Weekend Projects: 5 Timeless DIY Advent Calendars

Every winter, children and adults from myriad cultures celebrate the Germanic tradition of the advent calendar—reveli...

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Is Milk or Chalk Paint the Right Finish for You?

It’s not how you start, but how you finish, as the adage goes. But when it comes to painting, the materials you choos...

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Bob Vila Radio: Dealing with a Damp Basement

Though you don't live in the tropics, the most humid days might make you feel like you do. That dampness is not only ...

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DIY Scrap Wood Arrow – Super Sized

Hi Guys, I’m enjoying all the projects ya’ll are sharing on the #sCrapWoodChallenge link up post and on Instagram, twitter and facebook!  I spent the day in my shop yesterday building a “just for fun” project for the challenge!  I’ve been building a lot of pull-out storage in my workshop using scrap wood so I have plenty of projects I could share — but I wanted to build something fun.  I’ve had this idea in my head for a long time that this small section of wall between the dining room and entry is the perfect spot for a giant arrow.  And that’s the fun project I ran with!

I’ve been trying to use up as much scrap wood as possible in my workshop redo not create more but when I tackled the sliding doors, my first plan didn’t work so I ended up with a whole bunch more scrap to use up.  1 step forward, 2 steps back kinda’ thing.  I wanted to stain my arrow dark so if this pile would work for my arrow project that would be perfect.

I wanted 60″ tall and 10″ wide.  Lucky me!  Three planks side by side are about 10″ wide and I had plenty of wood to span the length I wanted.

I choose the boards I wanted and put them together.  Then I used painters tape to keep all the planks together so I could flip the whole thing over and keep the boards where I wanted them.

Then I used chalk pencils to mark the wood up with triangles so I could put them back together after separating them to drill my pocket holes.  Light colored chalk pencils show up easily on dark wood and visa versa on light wood.  

I used blue and yellow to draw marks to show me how to put the wood back together.  I used green to mark where I wanted to drill pocket holes. 

I drilled all my pocket holes with my Porter-Cable pocket hole jig  — review here.  

Then I reassembled my arrow and screwed it together.

I used a rafter square and a chalk pencil to mark the angles on the top of the arrow. 

Then I made a tail.  I cut 45º angles on the ends of 4 sized boards creating a longer, continuous angle out of all 4.  I secured them together with pocket screws.  It wasn’t quite right yet so I cut off the outside edges — making sure there were no screws in the path of my blade!I also used a jigsaw to cut out the center ending up with what I think looks like the tail of a whale.

I used it anyway because I didn’t want to start over.

I sanded the edges before attaching it to the main body of the arrow.

Then I played around with adding wings to the top angle.  I used cut-offs from the tail.

I first secured two pieces together and then went to the miter saw and cut off the uneven ends.

 

I used the first “wing” as a template to make sure the second wing was the exact same size.

Then I screwed both wings onto the arrow.

I then sanded the whole thing down thinking I’d like the more distressed look.  I decided I did not like the distressed look.

So I stained the whole thing again with gel stain — the color being a custom mixture — a custom mixture being a kind of “Sunday casserole” made of a whole bunch of cans of different colors dumped into one.

And then a light coat of black over the top of that.

That’s it ya’ll!

I’ll eventually hang it on the wall but I don’t want to put any holes in the wall until I decide if I’m happy with this whale tail and decide if this is the right spot.Maybe I like it in the library.

It was a fun project that used up maybe half my scrap wood pile from my failed workshop doors.  I’ll have to see what else I can come up with to use up the rest.

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His & Hers Holiday Gift Guide

Every year I love posting a holiday gift guide, and each one has a different theme. (You can check out past ones for Craft & DIY-Lovers here and here.) This year I will be posting a series of gift guides, and I’m kicking it off in time for Black Friday with a gift guide for “her” and one for “him” too! These are just general ideas in a variety of price ranges to get your shopping started off on the right foot. A couple of them are interchangeable. The guys’ gift guide was curated with the help of my husband. Hope you enjoy! Sources can be found linked below.

Ladies, feel free to forward this along to the hubby.

