Best Christmas ornament kits?

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redfishsc

redfishsc

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I would like to ask your opinions on the various Christmas ornament kits out there. I have a pastor friend who might have some made from oak from a very old tree that had to come down--- it was the tree that the church founders sat under when the church was first founded, over 150 years ago.


I've already make him about 20 pens from it, and the wood will make outstanding Christmas ornaments.

I know CSU and PSI sells them---- which do you prefer? Anyone else carry them?
 
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Don't have an answer but that sounds like a GREAT idea! Be sure to share the pics... even the ones of the pens!

Larry
 
I don't think you need to buy any type of kit. There are lots of articles on the net for making the ornaments....then all you need is a small 'eye' (hook & eye) for hanging. woodcentral turning articles sections has some instructions if I recall correctly.
 
I've done dozens of wood Christmas ornaments, but can't say I ever purchased a kit. Usually a loop of yarn or monofilament held into a small hole at the top with a drop of superglue works fine for me. Another option is to turn a ball finial at the top, drill a horizontal hole, thread yarn or something through, tie a knot and then pull the knot into the hole and seal with a drop of CA. As for the lower finials, I find a simple tapered spike looks better than the metal ones I've seen in the kits (YMMV)

Don't feel like you must buy a kit to turn ornaments, there are hundreds of examples out there on the web to get idea's from.
 
I'll second the idea that there's no need to buy any kits whatsoever. Here's a great link that shows several different kinds of ornaments, and even one article by yours truly on how to make your own eyelets:

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Projects/ornaments.html

Here are some of my ornaments:

http://www.woodturnersresource.com/wrphotopost/showphoto.php?photo=5451&ppuser=112&sl=u
http://www.woodturnersresource.com/wrphotopost/showphoto.php?photo=3776&ppuser=112&sl=u
http://www.woodturnersresource.com/wrphotopost/showphoto.php?photo=3778&ppuser=112&sl=u
 
I usually turn some hollow balls with finials, but this year, time willing, I thought I'd try some little bird houses. I got the plans for several from CSUSA, but there's nothing really hard in the design.
 
Okay... well maybe y'all have a point.

The reason I wanted a kit was basically to keep things simple, and because I think the folks will want a little "bling" from the gold plating to shine things up a little.

Right now it's late so I'll look over all the links you all gave tomorrow. Thanks for the help!!! G'nite!
 
Most of the ones I have made are kits from Woodcraft, but I would like to make something better. The links are fantastic. Does anyone have a source for the little birds on the ornaments?
 
I was going to post some links, but other have got there first. I started doing the birdhouse ones just a week or two ago and am having great fun with them. Kit? My kit includes a 2x2x3 and a 2-1/2x2-1/2x3. Oh and an eye hook and piece of mono filament too.

There are lots of different ways to do it so read up on it and give it a go.
 
If you're really serious about it - take a class at the Appalachian Center for Craft with John Lucas Septeber 20 and 21st

http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/wkshops/fall/wood_medium.html

"Turning Christmas Ornaments
$240
John Lucas
Turn a variety of Christmas ornaments. Learn to use different tools to shape and hollow wood on the lathe. Gain skill with basic cuts to create just about any turned wood project. Beginning-Intermediate; Materials Fee $20, payable to instructor

A turner for over 25 years, John Lucas has written many articles on woodturning for national journals.

Instructor email: johnclucas@charter.net"
 
For the eye hook you can substitute fishhook eyes- just cut off the hook. I've seen something else that I can't recall right now, that can be used and bought in quantity. But if you think about it long enough, you'll come up with something for the eyelets that will be reasonable...
 
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