sandpaper (220-grit), and shellac.

Preparing and Cutting the Pieces
I started by printing out my fretwork pattern and adhering it to the oak using spray adhesive. The design features symmetrical curves and cutouts that give the shelves their airy, decorative look. With the pattern in place, it was time to fire up the scroll saw.

The key here is slow and steady – scroll sawing intricate designs like this requires a light touch to avoid blade breakage or splintering the wood. I cut out the main shelf brackets first, following the lines meticulously. Drill small pilot holes for interior cutouts for threading the blade.

Once the brackets were free, I moved on to the smaller decorative elements and the shelf platforms themselves. The collage shows the pieces laid out after they were cut.
 

Assembly and Gluing
With all the parts cut, it was time for assembly. I dry-fitted everything first to ensure a snug fit, making minor adjustments with sandpaper where needed. Then, I applied wood glue to the joints – nothing fancy, just good old Titebond.

Clamping is crucial for strong bonds, especially with thin material like this. The images capture the gluing process: orange clamps holding the brackets together while the glue sets. Let it cure for at least an hour, or overnight if you can wait (patience is a woodworker's best friend).

Finishing Touches
After unclamping, I gave everything a thorough sanding to smooth out any rough edges from the saw. Then, it was time to finish. I opted for a couple of coats of shellac.

The final photos in the collage show the completed shelves hanging up, drying in the workshop. They're lightweight yet sturdy, with a small ledge at the bottom for stability. No hangers are required. A tiny nail or pin will do. 

The Finished Product
And there you have it – a pair of fretwork shelves ready to grace any wall! Total time? About 4-5 hours spread over a couple of days, including drying time. 

 

What Should I Look For In A Scroll Saw

 

Excalibur EX-21 Scroll Saw

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Avoid purchasing a saw that uses pinned blades. You will regret it.

For me, the ease of use and speed of blade changes are paramount.

 

My saws:

• Excalibur EX-21 was purchased used a lot. I have completely rebuilt it. 
• Pegas 21-inch I bought used in like-new condition.

 

What I appreciate about these saws is that when they are properly aligned, no tension adjustment is necessary. You flip a lever to change the blade, then flip it back into place. This design tilts the blade instead of the table, which makes angled cuts easier to achieve. I have access to parts for both of these saws and have completely rebuilt the Excalibur EX-21.

 

The Harbor Freight Bauer scroll saw operates similarly to the EX-21/Pegas saws. The lift mechanism is different. It is the lowest-cost saw of all the saws mentioned here. Harbor Freight's in-store warranty is as good as it gets. If it breaks during the warranty period, you can return it to the store and they will provide you with a replacement. If I were in need of a new saw, I would give this one serious consideration.

 

The Seyco saws are quite similar, but they feature a larger table and a

different tilt mechanism. However, I'm not fond of the table on the Seyco saws. Seyco saws have awesome support. They also support Excalibur and  Pegas saws with parts available for both.

 

Other Scroll Saws

• The Dewalt DW788 is well-regarded and widely available in the US. I have never used a DeWalt saw, but I understand they cut very aggressively. DeWalt saws can be rebuilt.
• Hegner scroll saws are known for their exceptional durability, but I find the blade mounting and tensioning system to be cumbersome. Additionally, they are quite expensive.
• Hawk scroll saws are known for their durability and are made in the USA. I used an older one for several years, but I eventually became frustrated with the blade mounting system. When a blade broke, the clamps would sometimes go flying, and I often found myself crawling on the floor with a flashlight trying to locate them. The newer models may have an improved clamping system.