1. Scarf 
2. Marble Cell Phone Case
3. Statement Necklace
4. Fujifilm Mini Instant Film Camera
5. Gold Matted Picture Frame
6. “Styled” book by Emily Henderson
7. Small Monogrammed Jewelry Dish
8. Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses
9. Throw Blanket
10. Vegan Leather Tote Bag
11. Mug
12. Kate Spade Polka Dot Tumbler
13. Michael Kors Watch

Another awesome idea is a Stitch Fix Gift Card. Are you familiar with it? It’s a personal styling service tailored to your taste, budget and lifestyle that helps you look and feel your best everyday. I use it myself and I absolutely love it! They send you clothes, you pay for what you want to keep and send the rest back. No more dragging the kids to the mall and wrangling them as we cram into a dressing room. Anyway, I’m a huge fan!

 

1. Humans of New York Stories (book)
2. Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses
3. “Spork” Camping Tool
4. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
5. Front Pocket Wallet
6. Aviator Leather Travel Mug
7. Roll-Up Stadium Blanket with Carrier
8. Cedar Shoe Trees
9. Travel Alarm Clock
10. Scarf
11. Merino Wool Socks
12. Ryobi Super Combo Kit

SHOP THIS POST:

FOR HER:

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FOR HIM:

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What’s on your holiday wish list this year?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

If you’re new here, I would love it if you would consider subscribing.

You can also connect with me here:

Thanks for visiting!

-Erin

The post His & Hers Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on DIY on the Cheap by Erin Spain.

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Woodturning is a Skill any DIYer can Learn

I had the amazing experience of learning the skill of woodturning from my friend Dan Cary of Woodworkers Journal at this years Craftsman Makecation in Brooklyn New York. Woodworking is a tremendous hobby that can last a lifetime, but as your skills grow, so does the need for larger and more expensive tools. Woodturning only requires a lathe and a few hand tools to get started.

Woodturning is a type of woodworking used to create wooden objects on a lathe. A lathe is a power tool that rotates a piece of wood on an axis and allows you to shape it using various carving tools.

Wood bowls, table legs, candle sticks, and goblets are all products woodturning. Here’s what you need to get started.

The Lathe

All lathes perform the same task of turning wood. The main difference between lathes is determined by how large the piece of stock is that you want to turn. Take note of the diameter of the work piece (swing capacity) and the length between the lathe centers. If you plan on turning wood bowls, you may need a larger lathe than someone who simply wants to turn items on a spindle and make tool handles and salt and pepper shakers.

Look for a lathe that is at least 1/2 horsepower with 12” swing capacity like this model from Craftsman which retails for $414. For a bit more power, bump up to this Delta which offers a 1 horsepower motor and a bit more swing capacity at 12 1/2” for $610.

Lathes require regular maintenance to perform properly. Lubrication and constant checking for loose nuts and bolts should be a routine practice for any woodturner. Follow the manufacturers maintenance schedule and recommendations for lubricants which can include grease and oil.

Woodturning Accessories

In addition to a lathe, you’ll need a set of turning tools to shape the wood and lathe chucks to attach the wood to the lathe.

Turning tools look like chisels and have a beveled point. Each point is shaped differently to produce a desired effect on a piece of wood. Spindle turning tools, for example, are slightly different than bowl turning tools. Choose according to your use, but most woodturners have both sets.

You can get a basic 8-piece set for $75 but you will need to sharpen these tools regularly. Another option are carbide tipped tools ($129) like these from Rockler. If the tool gets dull you can turn the tip to a sharp edge and then replace the tip once every side is worn down.

Lathe chucks are also divided according to the type of woodturning you’ll be doing, be it bowls or spindles. You’re lathe may already come equipped with a chuck.

Preparation and Safety

Before you begin woodturning, take the time to setup a clean work environment and do it in a space where you won’t get bumped.

Follow these safety tips to ensure a good experience.

• Roll sleeves above elbows and remove all jewelry from your hands and wrists.
• Always wear eye protection.
• Always stop the lathe before making adjustments or taking measurements.
• Know where the emergency stop is before operating the lathe.
• Start Turning

Picking your wood is one of the most fun parts of woodturning. Walnut, maple, and cherry all produce beautiful looking pieces, and it’s fun experimenting with the different colors and grains.

You can buy turning stock online that is cut from kiln dried lumber and specifically selected for woodturning applications.

Before you start turning, attach the wood piece to the chuck and then attach the chuck to the lathe. There are numerous ways to do this, but the simple way is shown in the video below as he turns a blank into a bowl.

Woodturning is a safe and relatively inexpensive hobby that will have you churning out finished wood projects in no time. The more wood you turn, the better you will get and your skills will advance quickly.

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How To: Split Firewood

Fireplace season has at long last arrived: Time to gather around the hearth, hunker down, and embrace the warmth of t...

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