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Project Information

This project started out with a childhood memory of a cardboard skeleton that my Mom used to put up every Halloween. The limbs could be moved to make different positions. It was simple but it was there every Halloween. I could not find anything like it so decided to recreate it.

The first photograph shows the four pages of plans that I drew. The scale is full size. The graph paper is quarter inch boxes. I decided that if I was going to make one on the scroll saw I might as well make 12. One to hang in each front window.

Each skeleton is made from 3/8" hardboard with a white coating, It is sold in the big box stores in 4'x8' sheets. I cut blanks and stacked the blanks in groups of 12 held together with painters tape. I then glued the patterns to the blanks. Prior to cutting the parts on my scroll saw I drilled a 3/16" hole for the joint hinge. (Photos two and three show the ganged blanks at various stages of cutting.) I glued the patterns to the top of the blocks using a glue stick that permits peeling and repositioning. I used an "Elmer's Repositionable PICTURE AND POSTER" glue stick to attach the patterns. It made it very easy to remove the patterns after cutting. I cleaned the parts by wiping them with Isopropyl alcohol to remove any residual adhesive. Photographs four and five show the "bones" awaiting assembly and the skeletons partially assembles.

The individual parts are held together with 3/16" rivets with a washer on the back. The washer is necessary because the hardboard is to soft to hold the rivet. The rivet will simply pull through the hardboard without the rivet. Fully assembled the parts are all movable to allow multiple positions. Its overall height is approximately 23". Photo six shows the finished skeleton.

I had a great time working on this project which utilized my tablesaw, bandsaw, drill press, and scroll saw. In part because I learned alot about using my scroll saw (this was my first project on the scroll saw) but more importantly because I relived many memories from my childhood and hopefully set the wheels in motion to create many happy memories for my daughter to relive when she is grown.

My daughter loves the skeletons. So does our neighbors' daughter. She asked me to make her one. So its back to the workshop. I have to make it before Halloween.

Gallery

Comments

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1,241 Posts
Very cute- and far more durable that the old cardboard ones!
 

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1,175 Posts
Yours are much nicer than the paper ones I remember as a kid. I bet they hold a pose better than the cheap paper ones too. Nice job.
 

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KOOL!! I should make some for LOML. She decorates to the max for haloween and Christmas.
 

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125 Posts
Great idea and a detail of the design…. going into the favorites!

Thank you

Paul
 

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1,429 Posts
Awesome. I have one of the paper ones but would so like to replace it with a few of these. The best part is they will hold up a lot longer then the paper ones and your daughter might be able to relive her childhood memories with the same skeleton.

CtL
 

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Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. If you are able to convert the photo of the plans to actual templates and want to make copies for your personal use feel free to do so. The best part about Lumberjocks is being able to share.
 
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