Festive Sleigh Project

[mtylerfl]

Here's some pics of my latest project...all accomplished with just the two bits that came with the machine.

...can be used for a decorative table centerpiece, or for holding candy, nuts, etc.

It measures about 15" long, 8½" tall, 5" wide

[ChrisAlb]

Flat out SWEET Michael!!

How long to carve?

[mtylerfl]

Flat out SWEET Michael!!

How long to carve?

Thanks, Chris - I really enjoyed designing and making this one! I am making two more this weekend!

The project is divided into 3 mpc's and there are a total of 12 components that make up the sleigh. To carve and cut out everything it is about 6½ hours total machine time.

[ChrisAlb]

Well just let me know how to get my grubby little hands on it...LOL

I'd LOVE to make a few of these as gifts this year. Another TOP NOTCH job buddy.

My CW hasn't been making dust for a while now. I'd like to warm it up again with this for sure.

[DocWheeler]

Michael,

I totally agree with Chris. I went to your site to order it and found it was not yet listed

[Betty Woodall]

Michael,
That is beautiful. I am looking forward to getting that pattern when you post it. BW

[Router-Jim]

Michael, that is truely an impressive project.

Well done!!

[mtylerfl]

Hello,

Thank you everyone. I'll see if I can answer some of your questions...

- Yes, this is the next Monthly Subscription Project. I've already talked to LHR about getting it sent out a little earlier than "normal" to the subscribers so they'll have time to make it before we're all in the thick of the holiday season (I know some of you already are!). I am writing the illustrated "Festive Sleigh" tutorial now, and will email it to LHR early next week (or before). My hope is that it will be released to the subscribers no later than mid-November.

- It won't be for sale separately for some time - since it's a subscriber project, they usually wait 2 or 3 months after it's been sent to the subscribers before it is available for sale by itself.

- I had a heck of a time deciding how I wanted to finish it. I stared at it for 3 days before deciding! I'm making two more this weekend so I'll get a chance to try a couple other ideas I had in mind. (I carved/cutout another one today in fact.)

- The finish on this first one is MinWax Cherrywood Gel Stain.

- The finish for the sleigh runners is Rustoleum Specialty Metallic Gold reflective finish spray paint. I primed the runners with Red spray primer and sanded lightly before spraying with the gold paint. Got both paints from Walmart.

-The gold trim was applied by hand with a KRYLON Gold Leaf marking pen (I used blue masking tape to keep me from getting sloppy). Richard Tharp had sent me the gold pen as a gift, but I have seen it for sale at Michael's Arts & Crafts. It matches their specialty reflective gold spray paint perfectly.

- The clear finish is MinWax water-based Satin Polycrylic - four coats. (I love the stuff - it dries in less than a half hour so I can apply multiple coats quickly.) I originally bought some satin clear laquer for the top coat, but wimped out and used what I am already accustomed to.

I've been designing a lot of projects lately - just hard to get 'em all done and tested/perfected/tutorials written due to days being only 24 hours long. Look for some really unique items coming out over the next few months! Some will be available separately right away, and some will be for the Project Subscibers "first dibbs".

EDIT: Forgot to mention that no clear is put over the gold runners - dulls the finish. Also, the gold marking pen is applied last, over the clear finish of the sleigh - same reason - no topcoat on that either so that the gold won't get "dulled".

[fwharris]

Michael,

Another great project! You did a fantastic job on the finishing detail. HMMM could this be another monthly project?

[oldjoe]

Wow Michael as usual you are way ahead of the curve or should I say carve. And the finish on that is fantastic. Looks to me like 6.5 hours of carving and for me 12 hours of finishing. Is that gold leaf or just gold finish?