Working with Aromatic Cedar
Aromatic red cedar is soft, knotty and full of scent. Pick boards with clear heartwood, keep knots away from holes and ends, use sharp tools, and leave it unfinished where the smell matters.
#christmas
Tips
Easing and Chamfering Edges by Hand
Soften the sharp edges on small gifts with a block plane and a sanding block: mark two pencil lines, plane the end grain first, then the long grain, and finish with a light sanding.
Resawing Thin Stock for Small Gifts
Slice a thick board into thin boards at the band saw for ornaments, tags and small boxes: mark a center line, stand the board on edge against a tall fence, feed slowly, then smooth the sawn faces.
How to Sign and Date Wood Gifts
Put your name, the year and the wood on every gift you make: where to sign it, pencil or pen before or after finish, a steel stamp for a batch, and testing on scrap first.
How to Drill Clean Holes in Small Wood Parts
Hang holes, stem holes and screw-eye pilots on small holiday pieces: start the bit where you marked, stop tear-out on the back, and drill a whole batch in the same spot.
How to Cut Curves and Inside Cutouts in Wood
Cut smooth curves and closed inside shapes with a scroll saw, jigsaw, bandsaw or coping saw: pick the saw for the curve, drill blade-entry holes, use relief cuts, and clean up to the line.
How to Make Templates for Repeat Holiday Shapes
Make one good template and trace it for every ornament, leaf, tree or star in a holiday batch, so the pieces match and you draw the shape only once.
How to Finish Small Wood Gifts Before the Holidays
Sanding and finishing small wood gifts like ornaments, gift tags, place card holders and card stands in a batch, so they're dry and ready to wrap before Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Laser Engraving Wood Ornaments: Settings to Test First
How to find engraving, scoring and cutting settings for thin wood ornaments and gift tags on a diode or CO2 laser: test on scrap of the same sheet, set up the bed and air assist, and run the jobs in order.
Laser Cut Wood Projects to Make
Laser project ideas from our builds: Christmas village pieces, ornaments, coasters, earrings, leaf napkin rings, and more—with links to each idea.
Scrap Wood Projects to Make
Scrap-friendly builds from our ideas—mantel trees, gift tags, ornaments, a bottle opener, and more—plus how to pick scrap that is worth keeping.
Laser Engraver Christmas Gift Ideas to Make
Christmas gifts to make on a hobby diode or CO2 laser, from our build ideas: ornaments, a coaster set, a tabletop village and earrings, with the size and wood for each.
Christmas Gift Projects to Make (and Maybe Sell)
Holiday gift projects from our build ideas, from 15-minute laser ornaments to a weekend keepsake box, with the asking prices we found for similar handmade pieces and the deadlines that matter.