The corners are cut from the squared pieces of wood, and then they are turned on a lathe to make round shapes. The wood is machined into bodies, arms, and legs. The parts are then sanded to unbelievable softness in big eight-sided drums. The drums rotate the nutcracker parts with rocks and pieces of sandpaper for about 24 hours. After this, holes are drilled for dowell connections, and the mouth is cut fropm the head using a milling machine. Indentations are also cut for the eyes. The lever is cut with a band saw and inserted into the nutcracker's mouth and held in place with a metal pin.

Now the pieces are ready for assembly and are glued together on a round or a rectangle base. A nose and feet are added. The nutcracker is usually given a coat of sealer before painting. This will keep the paint from soaking into the wood and making the paint brighter. The nutcracker is given a base paint and allowed to dry before painting on details such as teeth, eyebrows, mustaches or buttons. Each coat of paint must dry thoroughly before another coat is applied. Generally rabbit fur is used for hair and beard.

Finally, accessories such as a gun for the hunter, or a sword for the soldier are added to make the nutcracker complete. It takes about 130 to make a nutcracker from the cutting of the wood to the final packaging. An apprentice will study for about 3 years before he masters the craftmanship required.

07/22/21