DIY Monstera Leaf Coasters: Beginner Scroll Saw Project
I finally got my brand new scroll saw all set up and I really wanted to put it to the test, so I chose a project that I had previously (and painstakingly) done with my jigsaw. I made a set of diy monstera leaf coasters!
These monstera leaf coasters were a perfect way to test the limits of the scroll saw due to the tight curves and intricacies of the design. Let’s see how it went…
Materials
I used a piece of 10″ x 24″ scrap plywood for this project and was able to make a set of five 5” diameter coasters.
For the finish I used a palm sander with coarse and fine grit sanding pads, followed by a water-based stain, and then a spray-on polyurethane.
Step 1- Choose and Trace the Design
I chose a simple monstera leaf design, sized it to about 5” and printed it out. I then cut it out with scissors and used it as the template for my first leaf. (Once I got my first coaster cut out, I used that as the template to trace the rest.)
I recommend using a pen instead of a pencil to trace the designs because pen is darker and easier to see when cutting.
Step 2- Cut Out the Monstera Leaves
Before I started cutting with my scroll saw, I used my circular saw to rough cut the plywood down to size. This made it much more manageable to maneuver.
I used a thin, fine toothed blade and I adjusted the scroll saw to a medium speed. Then I just followed the lines and cut out all of my monstera leaf coasters.
The scroll saw made it so much easier than the jigsaw! It took a little time due to the intricacies of the design but the thin blade handled it extremely well.
Step 3- Sand the Coasters
After all my coasters were cut out, I got to sanding. I used my mouse sander and chose a coarser grit and then a finer grit paper. I sanded both sides of the coasters as well as the edges with a 120 grit and then I did a second pass on the top side with a 180 grit for a smoother finish.
Step 4- Stain and Waterproof
For my finish, I went with an aqua colored water-based stain. You can choose whatever color you’d like.
I applied a coat and then worked it in well with a rag, wiping off the excess.
I repeated this process for two coats of stain and the results were unexpected but awesome! The stain worked itself into the natural grain and I was left with the pattern below.
Finally, I hit each coaster with three coats of spray-on polyurethane for a hard, waterproof finish.
Conclusion
These DIY monstera leaf coasters were a fun scroll saw project and I was super happy with how they turned out. They are very unique and make a great gift for anyone with a love of plants and gardening.
Hopefully this inspires you to give them a try and maybe even create some coaster designs of your own. If you have another scroll saw project, idea I’d love to try it so make sure to email me or reach out in the comments below!
Happy Woodworking,
Cody
Thistle Downs Farm