Inspired by Artie, I'm in the process of making 4 Kissmas trees from the current Woodcraft Magazine.  One for each of my three girls' families and one for us.  So they'll be set up for next Xmas season.  The earliest I'll get together with any of the kids is New Year's day.  One set probably won't see until late summer.

 

I had some unused select pine that someone gave to me when he quit a project, so that's what went into my project.  I ripped into the 1 1/8" strips, then planed down to 1/2".   30 of them a bit over 36" long worked out. 

 

Drilled the 1/4" holes, using a newly-made drill press stop.  Wish I had gone up a 32nd or so as it took some "persuasion" to get them thru 30 pieces.   But got the threaded rods cut to rough length and in. 

Laid out to "zig-zag" the cuts.  This reduces waste and optimizes material so I could get all four from my pieces. 

 

Built a big siding cross-cut table (again using some leftover stuff) to use with my MatchFit clamps and it worked great. 

I don't know what the angle is, but only the top and bottom width.  So marked them on the stock and lined up to the edge of the cut-off table.   

 

 

Did some sanding and took apart, numbering each piece 1-30.  Set up to drill the recesses for the kisses.  Likewise, used a spacer.  Figured out which levels took 2 holes, which 4 and which 6.

 

 

 

I think I will work hard to keep each "set" together thru drilling, final sanding, finishing, and assembly. 

 

Finishing: My initial thought is to just apply some shellac.  It makes pine look great.  Hope I have enough left or will need to run out next week.  I think I will lay the pieces out and spray one side and one edge, let dry a few minutes, the flip over and do the other side and edge.   Shellac should dry in less than 30 minutes.  Let dry and apply second coats.

 

 

Oh yeah, yesterday I needed to stop to make some Orange Cinnamon rolls.  Yummy.  While we were on a grocery run, I picked up some stollen.  My wife's parents both emigrated from Germany, so when we met, I was introduced to a lot of German foods.

 

My wife was born in Germany, I was also introduced to many German dishes.

Her mom made excellent Rouladen, Poppy Seed rolls, and home made Stollen. 

Looking good Keith.

Phyl is 3rd gen, German. Has no experience with German recipes. But she cooks Murrican real good. She's not half bad with frozen Pizza, either. 

Got the rest of the recesses drilled today in the couple of hours in the shop and half of them final sanded.  Let's see -- 112 pieces that get on average 4 holes each.  Made bread and a batch of my favorite cookies, too.

 

7 minutes ago, kmealy said:

Made bread and a batch of my favorite cookies, too.

 

...So that's what smelled so good. 

Keith I wound up making 16 (with 2 more now). I found some place online that sells the red foil wrapped kisses by 4 pound bags. People kept asking for one after seeing one. I think I put in 4 orders to the candy place LOL. 

13 hours ago, Artie said:

Keith I wound up making 16 (with 2 more now). I found some place online that sells the red foil wrapped kisses by 4 pound bags. People kept asking for one after seeing one. I think I put in 4 orders to the candy place LOL. 

Wow.  And I thought I had drilled a lot of holes.

I had me a couple of days where I was a hole-making machine! LOL

Done!   Ready for advent 2021.  Will look somewhere else for nicer finials.  Room for 116 candies each.

 

Edited December 28, 20205 yr by kmealy

Very nice, Keith.

Must be the flocked version.  Very nice.