Decorative outdoor sculptures can add interest to your garden or be a great way of disguising common eyesores like the electrical box on the side of your house. Pine is an inexpensive and easy-to-work (because of its softness) material to sculpt. This fretwork brings to mind the architecture of Victorian homes and it is amazing to discover that it can be replicated by the home craftsman with a few simple tools.

When designing your fretwork sculpture, keep in mind the inherent weaknesses of the material to ensure that the shape you create will be strong. Avoid creating weak areas where the wood may crack along the grain. Knots in the wood can be interesting visually but can also be weak points, so think about creating a design that either does not cut into them or removes them completely.

Materials:

One pine board 1"x12"x6'
Sandpaper
Rebar (optional)

Tools:

Pencil
Jigsaw
Drill
Patternmakers rasp
A selection of wood files
A vice or clamps (to hold the piece in place while you work)

Directions:

1. Design your panel remembering that graceful curves and arcs may be easier to cut than sharp twists and turns. Use a soft pencil to draw your design on pine board. Because wood is so soft it will be hard to see lines made with a hard pencil.

2. Predrill "negative" spaces (i.e. where material will be removed from the interior of the board). Locate drill holes inside marked line so that any splintering created by drill will be removed by jig saw.

4. Use jig saw to cut out your design. Cut out weakest spots first. If you can't make a continuous cut with jigsaw, cut off section that is comfortable and restart where you left off.

5. Clean up edges of design with rasps and hand files.

6. If you like, pound a length of rebar into the ground where sculpture will be located. Be careful about buried pipes or wires. Drill a hole in base of sculpture and slide structure over rebar, through hole.

Special Thanks:
Sylven Medyesy