Looking to add a cozy touch to your holiday decor? These beautiful wooden Christmas lanterns were created by DIY Montreal, and they make for a perfect woodworking project whether you’re a beginner or have some experience. This guide will walk you through the entire process of building these charming lanterns from start to finish.
Materials Needed:
- Cedar fence boards or Pine 1x6s
- 1 1/4 inch plunge router
- 5/16 inch guide bushing
- 1/8 inch upcut spiral bit (extra long)
- Double-sided tape
- Utility knife
- Small pry bar
- Templates for designs (available for purchase)
- Flameless flickering tea lights
Step 1: Choose Your Lumber
For building these lanterns, DIY Montreal prefers using cedar fence boards due to their pleasant aroma and durability for outdoor use. Pine boards can also be used, but they often have more knots and defects. Both types are sold as 1x6s, but the actual dimensions are about 5/8 inches thick and 5 1/4 inches wide.
Step 2: Prepare the Boards
Start by planing the boards down about an inch. This step helps remove any cupping and gives a nice flat surface, making it easier to carve patterns later.
Step 3: Gather Your Tools
You’ll need a plunge router, a guide bushing, and a long upcut spiral bit for carving the faces of the lanterns. Make sure to also have double-sided tape, a utility knife, and a pry bar on hand.
Step 4: Create the Templates
DIY Montreal offers 12 lantern templates made from 6mm clearcast acrylic. These templates are designed for easy carving. Secure the template to the lantern face using double-sided tape.
Step 5: Set Up the Router
To carve the lantern faces, set the router depth to just over half an inch. This ensures that you cut all the way through the wood without damaging the template. Use a sacrificial backerboard to protect your workbench.
Step 6: Carve the Faces
Once everything is set, plunge the router bit down and move around the template in a clockwise direction. It’s best to make the cuts in one deep pass for a cleaner finish, but two passes can be done if preferred.
Step 7: Prepare the Lantern Parts
Cut the face, back, two sides, a bottom, and a lid for the lantern. You can make two lanterns from one 6ft fence board if you optimize your cuts. DIY Montreal provides detailed build plans to help with measurements and cutting layout.
Step 8: Assemble the Lantern
Assembly can be done using glue and Brad nails, or for a cleaner look, you can skip the nails and clamp the parts together. Align the bottom piece flush and secure it. For the lid, apply glue and center it visually.
Step 9: Final Touches
After the glue has dried, give the box a light sanding to smooth any uneven edges. You can leave it raw or paint it as desired. The finishing touch is to add a flickering flameless tealight, creating a warm glow without the risk of fire.
Conclusion
And there you have it! With these steps, you can create your very own wooden Christmas lanterns that will bring warmth and charm to your holiday decor. You can buy the templates here.
Happy woodworking and enjoy your holiday season!