Holiday Nutcracker

Holiday Nutcracker
  • Difficulty
    Hard

Go nuts this holiday season and make this heirloom-quality nutcracker for someone you love! This fun and functional woodcraft project is designed to charm children of all ages. Before you begin, download the cutlist : www.dremel.com/webdav/dremel/document_library/dremel-en-us-misc-images/NUTCRACKER%20CUT%20LIST.pdf

You need
Step18

Step 1

Cut and sanded pieces glued together

Before you begin, download our cutlist (www.dremel.com/webdav/dremel/document_library/dremel-en-us-misc-images/NUTCRACKER%20CUT%20LIST.pdf). Once your pieces are cut and sanded, use wood glue to join the head to the hat as shown here. Tip: Smooth all edges before assembly. Glue all joints except for the jointed arms & mouth/lever, which must move for the cracker to function.

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Step 2

Assembling the wood pieces

Assemble the arms as shown using wood glue.

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Step 3

Assembling the parts
Assembling the parts
Assembling the parts
Assembling the parts

Assemble body as shown, insert lever into correct position & drill a hole through all 3 pieces. The hole should be positioned 1 1/2" from top & 3/4" from back. Insert dowels from each side to secure.

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Step 4

Attaching the pieces with glue

Using wood glue attach the legs and feet as shown.

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Step 5

Attached other wood pieces

Now you're ready to attach the body to the legs and feet using wood glue again.

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Step 6

Assembling the skirt

Using wood glue, assemble the masonite skirt you cut earlier around the base of the body.

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Step 7

Attached it to to the body
Assemble the arms
Attached it to to the body
Assemble the arms

Time to Assemble the arms. To do this, drill holes in the upper arms & insert dowel pins. Then drill holes in upper body sides, and insert pinned arms into the holes.

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Step 8

Nutcracker

Attach the head to the assembled body and attach the square base to the feet that you cut earlier. Now for the best part, decorate your nutcracker as desired with latex paint or wood stains. Apply piping, eyes, nose, beard or any other embellishments with wood glue.


Warning

To reduce the risk of injury user must read instruction manuals for all tools used in this project. Wear eye and respiratory protection. Use clamps to support work piece whenever practical.