MDF/Acrylic/Cardboard deer head taxidermy

Temporary removal of PDF and DXF files due to my own personal grievance with instructables, will be back on when resolved

My friend showed me a website selling cardboard deer heads for quite a lot of money and challenged me to make a simple mini version. So here it is. I've attached a DXF file and PDF file(thanks to Pat for the initial PDF, made my life alot easier) so if you have access to a laser cutter this instructable will be a piece of cake. Other wise you will need to get busy with a coping saw or scroll saw. As you can see the MDF I used wasn't a great choice for laser cutting as it wasn't manufactured using water based resin making it a bit smokey when cutting and it left a lot of residue on the surface (more than usual).

Please note the DXF file was drawn in metric units so when importing in make sure you select that option or else you will need to rescale the design later.

Step 1 Get cutting

Depending on your cutting method select the correct file for your needs and get cutting. Remember to simply paste on the template/laser cut the head as the design is if you are using 4mm material. You will need to make adjustments if the material thickness you wish to use does not match this. If you do the math correctly you could just simply scale the whole design up or down to suit your material or just tweak the slots width in CAD (for laser cutting) or with a pencil if you use the template method.

When cutting things like this by hand I like to leave the slot cutting until  last as I feel it gives a better finish and is a little easier. Doing it this way also means you could use a different saw for the slots (one designed for cutting straighter lines such as a band saw).

Comments

[nikiley]

I MADE ONE!!! I increased the template 400% and made it out of foam core board. Here's a link if you want to check it out!

http://theambitiousprocrastinator.blogspot.com/2011/12/diy-mounted-rudolph-head.html

-Nikki

[MrF_DT_teacher]

That looks sooooooo good!!!!!! love it!

[MrF_DT_teacher]

P.S. thanks for linking it here :)

[HeatherWeavie]

To solve the smokey residue near the cuts on the surface of the MDF you can cover the front and back of the areas being cut with masking tape. After its cut you can just peel off the tape and the MDF will be all nice and clean. We do that all the time in my architecture studio.

[MrF_DT_teacher]

Great tip. We actually use the transfer paper you buy to apply vinyl graphics which also seems to work great. Didn't think to mention it :)

[Chirpoff]

I considered drawing these out and cutting them out with scissors when I first saw these several months ago, but then I realized it would destroy my scissors. heh! I don't have a laser cutter, so I try to limit my cardboard cutting as much a possible! :) Cool job on this!

[MrF_DT_teacher]

A craft knife works great On card

[Chirpoff]

I have some X-Actos, but don't those dull easily also?

[MrF_DT_teacher]

Funnily enough I used to be a Packaging designer out of corrugated cardboard. We always used scalpels when cutting. The blades did need to be changed but the key to cutting corrugated when working in details is light pressure so you can create smooth curves etc Easily. Then simply make the cut in serval passes. When you get more confident you can apply more pressure and go through in fewer or even one pass :)

[Chirpoff]

Cool! I'll keep that in mind! Thanks for the tips! :)

[snideprime]

Templates would be nice - instead of whatever that coded file is for - or is there a way to convert the file to a picture/plan?

[MrF_DT_teacher]

Check out pats comment he did it for me. The DXF file format is an export file format that most CAD packages can read making it the perfect format to transfer between different systems. If you dont do CAD you wouldn't know that sorry for the confusion

[snideprime]

Got it! Thanks, Pat. Actually I did CAD in college (BS in Art and Industrial Tech, minors in Drafting, Electronics, Sociology) but not since. I'm not familiar with the DXF format, maybe it's newer than when I had Autocad (it's been a few years)

[MrF_DT_teacher]

I was debating breaking the templates up so that they fit onto a4 sheets if anyone wants that I'll sort it out. You may have used DWG files or EPS. They are all very much the same it's just the DXF format is more towards structural CAD as opposed to EPS which you see in graphics alot

[Pat Chouli]

I converted to PDF for folks... hope that is OK.

[Chirpoff]

Sweetness! Thanks, PC! I'm going to save this so that... maybe... sometime in the future, I, too, can make one! :)

[MrF_DT_teacher]

That's super thanks :) didn't get round to doing it today at work. Hope you make one

[MrF_DT_teacher]

Thanks guys hope to see some pictures then :)

[splazem]

Wow, amazing!

[jaymebuck]

That looks awesome.

[sunshiine]

You did a fantastic job! Thanks for sharing your hard work!