It’s all about the base… bout the base…
Dec 14All my Nutcracker bases are hand made and hand fitted to each piece. Bases are very important. They not only allow you to display your nutcracker proudly, but safely as well.
The ebay elves have been really really good to me lately so I have a few new pieces being added to the collection and coming up for sale soon that need bases made. I can’t show the new pieces yet because all are in process of being restored, but I can show the work that goes into creating the custom bases I make.
The wooden base part is first cut out on the band saw. I now have templates made from thinner wood so I don’t have to steal a base from our nutcracker collection (like you see in the picture) every time I need to trace and cut a new one. The bases below are already cut out and ready to be ground to shape. I use an angle grinder with a 60 grit flapwheel to make short work of hand shaping each base so they are contoured and look worn.
*Note – The nutcracker bases pictured are being made from Black Walnut because that’s what I had on hand. Any 1/2 inch thick wood will work.
Here’s a picture of the bases after they’ve been ground to shape and sanded smooth.
Every nutcracker presents its own challenges regarding how the wire needs to be shaped and where it’s going to support the nutcracker. Some can wrap around while others have to be made to fit up under the chin by slipping in from the back. The one I’m making here will slip in the back and support the piece under the chin.
Here’s a picture of the nutcracker stand assembled and waiting for final sanding. Holes are drilled and the shaped wire is simply epoxied into the base. When I fit everything, I make sure the nutcracker will rest about 1/4 inch above the base. That keeps the center of gravity low and reduces the risk of the piece being easily knocked over. The globs of epoxy around the wire are sanded flat once it’s cured and hard enough to sand.
Here’s the final shot of the stand all painted and drying on the bench. I simply use flat black spray paint. I usually shoot it once, sand it with 400 grit, and shoot it again. That smooths out some of the grain and makes for a durable finish.
So there you have it. That’s how I make the custom bases for the nutcrackers in my collection and for the ones I sell.
—– Brandon