Tallbald Posted October 27, 2022 Report Posted October 27, 2022 Looking for a book I can study and use for exercises to learn the best practices while developing skills. Titles and author's would be helpful in finding them on Amazon. Thank you. Don OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Wichman Posted October 27, 2022 Report Posted October 27, 2022 https://www.amazon.com/New-Scroll-Saw-Handbook/dp/0806978775/ref=sr_1_43?crid=LEW29KIUF1YU&keywords=scroll+saw+books&qid=1666913450&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI1LjkxIiwicXNhIjoiNS4zMyIsInFzcCI6IjQuODEifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=scroll%2Cstripbooks%2C194&sr=1-43 jollyred, barb.j.enders and OCtoolguy 3 Quote
Tallbald Posted October 28, 2022 Author Report Posted October 28, 2022 Excellent and thank you so much. Don OCtoolguy 1 Quote
Eplfan2011 Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, Tallbald said: Looking for a book I can study and use for exercises to learn the best practices while developing skills. Titles and author's would be helpful in finding them on Amazon. Thank you. Don I'm a beginner too, I've been at this for 2 1/2 months I've read till my eyes bled lol but IMHO you can't beat finding some scrap or at least cheap wood and start cutting you'll develop your own techniques to do certain things, combining this with what you've read and you'll be well on your way. Edited October 28, 2022 by Eplfan2011 Dave Monk, Gene Howe, John B and 2 others 4 1 Quote
OCtoolguy Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 What Eplfan said. Find a simple drawing like a coloring book and copy it. Then glue to a scrap of wood and cut it out. When your are done you will have cut your first work of art. Sign and date it. Then put it away til next year. It will give you a good idea of your progress. I hate the practice patterns. Boring! Most important....have fun and take your time. Welcome aboard. Great hobby. Quote
ChelCass Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 Another suggestion, check out Steve Goods site, lots of tutorials to follow and some great easy patterns to practice on. Sign up for his newsletter and he will send along a free pattern pretty much every day with a lot of good advice. Happy scrolling, new2woodwrk and OCtoolguy 2 Quote
Bill WIlson Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 John Nelson's Scroll Saw Workbook is another excellent resource. https://www.amazon.com/Scroll-Saw-Workbook-2nd-Skill-Building/dp/1565237668 OCtoolguy, Wichman and barb.j.enders 2 1 Quote
Tallbald Posted October 28, 2022 Author Report Posted October 28, 2022 Thank you all very much. I watched a two part tutorial by Hans Maier online and learned quite a lot. Scroll sawing is to me distinctly different from most other woodworking operations I've become skilled at over the last 40 years. I'm going at this new wood crafting facet with a very open mind. I view myself as a nearly complete new sawyer. Scrap wood abounds locally. After the devastation of the tornado last December there was much lumber at the curbs for trash pickup. I was able to give the wood new life with permission of owners and their junk piles. Honestly I'm already dreaming of a scroll saw upgrade in the next couple years. I see scroll sawing as an art form I can enjoy for years to come. Don Quote
Bill WIlson Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 For being a relatively small niche segment of the overall woodworking community, scrolling is surprisingly diverse, with a wide variety of styles to keep anyone interested for as long as they could want. When I first started scrolling, I found a couple Spielman books and that got me started. I then joined a scroll saw club, which opened up a whole 'nuther world of projects and patterns that I had no awareness of. It was about that time that I discovered some of the early internet scrolling resources. Since then it seems as though creative minds have constantly been discovering new and different ways to use a scroll saw to make things. It's been fascinating to watch this develop over the past 25 years or so. Quote
Wichman Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 We all learn differently, so chose the method that works best for you, especially when you are starting. With that said, remember, pro sports players don't just go out and play. They have drills, specific routines to develop their skills. Professional musicians don't just play music, they practice scales and have rehearsals. I've even watched MP's do weight training to control the recoil from their pistols. When I got my first scroll saw I didn't cut any patterns for about 2 weeks, I did practice cuts in thin wood, then the same cuts in medium wood and then in thick wood. I know I'm weird and I know that not everyone will want to do that. Even now If I'm switching between thick and thin wood or trying a new technique I will practice on a few pieces before moving on to an actual project. Quote
