Rocking Reindeer

Worth all your effort. Those are very nice.

-- “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk

I must tell you that those are totally beautiful. I can fully understand your frustration with glue ups. They can be the most frustrating part of any project. Be that as it may, your reindeer are fantastic! I may very well try to copy them down the road.

Thanks!

I had kind of an epiphany last night when I woke up at some ungodly hour. I’m almost positive that I finished these (with mineral oil) BEFORE I tried gluing them the first time, and I’m pretty positive that’s why my glue joins just wouldn’t hold.

Great looking Reindeer!

I m almost positive that I finished these (with mineral oil) BEFORE I tried gluing them the first time, and I m pretty positive that s why my glue joins just wouldn t hold.

- Sioranth

That would explain the problem.

-- "I love it when a plan comes together" John "Hannibal" Smith

Well Done!

Small glue joints are very tricky! Iuse rubber bands, even just small blocks for weight- andother cheats! Against the table saw fence with tilted blocks leaning to hold thing while the glue cures up etc.

I do but bamboo skewers and use pieces f them for a lot of fragile joints. They sand off and just look like a knot in the wood.

-- Wood rescue is good for the environment and me! just rjR

Yes the mineral oil finish is the cause for your problem. If your going to finish pieces before glue up use masking tape on all areas that are going to receive glue before finishing. While I believe that you might have had better luck using epoxy on a fully cured finish, I’m fairly certain mineral oil does not dry to a cured finish.

-- Mother Nature always bats last.

You’re right, Green_Hornut, that mineral oil never cures. Next time, I’ll likely just finish at the end with a spray lacquer.

Rubber bands are a great idea, ralbuck! I was using painter tape and small weights.

I have had very good luck using Weldbond white glue for applications just as you describe

-- Retired and lovin it

Nevermind the problems this looks great, good job and gift.

-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted

The fate of all scrollsaw people is to suffer with one problem after another…......Guess that’s why we love it

-- JimInNM........Space Case

Thanks everyone!

I do love my scroll saw and even though I wanted to give up about 100 times doing this project, I finished it in the end because I couldn’t bear to see all the work go to waste.

Wow! These are great. I love them.

helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com

-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com

Sorry it took me almost a year to come across this project. They look lovely, and I like the extra time that you took to round off the antlers. Nicely done.
As for the glue problem . . . it appears that you have added to your experience, perhaps the hard way, but remember . . . Experience is something you get right after you needed it.
Looking forward to seeing more of your projects.
Have a Merry Yule.

-- John, British Columbia, Canada