Snake
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It’s just a hissy snake, but there is so much to learn in the making of it, and it is indeed lots of fun. The main skills are sawing and shaping, but then there are accuracy levels to perfect too. As for children, with supervision from responsible oversight, they will do fine. The obvious areas for adults can be seen, but we should never underestimate our children. The skills they will use are the same for a guitar or a violin neck, so who knows where the making of this can lead to.
Thank you again Paul for another wonderful project. This is a great project for a parent or a grandparent and a child working together.
Thanks Paul 🙂
Nicely done Paul. Do you also apply diamond scratches when simply joining two boards?
A piece of cloth is sandwiched between the 2 pieces of wood here. The scratches help the glue to bond with the cloth.
When joining 2 boards, a thiner joint is usually required and you want the wood fibres to bond directly.
Brilliant – great home schooling project, or something to have on the sideboard when we socialise again. Thanks Paul, nicely put together video
Excellent beginners project that can really be upgraded with some artistry for those looking to make it fancier. Great video Paul!
Hi Paul
Great project, and video especially when we know you are working in your own at present in the workshop. You have a great team pulling these together. I can think of a few people who would like one of these. Must admit though , my favourite part was when you said “sssssnake” 🙂
Your granddaughter will love this.
Hi, Paul — another great project! What exactly is the paper tape that you are using? You say it is abrasive; is it a very fine, cloth backed emery paper? Thank you.
Hi,
Paul says:
It is cloth backed, but it’s not fine. The one I use was the type used on a belt sander.
Kind Regards,
Izzy
“….to make sure there’s no foozy bits.” When I think of Paul’s sage advice, I hear “knife wall”, and “fuzzy bits” in my head.
What is the tape you are using?
Mr Paul you are a one off……thank you………will make some of these. Please look after yourself
Regards John2v
New episode idea: Paul does everything left handed so we can see how he deals with the mistakes we all make!
Interesting technique with the saw for roughing up the wood, the scratch pattern could be the snakes scales!
Very fun project! Thanks Paul.
What a great project… it quickly took me back to my childhood.
I grew up in San Francisco, CA and wood toys like that were common in S.F.’s Chinatown shops, along with things like bamboo “finger puzzles” and wood puzzle boxes.
I hadn’t thought of those snake for many decades, this is going to be a fun and nostalgic project… thank you Paul!!
Great project. My uncle had one of these snakes when I was a child and I was afraid of it each time I saw it moving.
Nice project. I did not hear Paul mention a length, but my guess is 18″ long/46 cm? I estimated it when the piece was in the vise assuming the vise jaws are 12″/30 cm. I just mention this because Paul cautioned later on to not make the snake too long.
Correct me if I am off on that measurement.
Hi,
Paul says it is 19” (480mm).
Kind Regards,
Izzy
Thanks Izzy! I made one and it came out great.
– Dave
Tape? I also want to know!
This is a great project! I immediately rummaged through my scrap wood and spent the day making two of these, one in walnut, and one in Douglas fir. They turned out amazing — my grandson and niece will love them!
Very nice, thanks! I have thought about making an animal using this technique but have never though the details through, such as what material to use for the middle. I do have some abrasive cloth so that is a great idea! I may make mine into a dinosaur and not a snake. For myself, not for any kids. 😀
Thank you! Fun project! And realy nice!
Brilliant, well done
Thank you
Nice projet! I think it’s the first time I hear Paul speak French! Well done Monsieur!
I just watched the video with my three kids. It’s really well done. Thank you Paul.
My kids want to make one now!
Fun project. We used a piece of old belt sander belt for the “spine” and glued it with 3M 77 spray adhesive, dry ~ 30 minutes. Holding very well so far and got it done in an evening. Kids really dig it and now want to make some for their friends.
A neat project achieving “wobblyness” I not usually expect in joinery 😛 (not even sat my amateur level)
Indeed once flexibility was blown into the snake by its creator, I got thinking about a ‘hidden skill’ I haven’t found in the site til now: roller (tambour) doors.
Is this something worthy of a video, Paul?
Thank you for everything you share.
Check out Paul’s video of the shoe tidy project, there’s a tambour in it.
Thanks Paul, will do.
I’ve watched hundreds of videos on how to make tambour doors, not ONE of them makes the tracks without a power router :/ (cheaters!)
I have trouble with the segments easily popping off the cloth spine once they are cut. Lacking a belt sander belt I made my first attempt with some landscape fabric, which seemed to work fine until the segments were cut and they easily came off. Thinking the plastic in the fabric might resist gluing, I tried an experiment using light cotton denim instead but again the segments easily released. Using cherry wood and Titebond III glue, and allowing a day for the glue to cure. Is the fabric choice more critical than I thought? Any advice for getting a stronger bond between the wood and fabric? Thanks!
Hi,
Paul says:
It is possible if not likely that the fabric has some coating on it. Also, consider using a fabric PVA and not the more rigid wood PVA.
Izzy