Make a Log Reindeer
Log and Sticks Reindeer
TIME REQUIRED: Half day (about 4 hours including time needed for cutting, building, and assembling project. Does not include drying time of glue or finish)

Here's our vote for one of the most charming characters in the book, Rudy, the Reindeer. Made entirely of firewood and kindling material that we scavenged from the wood pile, the reindeer is a perfect lawn ornament for any house during the holidays. You can make one reindeer or a team of them once you learn the easy steps to follow.

Finding the appropriate parts for the reindeer involves walking through the woods or looking over a wood pile so it's an enjoyable job for everyone. We've noted the diameter of the wood used to give you an idea of the sizes of wood to look for, but don't let our dimensions stifle your creativity. You might choose to make your reindeer beefier and use larger pieces for his body and head. Or you might decide the antlers should be longer or more stately. That's the fun of creating your reindeer, he's a one-of-kind individual, no two of them will be alike.

You'll notice from the list that you're looking for various sizes of wood and branches, the branches being the more challenging. You need to find four of them about the same diameter for the legs and they should be as straight as possible. Exact dimensions for the head, body, legs and antlers don't have to be strictly followed, just try to cut the leg branches the same length.

Notice that the holes drilled for the legs are angled so that the reindeer stands upright. The same is true for the antlers which are angled outward from his face. Use our plan as a guide for where to drill holes but use your own imagination, too. It's your reindeer!

The logs that make up the body and head can be cut to length with a regular handsaw but a bow or pruning saw will make this job a lot easier. Rudy's cheeks are formed by chopping away some of the bark from each side of the head log. If you don't have a hatchet then the cheeks can be cut with a saw. Start cutting at the front of the log. Cut just below the bark and position the saw so that it cuts at an angle towards the bark to form a V as you cut into the log.

The neck and legs fit into holes drilled in the body log. It is probably easier to choose the best side of your log and drill the hole for the neck first. Check the diameter of the branch you plan to use for the neck and choose a drill slightly smaller in diameter. We used inexpensive spade bits and an 3/8 inch electric drill to make all the holes. Needless to say, the drilling should be handled by the master carpenter on this project while the apprentice supervises the operation. Be sure to wear eye protection while drilling holes.

The neck hole is drilled at a slight forward angle. Ours angles about 10 degrees. Drill this hole at least 3 inches deep, then test fit the branch. You should have to whittle away some bark and wood to get a good snug fit. It is better to drill a small hole and cut the branch down to fit than to drill an oversized hole in the log and have a loose fitting neck or leg.

To drill the leg holes, turn the body over making sure that the neck is facing straight down and then drill the leg holes. They are located about 1 inch from each end of the log and a couple of inches from the center line. Angle the holes out very slightly. Drill these four holes the same depth so all four of the reindeer's legs will touch the ground evenly.

Use a chisel to whittle the ends of the legs so they fit in the holes and check that each leg is seated in its hole. Turn Rudy over and stand him up. If the legs aren't exactly the same size, turn them slightly in their holes. Since the leg branches are not exactly straight turning the legs slightly is all that is usually necessary to make Rudy stand upright.

The head is installed on the neck in the same way. Drill a hole in the bottom of the head log an inch or so from the back. The angle of the hole will determine the tilt of Rudy's head. Have one member of your team hold the head in a pleasing pose while the other checks the angle between the head log and neck. Then turn the head log over and drill the hole. Be sure to make it undersized so you will be assured of a tight fit after you whittle down the end of the neck.

To make the eyes, we used a red plastic berry and positioned it in the cheek area close to the back of the head. It required a 1/4 inch hole for its stem. Eye placement will give your reindeer its character so move the berry around. Stand back to see what the reindeer looks like with the eye in various positions on his face before securing it. You can use buttons for the eyes, too. Buttons with a shank can be inserted in a hole like the berry, for flat buttons just glue them in place.

The antlers are made from small branches and are located above the eyes at the back of the head. Drill the mounting holes at a slight outward angle. Then choose a couple of branches with interesting forks to give Rudy a nice 'rack' of antlers. His tail is made from another small branch and, of course, it is located at the back of the body log.

To dress your reindeer for the holidays, tie a colorful bow or bandana around his neck.

Shopping List
Materials Quantity
6" dia. log (body) 1'
4" dia. log (head) 6"
1 1/2" to 2" branch (neck legs) 12'
1/4 to 3/4" branches (antlers, tail) 8'
plastic berries or buttons 2
carpenter's wood gluesmall bottle

Cutting List
Part/Name Quantity Size Material
A/Body 1 6" dia. X 12"log
B/Head 1 4" dia. X 4"log
C/Leg 41" dia. X 24" branch
D/Neck12" dia. X 10"branch
E/Antlers23/4" dia. X 12"branch
F/Tail11/4" dia. X 8"branch

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