Post-Haste Project: How to Make Wooden Christmas Reindeer

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Duration:   1:11   mins

Wondering how to make a wooden reindeer so you can give them out as gifts or decorate your mantle? It’s easy! Grab a 2×4, trace the wooden reindeer pattern we provide and get started making reindeer. A warning; when people see these reindeer they’re going to love them, so be ready to make an entire herd.

How to make Wooden Reindeer

Here’s what you need to do to get going on this woodworking project. First, print out our wooden reindeer pattern. It’s full size, so don’t do any enlarging or reducing of the pattern. If you’re going to make a lot of reindeer, transfer the pattern to a wooden template so it can tolerate lots of tracing. Set up a 3/16”, 10 TPI blade in the bandsaw. Trace the pattern onto a 2×4, make one cut, tape the parts back together, and make the second cut. A little sanding, and your reindeer is ready.

Bandsaw Techniques

The reindeer is made using compound cuts on the bandsaw. Compound cutting is a great way to produce three dimensional items, and the bandsaw is the perfect tool for this. The bandsaw is a very versatile tool, so be sure to check out all the great articles and instructional videos on how to use a bandsaw that WoodWorkers Guild of America provides.

Have fun making this great project!

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19 Responses to “Post-Haste Project: How to Make Wooden Christmas Reindeer”

    • Customer Service

      Hi Glenn. I leave mine unfinished, but you could paint or stain this with anything that you want. We do not have any patterns available for the paint/stain process. If you paint it, I’d suggest applying a primer first.
      Paul
      Woodworkers Guild of America

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      John,

      Yep, that shouldn’t be a problem. Cleaning out the area between the antlers and between the legs might be a little bit tricky, but really not bad at all. I would suggest making some relief cuts under in this area to prevent the blade from binding.

      Good luck!

      -Paul
      Woodworkers Guild of America

      Reply
  1. dndwillis@sympatico.ca

    I saw where George was encouraging us to submit our wooden reindeer.
    But I can’t remember where to. I’ve made a whole herd of various sizes for gifts later.
    Pls help
    THX Dave

    Reply
  2. roger

    If one were to make the second cut FIRST, then trace the reindeer on the back of the piece and cut, this would eliminate having to tape the pieces together. RGK

    Reply
  3. Peter

    Great, printed out full size no problems. I made mine with a piece of Yew. Video fine on iPad and Windows PC. Many thanks.

    Reply
    • WWGOA Team

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    • George Vondriska
      George Vondriska

      The link to the pattern is in the description …..print out our wooden reindeer pattern….. Click on the words “our wooden reindeer pattern.”

      Reply
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