Mort Tenon Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 So I recently posted about an attempt I made at cutting a (very simple) 3D chess piece. It was only my second attempt at compound cutting and left a lot to be desired. This morning I am browsing Facebook, when suddenly in my feed this picture pops up. It is from the spring issue of Fox Chapel Publishing's Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. After the problems I encountered trying to cut what is essentially a simple outline, this kind of thing boggles the mind. Anyone here ever done anything like this? After my initial post on the subject, I got a lot of advice about blades for compound cutting , and I am currently in the process of trying out some that I have not used before. But this looks impossible... crupiea, 3Dface, RabidAlien and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 I'm going to try one of these days. I got that pattern or one very similar off Esty just last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Tenon Posted March 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Scrappile said: I'm going to try one of these days. I got that pattern or one very similar off Esty just last week. Be sure to post the result when you do. I subscribe to the magazine, so I'll wait for the spring issue and save the pattern, but I fear it will be a long time before I'm ready to try something like this. Edited March 12, 2019 by Mort Tenon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 The only real 3D cutting, I call it "compound cutting" for some reason, I have tried are the nutcrackers in my gallery. But I really had fun doing it and definitely want to do more. Mort Tenon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hineps Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Mort Tenon said: So I recently posted about an attempt I made at cutting a (very simple) 3D chess piece. It was only my second attempt at compound cutting and left a lot to be desired. This morning I am browsing Facebook, when suddenly in my feed this picture pops up. It is from the spring issue of Fox Chapel Publishing's Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. After the problems I encountered trying to cut what is essentially a simple outline, this kind of thing boggles the mind. Anyone here ever done anything like this? After my initial post on the subject, I got a lot of advice about blades for compound cutting , and I am currently in the process of trying out some that I have not used before. But this looks impossible... Is this pattern in the upcoming issue or from last spring? I cut a couple sets 2 years ago and would like to try this one. I need to post some pictures of the ones I cut. Phil Mort Tenon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Tenon Posted March 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 7 minutes ago, hineps said: Is this pattern in the upcoming issue or from last spring? Spring 2019. It has a dragon on the cover. I'd like to see the ones you cut, along with tips on blades, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 Ha! Jokes on me!! This is what happens when you have too many patterns. I purchased the patterns for that chest set off of esty last month. I read this thread again, go look and I have the Spring 2019 issue of SWWC! There is the same patterns I just paid for..... again! Oh well my paid for plans included plans/pattern the the chess board also,, so I go something out of them Mort Tenon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 This was my first attempt. 8 side panels. Falcon, lawson56 and bobscroll 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandaideman Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 I have the magazine and have the pattern copied and the king ready to put on a piece of wood. I have some pine since this will be practice. I have not cut chess pieces before but not like these. We will see when I have time to cut it out. May be a while yet before I get to it. early spring yard work going on. Mort Tenon and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 6 minutes ago, bandaideman said: I have the magazine and have the pattern copied and the king ready to put on a piece of wood. I have some pine since this will be practice. I have not cut chess pieces before but not like these. We will see when I have time to cut it out. May be a while yet before I get to it. early spring yard work going on. I have that same magazine and I am thinking about making a set of chess pieces. But, the bad part is, then I'd have to make a chess board. My table saw is not the best so it will be a real test to try to make that many truly square pieces. But, it will prove to be a good challenging project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawson56 Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 I Love the game of Chess,been playing for years.but I don't think I will attempt that. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidAlien Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 Every intricate cut is just one-hole-one-blade at a time. I cut some of Steve Good's 3D ornaments this past Christmas, and the hardest part was getting the patterns to stick to the wood straight. Make a jig to hold the compound piece, it'll make life a lot easier, and don't look at it as an intricate, detailed, Master-level piece. Just look at it as one more section to cut out. OCtoolguy and Mort Tenon 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimErn Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 Beautiful chess set, but I would be leery of actually using it. All the compound cutting I have done like that, the pieces are really fragile, but then again my experience is limited to ornaments. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 very nice ches set OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry B Posted March 13, 2019 Report Share Posted March 13, 2019 These are very cool. I'm going to be making a set sometime this year. These look fragile. What wood(s) would be best for this type of cutting? Larry OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Tenon Posted March 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 (edited) For those who do not have this magazine, I just realized that I had it here in my pile, so I got it out and scanned the pieces. What I didn't know is that they are very big; the king is over 6 inches tall. It will still be a challenge, but at this size it should be less so than I originally thought. On 3/13/2019 at 6:24 AM, Larry B said: These look fragile. What wood(s) would be best for this type of cutting? The article recommends maple, walnut, and/or cherry. I would not recommend an open grain wood like red oak. On 3/12/2019 at 5:20 PM, octoolguy said: But, the bad part is, then I'd have to make a chess board. My table saw is not the best so it will be a real test to try to make that many truly square pieces. But, it will prove to be a good challenging project. You don't make all the individual pieces though, you make strips of each color, glue them up, then cut the other direction and glue those strips. Of course the same rules apply; the strips have to be exactly the same size and cut square, or you won't have consistent squares when you're finished. That's why I splurged on a good table saw and an equally good jointer... Edited March 15, 2019 by Mort Tenon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 1 hour ago, Mort Tenon said: For those who do not have this magazine, I just realized that I had it here in my pile, so I got it out and scanned the pieces. What I didn't know is that they are very big; the king is over 6 inches tall. It will still be a challenge, but at this size it should be less so than I originally thought. The article recommends maple, walnut, and/or cherry. I would not recommend an open grain wood like red oak. You don't make all the individual pieces though, you make strips of each color, glue them up, then cut the other direction and glue those strips. Of course the same rules apply; the strips have to be exactly the same size and cut square, or you won't have consistent squares when you're finished. That's why I splurged on a good table saw and an equally good jointer... In my past life, I had what you suggested. I have a Delta Unisaw and a good jointer and planer. But, now that I live in a mobile home, that isn't possible so I must work with what I have. I have fine-tuned my Dewalt portable saw to do the best it is capable of doing. I'm trying to find a good small jointer that I can store under my bench when not in use. I will figure out a way to do it but it just requires more thought and planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Tenon Posted March 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 55 minutes ago, octoolguy said: I'm trying to find a good small jointer that I can store under my bench when not in use. I will figure out a way to do it but it just requires more thought and planning. I have more room now than when I first started doing this, but I know the restrictions that go with not having a lot of space. I had a (I think) 24 in. (?) jointer/planer that in all the years I had it never cut a square or a straight edge. One of first priorities when I was able to expand (I still have only a two-car garage and have to share that with a car) was a 72 in. helical jointer. Indispensable, in my own humble opinion. If I ever have to move to a smaller place, I'll put that in the living room before I'll give it up... OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, Mort Tenon said: I have more room now than when I first started doing this, but I know the restrictions that go with not having a lot of space. I had a (I think) 24 in. (?) jointer/planer that in all the years I had it never cut a square or a straight edge. One of first priorities when I was able to expand (I still have only a two-car garage and have to share that with a car) was a 72 in. helical jointer. Indispensable, in my own humble opinion. If I ever have to move to a smaller place, I'll put that in the living room before I'll give it up... You must not have a wife like mine. She won't even let me bring one of my scroll saws into my office/man cave. LOL. Anyway, if I can't find something that is useable, I'm going to build one out of my Makita 0800 portable planer. I've watched a few videos on some folks who have done it and they were very pleased with the outcome. I'm not into big projects anymore so it might just be the answer to my needs. Mort Tenon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Tenon Posted March 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 1 minute ago, octoolguy said: You must not have a wife like mine. She won't even let me bring one of my scroll saws into my office/man cave. Well, I haven't actually checked with her on that yet... OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 Just now, Mort Tenon said: Well, I haven't actually checked with her on that yet... Ok, we both know the answer to that question then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimErn Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 1 hour ago, octoolguy said: I'm trying to find a good small jointer that I can store under my bench when not in use. I just picked up (amazon) a porter cable jointer, not sure what small means to you. I just got it set up, have not used it yet, but I am impressed, fairly quiet, when assembled it was dead on 90* and 45*. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q0I8YU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 1 minute ago, JimErn said: I just picked up (amazon) a porter cable jointer, not sure what small means to you. I just got it set up, have not used it yet, but I am impressed, fairly quiet, when assembled it was dead on 90* and 45*. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q0I8YU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I've heard and read good things about those Jim. I might put that on my shopping list if something else doesn't come along. I'm looking at the Sears 4 1/2" ones but trying to find one that isn't all beat to heck is tough. There is a guy on C/L right now that is selling a H/F table saw, a Ryobi 16" scroll saw and a Sears jointer for $150. Not too far away but I'm trying to either get his price down or to sell me the jointer by itself. So far, he isn't replying to my texts. We'll see what happens by next week. So far, he has had his ad up for almost a week with no takers. I'll give him till Monday and then go back at him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimErn Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 I can not comment on any jointer, this is my first. Going to play with it some then try something I got stuck in my mind, so who knows might be a nice anchor some day. Mort Tenon and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 20 minutes ago, JimErn said: I can not comment on any jointer, this is my first. Going to play with it some then try something I got stuck in my mind, so who knows might be a nice anchor some day. It looks like a great compact little unit. I used to have a Craftsman 6" jointer that weighed a ton. It sat on a stand that was open at the bottom and would make a terrible mess. I finally invested in a cloth bag that surrounded it and caught most of the cuttings. Made a world of difference. And, it actually did a great job of cutting accurately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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