Woodworking projects that sell are a lucrative venture for both skilled artisans and newbies alike. These clever crafts can range from picture frames to chopping boards, and more.
A wood cutting board is a functional and aesthetically appealing accessory that’s easy to make. All you need is a wooden board, something to cut it with, sandpaper, and some paint.
Chessboard
Chess is a great game that provides hours of mental challenge and fun. It’s a great way to pass the time and spend some quality time with friends or family members. If you’re tired of your old chessboard and want something that will stand out, consider building your own unique chess board set.
You can build this beautiful chessboard with wood veneers and create an amazing looking board that will be the envy of your friends. Your wood, on the other hand, can be purchased at Alderfer Hardwood Lumber. The plans walk you through how to use a jigsaw to cut the veneers perfectly and how to create designs for the board. The plans also show you how to make a box to store your chess pieces.
This chessboard is an advanced build and requires a bit of experience with woodworking. The end result is an elegant chessboard that looks like it was purchased at a high-end furniture store. This is a great project for anyone that is interested in improving their skills with a tool they’ve been using for years.
Dominoes
Dominoes are an excellent way to get kids engaged in creative and satisfying play sessions that will build their creativity, concentration, self-engagement and independence. They will enjoy lining up the dominoes, creating intricate designs and watching them fall down!
The face of a domino is marked with spots, called pips, and the back is blank. Each dot corresponds to a number and the absence of dots means zero. You can buy sets of dominoes in various materials. Some are made of urea and others are made of plastic from petroleum, both of which are available in most stores.
Consider painting the dominoes with different colors to add a theme. For instance, you could paint a set of dominoes with steampunk charms for a cool look. You can also try painting patterns on them, such as plaid or polka dots. Alternatively, you can use markers to draw pictures on the dominoes instead of dots.
Lincoln Logs
The classic toy Lincoln Logs are a great way for kids to express their creativity, while also learning about the history of American architecture. This iconic toy set consists of interlocking wooden pieces that can be arranged in many ways to build a house, fort, or anything else that children imagine.
The original Lincoln Logs were developed in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, the son of famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. While he tried to capitalize on the success of his invention with Wright Blocks, they did not become as popular as Lincoln Logs.
The popularity of these stackable wood blocks reached their peak during the 1950s, when they were one of the first toys to be mass-marketed on television. These rustic building blocks were perfect for promoting the wild frontier and Western culture on shows like Davy Crockett. They are still a favorite of kids and adults alike, as they help promote engineering skills and cognitive thought.
Bird Feeder
Tens of millions of Americans regularly feed wild birds, a tradition that brings soothing music and eye-catching beauty to their back yards. Bird lovers also believe it helps offset the harm we have done to these birds by converting woods and meadows into lawns and shopping malls. Choosing the right feeder is key to attracting the best kind of feathered visitors. Birds want an entry hole that’s large enough for them to get in, but small enough to keep larger birds and predators out. Tray feeders with small perches are a great choice.
A copper top for a 44 deck post and a soda bottle make the clear body of this feeder, which comes together quickly with tools you probably already have hanging around your garage. To hang the feeder, use twine wrapped around a wooden ball or tennis ball and bring the ends up through evenly spaced holes in the rim of the can.
Butterfly House
Encourage beautiful butterflies to make your home their own with this fun hands-on butterfly house. Designed to be the perfect shelter for butterflies, this house keeps them safe from harsh weather and predators. It also makes a great place for them to lay their eggs, grow in their chrysalises and fly in as adults. This kit includes wood pieces, plastic vials, twine, glue and instructions. It is easy to assemble and decorate, so it’s a great project for children. (Adult supervision is recommended.)
Unlike a birdhouse, a butterfly house has long narrow slots instead of round holes to allow the butterflies to enter, but keep hungry birds out. Paint the house with non-toxic colors to attract butterflies, and hang it near a flower garden. Butterflies are attracted to bright, colorful foliage and flowers that provide nectar. Plants like strawberry, dandelion and blueberry are good choices. Be sure to put a water source nearby, as butterflies love to rest in the sun and need a drink from time to time.
Wooden Rings
Wooden rings make great one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family. They are also a good way to experiment with new woodworking techniques, like laminating different species of exotic woods together or working on an inlay.
Rings are easy projects to tackle, even for beginners. They don’t require complex tools and can be made using any type of round wood, such as a socket, pill bottle or copper pipe, for example. There are even methods for making wooden rings without any tools, but these should be avoided by people with limited knowledge of woodworking and should only be attempted after practicing the technique on scraps first.
Paying attention to grain direction is an important tip when creating a wooden ring, as it opens up more design options. This is especially important when making a taller ring, as it can be difficult to distinguish between the different layers of the ring. Choosing a wood with darker and lighter colors will help in this regard.
Segmented Bowl
A segmented bowl is made up of rings of wood glued together and turned on a lathe. The result is a stunning work of art. Segmented turning is very time consuming and requires meticulous precision in cutting the individual rings. Yuma, Arizona, woodturner Ray Allen shows the process in this video.
The secret to this project is the careful selection of a number of economy board pieces that can be cut to the exact length required for each ring. This minimizes waste and allows for larger bowls to be made from a smaller piece of wood.
This project requires a bit of sanding and staining, but the finished product is worth it. The wood grain really shines through the stain, making this a truly unique wall art piece. If you want to take it one step further, try adding some text. This is a great way to show your state pride.
Platter
A platter is a large type of dishware that can be used to serve food. You can make a simple, decorative one from scrap wood to display on your coffee table, or build an ornate wooden platter for a more formal setting.
Another great woodworking project is a trivet, which helps protect your tables from hot plates and bowls. You can make them in a variety of shapes and sizes, from a simple crisscross pattern to a fancy floral design. You can even add etching to create personalized gifts for friends and family.
Wooden picture frames are a classic DIY project, and they can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. They also make thoughtful gifts for loved ones. If you have old tray lying around, consider turning it into a stylish wooden serving tray with a mosaic design. Reality Daydream shows you how to do it with the help of some pressed flowers, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
Bat House
Bats are natural predators of mosquitoes and other night-flying insects, and building a bat house can be a fun way to get the kids involved in nature. However, bats are picky about where they roost and need homes that are designed to their specifications.
Using 1X2 inch pieces of wood, begin by building the sides of the bat house. Next, add the three front pieces, making sure to leave a space for the top piece.
The inside of the bat house should be painted dark to keep it warm for the bats, who need a narrow, rough space that mimics the bark and trunk of a tree where they would typically roost. The surfaces of the chambers should also be roughly grooved to help the bats cling to them.
Sweep up the sawdust from the backboard, and stain it a dark color to match the grooves that were just cut. After the stain dries, it’s time to hang the house.
