Home | Videos | Build a Dancing Santa

Build a Dancing Santa

11/18/2011 02:13:00 Shawn Cipa
Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font

Turn the crank to make this carving

While this Santa carving is nice by itself, the simple mechanism that turns it into an automata makes it fun for people of all ages. Just turn the crank, and the simple mechanism rotates the santa and lifts him into the air. Scroll down to see the Santa in action. The complete instructions to carve and make the dancing mechanism can be found in Woodcarving Illustrated Holiday 2011 (Issue 57).

 

 

 

 Handcarved Christmas  Woodcarving Noah's Ark

Share This Article:
| More

Comments (9 posted):

Terry Murphy on 11/18/2011 11:28:06
avatar
I want to build that really bad. When I get the issue i will chime in.
Buffalo Bif on 11/18/2011 13:28:55
avatar
the video made me laugh, there is one of those in my future too. I love to whittle things that actually DO something.
Terry Murphy on 11/18/2011 14:35:12
avatar
Just got back fro grocery shopping, and they had the new issue. Yahoo!
aulddiy on 11/18/2011 18:42:42
avatar
I doubt if that issue will arrive this side of Xmas, may try it for next year
Dug North on 11/30/2011 10:19:47
avatar
Love it! Another fine addition the growing number of Santa-themed automata! I've designed two:
  1. Christmas - The Pre-reindeer Era
  2. Training for Christmas
Best Wishes, -Dug North
GaDoug on 12/02/2011 08:49:38
avatar
Cut out the blank for this project yesterday! Looking forward to a busy weekend. Thanks Shawn.
Claude on 12/02/2011 13:57:46
avatar
Love it! Another fine addition the growing number of Santa-themed automata! I've designed two:
  1. Christmas - The Pre-reindeer Era
  2. Training for Christmas
Best Wishes, -Dug North Welcome to the forum, Dug! Your two are great! Claude
Dug North on 12/04/2011 22:16:39
avatar
Thank you for the welcome, Claude and the kind works about my automata. I think we may have found a new sub-genre of wood automata! -Dug
Keoma on 12/07/2011 14:00:40
avatar
omg! I am so drooling over this!!!! I hope my copy arrives soon! I wanna carve him and put a little jingle bell in his hand! OH! And I wanna make a Witch for halloween!!!!!!! Oh boy this is going to be great! OOOH! An Angel whos wings come out when she goes up! Sweeet! this is super fun!
View thread
  • email Email to a friend
  • print Print version
  • Plain text Plain text
Rate this article
4.00
Tags
No tags for this article
Author info
Shawn Cipa
Shawn Cipa's carving repertoire shows his preference for all things whimsical. His latest book, Carving Fantasy and Legend, Figures in Wood is a showcase for Shawn's artistic talent, his imaginative mind and skilled hands. Shawn's first attempt at carving was a bearded "wood spirit" face which he scrawled into a piece of found driftwood. He continues to carve solely with hand tools in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania.

Shawn Cipa was recognized as "Santa Carver of the Year" after he won Woodcraft's National Santa Carving contest. His work has appeared in Woodcarving Illustrated magazine. He is also the author of Carving Folk Art Figures and Wood Spirits and Green Men. Shawn accepts commissions for his work and can be contacted at www.shawnscarvings.com.
more