Introduction: My Very First Woodwork Project

About: I find it impossible to enter information "about me" on sites.... Please ask me if you would like to know.
This is my very first woodworking project.

My wife was feeling a bit down, so I decided to make her something.

I used a piece of wood from a pallet.

Please excuse any spelling and grammar mistakes, as English is not my first language.

I hope you enjoy this instructable!

Step 1: Safety

My dad used to say: "Using the right tool/s for the job, not only makes the job easier and faster, but also SAFER"

You will need the following safety equipment:

1) Safety Glasses;
2) Safety Gloves;
3) Knowledge of working with sander power tool;
4) Knowledge of working with Dremel and attachments (this includes the maximum speeds at what to use the attachments!);
5) Knowledge of working with jigsaw;
6) General safety knowledge of working with power tools;
7) Ear protection.

Step 2: Tools and Equipment

You will need the following tools and equipment:

1) Jigsaw;
2) Sander;
3) 80 grid and 120 grid sander paper;
4) Dremel;
5) Drill bit for Dremel;
6) 114 attachment for Dremel;
7) 9901 attachment for Dremel;
8) 1.60mm X 25mm nails,
9) Copper wire;
10) Piece of wood;
11) Pen;
12) Wood glue;
13) Hammer;
14) Water;
15) If you are a pack of 20 per day smoker, 3 to 4 cigarettes.......

Step 3: Cutting the Wood

Photo 1 shows the piece of wood with the holes (originally left behind where they put the nails in for the palllet) from the nails at each end.

Mark the lines where you want to cut, using a pen. Mark as shown in photo 1.

Using a jigsaw, with wood cutting blade attached, cut on the marked lines. Remember to always be aware of where the power cord of the jigsaw is when cutting. You will have a very bad day if you cut the cord while busy.

I cut the ends (with the holes in) off, as I did not want unsightly holes in the finished product.

Step 4: Sanding the Wood

I first sanded the piece of wood using 80 grid sand paper using my sander.

After I sanded the entire piece of wood (yes the edges too....), I sanded it again using 120 grid sanding paper using my sander.

(smokers, this is where you light your first cigarette)

Step 5: Sunken Heart

1) Draw the heart shape on the wood (as shown in photo 2), using a pen. I drew it free hand because my wife likes things "rustic" "raw" "not precise" (not sure how to put it, but I think you know what I mean)

2) Follow the line you drew with your Dremel using the 114 attachment (shown in photo 3). Make sure not to use the attachment at a higher rpm as indicated in your Dremel manual.

3) Now carve out everything inside that line, careful not to go all the way through the wood! The result should be something like shown in photo 4.

4) Clean up the edges and level using the 9901 attachment (shown in photo 5) with your Dremel. Make sure not to use the attachment at a higher rpm as indicated in your Dremel manual.

5) Have some water.....

6) The result should look something like photo 6.

Step 6: Stand Out Heart

I used a piece of offcut wood (also from pallet) for the following heart.

I used a different shade color wood as the main piece of wood. Don't ask me why......it made perfect sense at that moment, besides I did not want to continue arguing with the voices in my head!

Draw the shape of the heart on the piece of wood using a pen. Make sure the size and shape you drew will fit on the main piece of wood. Don't stress too much if your drawing looks a bit..........you know. Easily fixable when cutting or sanding.

Take your jigsaw and carefully cut out your heart (No!!!! not that one!!!! the one you drew on the piece of wood).
That thing about the power cord.......apply it here too.

Shape and sand the heart using 80 grid and then 120 grid sanding paper with your sander.

(smokers......light up number 2)

Have some water.....

Step 7: Double Engraved Hearts

Draw the double hearts (interlocking) on the piece of wood using a pen. See photo 1.

Using your Dremel with attachment 9901 (make sure that the selected speed on your Dremel does not exceed the maximum rpm as rated in the Dremel manual). See photo 2.

Note the depth of the sunken heart.....the first heart you made, and more or less go the same depth with these two hearts. (if you went all the way through on the first one......maybe doing it with these two might look good!)

This step will take some time.....have some more water....

Halfway should look something like photo 3.

Step 8: Dilled Heart

Mark out the heart with a pen.

I stared by drilling holes on the line I drew. I then worked my way in.

Make sure not to use the attachment at a higher rpm as indicated in your Dremel manual.

You can also mark all the places where you want to drill.....I am way too lazy for that!

Please do not put the piece of wood that you are going to drill holes through on your lap.....or your dining table.....or anything (and anyone) else that you don't want holes in!

The finished product should look something like photo 2.

(smokers....light up number 3)

Have some water and take a 3 minute walk.....

Step 9: Copper Wire Heart

You can either draw the outline of the heart, or do what I did and only mark where you want to put the nails.

Again.....this part should not be done on you lap....dinner table....and and and....

Try not to hit the nails all the way through. The further they stand out (without being loose and falling out) the thicker you can make the heart. If you do however accidentally manage to hit one or a couple of the nails all the way through.....don't stress, because you did follow my advice on not having anything of value under the piece of wood.....didn't you?

You want the nails to be far enough in the wood to ensure that they cannot easily move or fall out, yet they should stick far enough out for you to be able to wind a thick heart around them.

Start off by looping the copper wire around the "starting" nail. Shown in photo 2. I made 5 to 6 loops around the nail (tightly) to ensure the copper wire will not come loose while I wind the rest of the copper wire around the rest of the heart.

After I made my initial loops around the "starting" nail, I went clockwise. You will notice that you cannot simply wind the copper wire on the outside of all the nails......as this will not shape into a heart form.

Instead.....everytime you get to the "starting" nail, wind the copper wire on the inside of the nail and back to the outside again.....refer to photo 3. Note the copper wire is on the outside of all the nails, except for the "starting" nail.

Photo 3 is also more or less the outcome of what your finished copper wire heart should look like.

Step 10: Double Heart With Arrow

Have some water....

Draw the outline of the double heart (one heart inside a bigger heart) with an arrow through them.

Using attachment 9901 with your Dremel, follow the lines you drew.
Be sure that your Dremel speed is set to the correct rpm for the selected attachment.

Once this is complete, take the drill piece attachment that you used with the heart you drilled and drill 10 holes as can be seen in photo 1, on the line of the bigger heart.

(smokers.....light up number 4)

I hope you enjoyed this instructable as much as I enjoyed writing it!

It is my first woodwork project, so please don't be too harsh....I am sure I can only get better!

Thanks for reading!