A Modern Bandsaw Reindeer
Introduction: A Modern Bandsaw Reindeer
In this Instructable, I'll show you how I designed a modern, new take on the noble Bandsaw Reindeer. There's a template that's been floating around the internet for years, but it's never quite looked like a reindeer to me, hence my desire to create this new template.
The bandsaw reindeer is a simple project that can be completed in as little as 30 minutes if you want a more rustic look to your reindeer, but a little longer if you want a more finished look.
If you'd rather watch a build video before jumping into the Instructable, be sure to watch the full video above. If you like it, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel so I know this is the type of project people enjoy learning how to make themselves so that I can make more projects and videos like it in the future!
Supplies
* A block of wood measuring approximately 10.75" x 5.25" x 1.5"
* My printed template, available below.
* Sandpaper (optional)
* Polyurethane (optional)
Step 1: Design Template
If you're interested to learn how the template was developed, read on, but if you simply want to download my template, you can do so below.
This design was inspired by a zinc reindeer sculpture sold by Create & Barrel. A few friends of mine own one and had it on their mantle and I loved the look and thought I could potentially make one out of wood.
So I asked if I could snap a few photos of its front and side profiles, which I then used to design my template using Adobe Illustrator.
After designing the template, I confirmed that the template would yield a viable shape on the bandsaw once cut by bringing the vector paths into Autodesk Fusion 360 and extruding each shape and performing a boolean operation to reveal only the areas where the two extrusions overlapped.
Step 2: Apply Template to Wood Blank
Print out the template above, then cut out each part of the template using scissors or a utility knife. Using a glue stick or other adhesive of your choice, apply the template to one of the narrow sides and one of the wide sides of your 10.75" x 5.25" x 1.5" wood blank.
Step 3: Cut Front Profile
Using a bandsaw with a 3/8" blade, cut the front face of the reindeer block first. 668
Carefully follow the line all around the reindeer, making sure not to take any corners too sharply while cutting. If a turn radius is less than 1/4 of an inch, either do a series of relief cuts to make room for the blade to turn, or back out of the cut and come at it from a different side of the block.
Once cut off, be sure to reserve the two side pieces that get cut off – they will eventually be scrap, but we need to glue the cutoff pieces back on temporarily using hot glue to provide a flat face to use on the bandsaw table while cutting the other face of our template.
So with a hot glue gun, glue the cutoff pieces back in place, trying to place the glue in the areas outside the lines of the face we haven't cut yet.
Step 4: Cut Side Profile
After the front-profile cutoff pieces are glued back on, we can cut the other profile.
This dimension will be easier to cut, as the blade is going through a lot less wood, giving you the ability to move a little faster and turn a little easier. Again, hug your line as smoothly and cleanly as possible, and any areas that are too tight to turn cleanly – such as inside the antlers – make “relief cuts” to make room for the blade to change directions, or come at it from a different direction.
Step 5: Reveal Your Reindeer Hidden Within
Once the side profile is cut out, the pieces that you glued back on should now release cleanly from each side to show your reindeer in all it's glory. If parts of it are stuck, your hot glue might have ended up where it shouldn't have, and you'll need to use a utility knife to carefully pry the scrap off of your reindeer.
Step 6: Sanding
Now it's time to sand, sand, sand – but only if you really want to. You definitely don’t need to focus on making these perfectly smooth. Leaving a trace of the bandsaw lines behind to make them more rustic is certainly acceptable – just depends on the aesthetic you’re going for.
I chose to sand mine perfectly smooth, however, to remove all traces of the bandsaw blade. 76