Dak0ta52 Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 Just dive in head first! I've been scrolling about a year and a half and I started with a few Steve Good patterns. They are fairly easy to cut. You're already a step ahead of my in that you found this forum. The people here have a vast amount of knowledge and are more than willing to provide advice. Within a year I was cutting pieces with over 1000 frets. Good luck. Eplfan2011 1 Quote
Foxfold Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 Another 'seconder' for Steve Goods youtube videos, I found them helpful. I'm not a good 'book' learner so found that youtube was ideal for me. Eplfan2011 1 Quote
new2woodwrk Posted October 28, 2022 Report Posted October 28, 2022 (edited) Here's the thing... IMHO... We all learn differently and at our own pace. The books are great, Steve's site is incredible! But when it comes down to it, nothing beats actually cutting wood! The way I learned, was to find a simple pattern like a leaf or shamrock (both were my very first cuts and I still have them both). Using scrap wood ( I used scrap wood for weeks before I attempted anything on purchased wood ) doesn't matter the thickness but 1/2" is really good middle thickness (I started with 3/4") put the pattern on the wood ( getting the pattern to the wood is a technique in itself and there are many ways of doing so). Then cut the leaf/shamrock! It doesn't matter if you stay on the line or not, you are not going to be selling your first cut, nor are you going to be entering it into a contest! It's a learning tool, and it is an incredible one at that! Your first piece is not going to be a "great" piece but it is going to teach a lot. Enough to come here and ask questions about technique. After all, scrolling IMO is all about technique! So yes, you can buy the books and spend some money. The problem with the books is exercises are boring - with a capital B! Video's are great to watch, but most lack in explanation. The best learning is doing - so go do Edited October 28, 2022 by new2woodwrk Eplfan2011 1 Quote
OCtoolguy Posted October 29, 2022 Report Posted October 29, 2022 On 10/28/2022 at 5:32 AM, Bill WIlson said: John Nelson's Scroll Saw Workbook is another excellent resource. https://www.amazon.com/Scroll-Saw-Workbook-2nd-Skill-Building/dp/1565237668 That's the one I started with. Quote
Scrappile Posted October 29, 2022 Report Posted October 29, 2022 Don't forget YouTube.. lot's of videos to watch. Dave Monk and Eplfan2011 2 Quote
Eplfan2011 Posted October 29, 2022 Report Posted October 29, 2022 41 minutes ago, Scrappile said: Don't forget YouTube.. lot's of videos to watch. +1 on this Also I've found that asking your questions here is great, there's more experience and diverse ideas here than you'll find in a volume of books. I'm new here and as I've said a beginner too. The members here are patient with you, extremely helpful and more than willing to help. Probably the friendliest and helpfully group of individuals I've encountered on the internet, Ive even had members message me with offers of help. Quote
Denny Knappen Posted October 29, 2022 Report Posted October 29, 2022 The book recommended by Bill Wilson is the one I use in classes. Quote
dgman Posted October 29, 2022 Report Posted October 29, 2022 On 10/28/2022 at 5:32 AM, Bill WIlson said: John Nelson's Scroll Saw Workbook is another excellent resource. https://www.amazon.com/Scroll-Saw-Workbook-2nd-Skill-Building/dp/1565237668 This is the book I used when I was teaching at Woodcraft. It has a page with practice lines that I hade the students start off with. Quote
Tallbald Posted October 30, 2022 Author Report Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) Thank you everyone. I decided I must start somewhere and have ordered the Nelson book. It likely won't be the last book I enjoy on scrolling. I have watched many a video on Youtube too. Wow if only back in the early 90's I had a Youtube when I was teaching myself lathe turning from books! Steve Good does wonderful reviews on scroll saws, and he is excellent at teaching techniques. Watched many of his videos. His review information was instrumental in me choosing the Wen 3923 to become acquainted with scrolling again. So many good videos available to new scrollers! His reviews of the Jet 22 inch and the Pegas scroll saws have me doing mental gymnastics wondering what hobby stuff I could sell off to fund one of them one day. All my tools have paid for themselves in a multitude of ways. I find myself wondering if scroll sawing could help pay for itself too... Thank you all again, Don Late note: Also sprung for a "like new" used copy of Kathy Wise's Intarsia Woodworking for Beginners. Looking forward to that too. Edited October 30, 2022 by Tallbald Quote
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