Sleigh bodies are 3/4" maple. Runners I cut down to 1/4" thick & nailed (2) pieces together to save some cut time. I'll cut the runners first then stain them, that will give them time to dry while I cut out the bodies. Ten different sleighs patterns & a total of 18 to cut. The wide board measures 6"x19" and has 12 sleigh bodies.

 

                 

 

           

Looks like you'll be busy for the next couple of days!

Fun, fun, fun! One hole at a time. The completed ones look fabulous. 

Here's what I'm cutting. Not nearly as intricate as yours. 

Edited October 29, 20232 yr by Gene Howe

Awesome. Lots of patience from both of you.

11 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Awesome. Lots of patience from both of you.

 For me the patience comes marking the locations of the drill holes with an awl. Nothing worse than drilling a hole in an area that wasn't scrap.

Got tired and frustrated with the changing holes process. Two things have somewhat alleviated that frustration First was the addition of "The Lifter" from PAPAS WORKSHOP.  The second was using a hand held counter sink on the holes on the back. Makes it easier to thread the blade if you're a bottom feeder, like me.

Edited October 30, 20232 yr by Gene Howe

 

2 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

The second was using a hand held counter sink on the holes on the back. Makes it easier to thread the blade if you're a bottom feeder, like me.

  I use a steel punch, stubby point, works like the counter sink. I use an older Delta with parallel arms so I don't have the option of lifting the arm, release the top clamp and the blade tilts forward. Bigger pieces can be a bit challenging when bottom feeding in the middle of the piece but I just put a little bow in the blade and thread it through.

I have 7 pairs of runners cut & 4 started. One pair is a redo, this is when the patience kicks in.

 

             

 

 

 

Those are really nice Bob. Love the detail.

Holy cow Bob, neat!  Is there a reason to not work on one pair at a time?

1 hour ago, Cal said:

Is there a reason to not work on one pair at a time?

 

 I tried cutting 2 pair (1" thick) but the maple was pretty hard on the blades. I was trying to speed up the outside cuts and caught my blade on the spiral, that's how I broke that pair. Between applying the pattern, drilling & cutting that's 45 minutes lost.

Hey Bob, at first I didn't understand your answer... then I realized that you didn't understand my question

My bad @DuckSoup

 

 

What I was trying to ask is that from the one pic you are cutting out four different runners (or maybe four sets of runners). Cut some from this one, cut some from the next one... is there a reason not to complete one before moving to the second one?

 

 

Edited November 4, 20232 yr by Cal

2 hours ago, Cal said:

Hey Bob, at first I didn't understand your answer... then I realized that you didn't understand my question

  Sorry @Cal, I wasn't listening to where you were looking.

 

The simple answer is blade change. I had a 3/0 blade in the saw and was using it for the small tight areas, I just decided to do them all and then move up in blade size. I'm using a #2 & #3 blade for the larger areas.

Makes perfect sense now Bob, both answers   Thanks!

 Have all the sleigh runners cut, did the easy ones last .  I'll sand & stain these then move onto the sleigh bodies. The bold line to the left is a #2 blade the other line is a pencil line for reference.

 

Great work on some really cool designs. I've had the itch to do something sleigh related sometime as well. I mean what is more Americana than a sleigh....just great subject matter for my .02  Love it man. 

4 hours ago, DuckSoup said:

The bold line to the left is a #2 blade the other line is a pencil line for reference.

 

Great work quality Bob. I'd have to have my lighted magnifying glass just to attach the blade, let along make cuts like you do.

What's the average life for one of those blades? I'm sure it varies depending on the wood species. 

Those last two runners Bob...

11 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

I'd have to have my lighted magnifying glass just to attach the blade, let along make cuts like you do.

What's the average life for one of those blades? I'm sure it varies depending on the wood species.

 

My bi-focal do get a workout that's for sure. I'm using one blade per pair & for this wood I think that's fair usage. Used blades are piled up with the scrap. I just opened my 3rd bundle, so I've used just over 2 dozen #2 blades. With mostly outside cuts on the bodies I can switch to a #3 blade and maybe get a little better milage.

 

  Stain is dry & bodies are cut & glued to the runners. Earlier posts I said I used a #3 blade, I should have said #5.