Making Trophies For A Chicken Show

[woodeye]

Well this is something I don't do every day. It was definitely a major learning experience, but I eventually got them done. Even though this is a lot of pictures, there could have been at least this many more taken of all the steps necessary to make them. However, in the event that I make them again someday, I discovered some ways to ease the process and they shouldn't take as long next time. The woods used for the boots are: Baltic Birch Plywood 1/4", Walnut 1/8", Cherry 1/8", Maple 1/8", Cherry 1/2". The woods used for the chickens are Cherry 1/4", Walnut 1/4", Cherry 3/4", Walnut 3/4". The patterns were printed and glued to clear shelf paper that covered the wood pieces.


  Large Boot Pattern



  Small Boot Pattern



Patterns on Baltic Birch Plywood, which is the backing for the boots



Boot parts ready to saw, which will glue on to Baltic Birch Plywood backing



Gluing boot parts onto Baltic Birch Plywood backing



More gluing boot parts



More gluing boot parts



Aligning and gluing boots onto pedestals



Aligning and gluing boots onto pedestals



All boot parts glued and ready for Watco Oil, then clear coat

Lumber to be used for the Chicken Trophies: Walnut bases, Cherry & Walnut Pedestals, Cherry & Walnut birds (13/16" resawed with bandsaw to make it 1/4")



Gluing Cherry & Walnut stock for the pedestals



Glued & planed pedestal pieces



Pedestals in progress



Pedestals on bases, but not glued together yet



Using a plunge router & 1/4" spiral upcut router bit to make the slots for the birds to attach to the pedestals



Pedestal slots done



Screws installed and pedestals glued to bases. 3/8" Walnut dowel used for screw hole plugs



Bird patterns glued to clear shelf liner on 1/4" Cherry & 1/4" Walnut



Birds sawed with scroll saw, sanded and ready to glue to pedestals



Birds all glued to pedestals



 Each trophy has support block glued on backside of trophy



  DONE! Large Boot--Champion of Show, Small Boot--Reserve Champion of Show, Walnut Birds--Champions, Cherry Birds--Reserve Champions

[macmex]

Beautifully done!

[heavyhitterokra]

Nice!

I knew you were working on those earlier, but I don't think I realized just how many there were in the end. Wow! That was a lot of work! They sure turned out good though. Well done!  Very professional presentation, those bird owners ought to be proud of to have trophies like that!

I enlarged that last photo.  Those brass plates really set them off.   

[chrysanthemum]

Wow, woodeye. What amazing trophies you produced. I really like the way you combined different types of wood. It’s amazing how the oil really brings out the contrasting colors. You’ve obviously got an eye for wood.

[hmoosek]

Wow! I’m just now seeing these. You really did a Great job on them.

[woodeye]

Thank You folks, I appreciate your comments. Some things were more fun to make than others, but that goes for about any project. I love resawing lumber and using a plunge router, so I'll make them again if asked. While making these I used: Scroll Saw, Band Saw, Table Saw, Miter Saw, Thickness Planer, Jointer, Plunge Router, Spindle Sander, Cushion Contour Sander, Belt Sander, Random Orbital Sander, Bench Sander, Router Table, Drill Press, Cordless Drill, Dremel Tool, and a whole bunch of other hand tools. I have a lot of toys in my shop!

[rdback]

Well done woodeye ! Those look awesome.

[june]

LOL....They turned out great, Woodeye!  I've been on vacation and just saw the post.  (I'm the one that coerced Woodeye into making wooden chickens!)   Can't wait to see them in person.  They will be used at a December chicken show in Norman, Ok.  They will be partnered with 'boot' Christmas stockings that I made that  will be fill these with 'goodies' for each exhibitor.  Our theme is 'western'--these little gingerbread cowboys will be part of the decorations and gifts.

[june]

[woodeye]

june, your sewing skills are outstanding!  

I'm sure glad I didn't have to make the Gingerbread Cowboys out of wood, whew! Those would have been tough for sure...

[heavyhitterokra]

Wow! What talent we have among our many members! All of the above items are outstanding displays of craftsmanship. You guys amaze me!

[woodeye]

Nov 6, 2022 18:19:43 GMT -6 heavyhitterokra said:

Wow! What talent we have among our many members! All of the above items are outstanding displays of craftsmanship. You guys amaze me!

Thanks, Ron. I can't speak for june, but for me it's good to have something to keep me busy when I'm not killing garden plants, so...

[june]

Same story for me!  I wake up Very early every morning and you can't garden before daylight...or sometimes its too hot or too cold to go to garden.  I like to keep busy, so I almost always have some project going.

[heavyhitterokra]

That's precisely why I've been out in the Summer kitchen all morning, slicing pears and making butter crust pie dough, wrapping it in cling wrap, and putting it in the refrigerator. Good projects make time go by more pleasantly.

[june]

I'm just checking in to let everybody know that I'm OK.  I've been AWOL for awhile because I haven't been working  in my garden for some time, but I did start 3 flats of bedding plants yesterday and I'm thinking about where I will get mulch this year.  In years past I've gone to Norman for free wood chips, but now that's only available to residents (I'm not).  None of my neighbors have raked their leaves this year!!  I may have to resort to cardboard or buying straw.  Also been dreading all the burmuda grass that I'm going to be fighting.  UGH!

On a more positive note--I have been sewing...this brings us to the chicken awards I have been making.  These will be for our next chicken show in Norman March 11.  (I don't even own a chicken any more, but (but used to show) so I know all the people there-so it is a social event for me and keeps me busy making things.  These awards are sort of a combination of applique and embroidery all done on fabric.  There are 28 in a set--all different original 'farm house genre'.