Popular Post Foxfold Posted September 8, 2020 Popular Post Report Posted September 8, 2020 (edited) This pattern has sat on my bench for over a month looking at me as I find spirals a little intimidating But I had a good talk with myself and dived right in. !! ...... Although it's probably not the best cutting of this lovely pattern, I'm not unhappy with it. An H. Botas pattern Edited September 8, 2020 by Foxfold GrampaJim, John B, Woodrush and 15 others 16 2 Quote
Bill WIlson Posted September 8, 2020 Report Posted September 8, 2020 That looks well done to me. I don't think you have anything to fear from spirals. Generally speaking, the good thing about patterns that lend themselves well to spiral blades, is that the lines are typically unstructured and almost abstract, in and of themselves. If you wander off the pattern line a bit, you will never notice in the finished piece, unless you happen to over cut and lose a section. RabidAlien, don watson and danny 3 Quote
Foxfold Posted September 8, 2020 Author Report Posted September 8, 2020 3 minutes ago, Bill WIlson said: That looks well done to me. I don't think you have anything to fear from spirals. Generally speaking, the good thing about patterns that lend themselves well to spiral blades, is that the lines are typically unstructured and almost abstract, in and of themselves. If you wander off the pattern line a bit, you will never notice in the finished piece, unless you happen to over cut and lose a section. Thank you, as you say this did lend itself to a spiral blade, however, I do love my straight lines and perfect points and corners so I find spirals a little frustrating and daunting. amazingkevin 1 Quote
FrankEV Posted September 8, 2020 Report Posted September 8, 2020 23 minutes ago, Foxfold said: ...I do love my straight lines and perfect points ... Funny this is exacly how i felt and still do in some instances. I happen to cut using a 5X lighted magifier and when I'm using even a 2/0 spiral, it always looks like my points and sharp corners are so "ROUND" , but when you take the magnification away the points and sharp corners are there when viewed from a normal viewing distance. My bigest bugaboo is trying to do long straight or smooth curved cuts with the spiral ( unless the line is representeng feathers or fur). Very difficult! BTW, the work is great. Just hoping the backer is just reflecting the light poorly in the pic...almost looks blue making him look a little sickly. amazingkevin 1 Quote
Foxfold Posted September 8, 2020 Author Report Posted September 8, 2020 1 minute ago, FrankEV said: Just hoping the backer is just reflecting the light poorly in the pic...almost looks blue making him look a little sickly It's just resting up against my diary in the photo although the diary is actually black.. It must be the reflection of my kitchen light. It will have a black backer on it when completed. FrankEV 1 Quote
GrampaJim Posted September 8, 2020 Report Posted September 8, 2020 1 hour ago, Bill WIlson said: That looks well done to me. I don't think you have anything to fear from spirals. Generally speaking, the good thing about patterns that lend themselves well to spiral blades, is that the lines are typically unstructured and almost abstract, in and of themselves. If you wander off the pattern line a bit, you will never notice in the finished piece, unless you happen to over cut and lose a section. Exactly right! Foxfold 1 Quote
Gordon 121 Posted September 8, 2020 Report Posted September 8, 2020 Nice job it looks magic, I only use spiral blades now once I got use to going in any direction it's now hard to break the habit, going on this pic you deff nailed using spirals well done, love just needs a tiger coloured resin frame and it be perfect Gordon Foxfold 1 Quote
dgman Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 Very nice work Brenda! One thing about portraits is if you go off the line it doesn’t matter, most of the cuts are just abstract shapes. Foxfold 1 Quote
spirithorse Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 Absolutely astounding work, Brenda, Is there nothing you cannot do? You are giving me an inferiority complex! LOL Thanks for sharing yet another amazing project. God Bless! Spirithorse Foxfold 1 Quote
Rockytime Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 A talented lady is what you are Brenda! That tiger looks wonderful. You seem to adapt to most everything equally well. Foxfold 1 Quote
John B Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 Very nice Brenda. This is the type of pattern that lends itself to spirals. Foxfold 1 Quote
wombatie Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 That is wonderful Brenda. What size is it. I cut A3's (11.7" x 16.5") with flat blades, I hate spirals. Marg Quote
Foxfold Posted September 9, 2020 Author Report Posted September 9, 2020 2 hours ago, wombatie said: That is wonderful Brenda. What size is it. I cut A3's (11.7" x 16.5") with flat blades, I hate spirals. Marg It's 13" x 10" Marg. Only because I found this piece of laminated board and that's the size it was wombatie 1 Quote
don watson Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 Another well cut piece Brenda. Don W Foxfold 1 Quote
Bill WIlson Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 16 hours ago, Foxfold said: Thank you, as you say this did lend itself to a spiral blade, however, I do love my straight lines and perfect points and corners so I find spirals a little frustrating and daunting. It's all a matter of context and perception. Straight lines, clean corners and sharp points are definitely critical in many types of fretwork. Also, the thicker the material being cut, the more noticeable the cut is, so proper blade selection for the application is important. Portrait patterns are typically cut from thin material, so those details don't catch the eye nearly as much. I've often said that spirals are the perfect blade for certain types of projects, but by no means are they suitable for everything, IMHO. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses and where to apply them simply makes them another tool in the toolbox. Foxfold 1 Quote
Woodrush Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 18 hours ago, Foxfold said: Thank you, as you say this did lend itself to a spiral blade, however, I do love my straight lines and perfect points and corners so I find spirals a little frustrating and daunting. Me too Foxfold 1 Quote
Danj84 Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 That looks great, I hated spiral blades for a long time and have just in the past few months switched to using them for almost everything,they are great once you get used to them Foxfold 1 Quote
amazingkevin Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 Astonishing looking project!!! Got to be the best cat I,ve seen to date!!!. You could be a spiral sales person showing off this beauty!!! Your way past expert with the infamous spirals!!! Foxfold 1 Quote
Foxfold Posted September 9, 2020 Author Report Posted September 9, 2020 1 hour ago, amazingkevin said: Astonishing looking project!!! Got to be the best cat I,ve seen to date!!!. You could be a spiral sales person showing off this beauty!!! Your way past expert with the infamous spirals!!! Flattery will get you all you desire my friend. I thankyou for your kind words. Quote
meflick Posted September 9, 2020 Report Posted September 9, 2020 Brenda, you always do such great work no matter the tool be it flat blades, spiral blades, or your router or other tools. This one is no exception. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.