Bob Holmes from Bob Holmes Woodworking has created a delightful woodworking project that is perfect for the holiday season: a small Christmas sleigh made from a $3 cedar fence plank. This easy-to-follow guide will take you through the steps to create your own festive sleigh, even if you’re new to woodworking.
Materials and Tools Needed
- Cedar fence plank
- Brad nailer
- Air compressor
- Miter saw
- Band saw
- Oscillating spindle sander
- Hand plane
- Wood glue
Step 1: Cut the Shape of the Sleigh
Start by cutting out the shape of one side of the Christmas sleigh from the cedar fence plank. Once you have the shape, use the planer to smooth out the surfaces of the plank.
Step 2: Make the Pieces Manageable
Transfer the pattern onto the board and then head over to the miter saw to cut it to a more manageable size.
Step 3: Pin the Boards Together
Turn on the air compressor and fire up the brad nailer to pin the two boards together. This will allow you to cut both of them at the same time on the band saw.
Step 4: Cut Out the Sides of the Sleigh
Use the band saw to cut out the sides of the sleigh. This step is sped up for efficiency.
Step 5: Smooth the Edges
Next, head over to the oscillating spindle sander. Change the drums to the appropriate size to round out and smooth the edges of the sleigh.
Step 6: Shape the Back of the Sleigh
Without any plans, Bob improvises to create a rounded shape for the back of the sleigh. He uses the band saw for this as well.
Step 7: Glue Up the Pieces
During the glue-up, Bob realizes he doesn’t have any clamps. Instead, he uses the brad nailer to hold everything together.
Step 8: Add Contour to the Sleigh
Cut out narrow strips to contour the curved edges of the sleigh. Glue these strips around the back and front of the sleigh.
Step 9: Create the Skis
Make the skis by splitting a piece of wood in half. Glue these pieces together to make them double thick.
Step 10: Smooth the Skis
Use the spindle sander to smooth out the skis, but when they end up uneven, Bob uses a hand plane to level them out.
Step 11: Attach the Skis
Mark the positioning for the skis and attach them to the bottom of the sleigh with glue and the brad nailer.
Step 12: Add Trim Work
To finish the sleigh, Bob cuts out extra trim to add to the sides for a more decorative look.
Final Thoughts
After all the work, Bob reflects on the project, noting that it resembles what he envisioned.
This Christmas sleigh is a fun and creative woodworking project that can be made with a minimal investment. Bob Holmes has shown that with some basic tools and a bit of imagination, anyone can create a festive decoration for the holiday season.