On The Bench - Scroll Saw Challenge

[Travis]

I got a little taste of spring the other day.  It was so nice to be able to open up the garage door and enjoy the weather.  It's been so cold lately, it was a welcomed change of pace.  So, since things are starting to thaw, and we're looking to get back into our shop, this month's scroll saw challenge is about what is currently on your bench?  Share a pic of a project you are working on, or about to start on.  Then, throughout the month, post some progress pics.  It's really a lot of fun to see a project come together!

[Wichman]

Currently on the saw, and almost done, this is a combination of two patterns. The bear and mountains are from a pattern by Robb Barr with scroll saw adaptation by Patty Beach, the paw prints are from a different bear pattern by Patty Beach. 

7/16" plywood plaque 9 layers thick. FD Polar #1 blades mostly.

 

Edited March 6, 2025 by Wichman

[Wichman]

Finished cutting, now on to painting and staining. I'll put this on the back burner untill the weather warms up a bit more.

[barb.j.enders]

Got these done on Thursday.  Pattern help from @don in brooklin on and @Fab4.  Cut from leftover Cedar rail material.  Finish is Walrus Oil. 

[scrollerpete]

Got a few things on the go, Ying Yang box from Sheila Landry and also planing on making the “Dizzy” bowl from Carole Rothman

[Scrappile]

Yes, sir, it's beautiful early spring weather.  But as always, we get this nice weather early, things start budding out, and then the freeze comes.   Never fails.  Anyway, it has really put me in a Spring mood.  So I saw this H. Botas pattern.  It was so springy that I had to cut it.   I'm about 2/3rds done.  Maybe can finish cutting it today.  I should be outside doing Spring clean up.  

 

[rdatelle]

Just finished preparing the wood for all my Mini birdhouses. Also I just got some special pen blanks that Denny turned me on to for all the little birds. Can't wait to try them out.

[RabidAlien]

Been some rough days around the household and the office for a while, so I haven't done as much sawdusting as I'd like.  Had John 3:16 on the saw for a while now, so this weekend, to get the motivation back (as well as needing some more bookmarks....never can have enough bookmarks!!) I grabbed a couple of quick cuts from the Pattern Library (maybe one or two from Google), resized for the bookmark blanks that I have, and knocked a couple out.  Still have several more to cut today, but this is what's in-progress.

I've been using one of the blanks with a really intricate wolf head cut in it, and
 

[Gonzo]

22 hours ago, rdatelle said:

Just finished preparing the wood for all my Mini birdhouses. Also I just got some special pen blanks that Denny turned me on to for all the little birds. Can't wait to try them out.

I make a lot of birdhouses also. I have many of the patterns in your picture(Sue Mey?), but you have some that are different. Curious as to where to get them. 

[rdatelle]

2 hours ago, Gonzo said:

I make a lot of birdhouses also. I have many of the patterns in your picture(Sue Mey?), but you have some that are different. Curious as to where to get them. 

Hi Gonzo, I got mine from,

by Diana Thompson

www.scrollsawinspirations.com [email protected]

[yamatetsu]

Fishnet. 36,5 x 45,2 cm, these are the first 6 pieces. Of 108. As usual, cut with a handheld fretsaw, as usual, the board is too big, but this time it's also too big for my cutting table. Fun times ahead

[Gonzo]

6 hours ago, rdatelle said:

Hi Gonzo, I got mine from,

by Diana Thompson

www.scrollsawinspirations.com [email protected]

Thanks! Now that you say it, that’s where I bought my patterns. I’ll have to take a look, haven’t been on her site for years. Again, thank you, I appreciate your help 

[yamatetsu]

15 hours ago, yamatetsu said:

Fishnet. 36,5 x 45,2 cm, these are the first 6 pieces. Of 108. As usual, cut with a handheld fretsaw, as usual, the board is too big, but this time it's also too big for my cutting table. Fun times ahead

Just to clarify: This is segmentation, so those 108 pieces have to be cut out, sanded and glued individually.

[RabidAlien]

Sunday's progress.

 

[TAIrving]

Hummingbird Finding Nectar intarsia pattern by Frank.  

All pieces cut, now ready to start sanding/shaping.  Woods used include Yellowheart, Mexican Persimmon, Cherry, Walnut, and mystery wood.  

[Gonzo]

Black walnut bowl. Carol Rothman pattern, same book as ScrollerPete’s project. Bowl pattern is 8”x8”x3/4”.  What I like about this, is there is no scrap at all, just the sawdust from the kurf of the blade, which happens to be a Pegas MGT#9. Oh and I suppose the scrap on the perimeter of the bowl.

Lots of shaping/forming, (read sanding). A lot of fun to make. I plan on finishing it with shellac using the the French polish method.  
However, I don’t have the guts to attempt what ScrollerPete is doing. One of these days Pete, one of these days. 

[Wichman]

Second project, a smallish plaque with a coyote howling at the moon.

Forget to add info on the first project, I switched back to the long stroke on the Hegner, I just couldn't get it to cut the 7/16 plywood on the short stroke. For this project the plaque was 1/8" plywood so I switched back to the short stroke. I used 2/0 FD Polar blades and reduced the speed to 1000, my usual speed is 1400. This one's going on the back burner as well, I need temps in the 60's to be able to stain outside and let most of the solvent evaporate before bringing it back in to allow the stain to cure fully.

[Wichman]

The third project, a test to see how far I can push myself and the material.

This will be a decorative coffee cup wrap.

1/8" basswood cut with 2/0 FD Polar blades, speed reduced to 800 for control.

The tail is 14 1/2" long and should wrap around the cup 2 times.

This is a decorative piece and is intended to be for a cool display only, far to fragile to actually use.

 

 

[rjweb]

Wichman, the wolf pattern is that going to be an inlay, RJ

[Wichman]

1 hour ago, rjweb said:

Wichman, the wolf pattern is that going to be an inlay, RJ

No, just segmentation with stains.

[yamatetsu]

Nice legs.

[rjweb]

When you finish the wolf pattern, please post again, looks very interesting, RJ

[Wichman]

RJ, Here is one I did last year. I still need to work on the contrast between the segments, glued back together with polyurethane glue.

I'm thinking of glow in the dark paint for the moon.

[rjweb]

Very nice, RJ

[Roberta Moreton]

The state of my crazy…I am like that dog that sees a squirrel!  I have a few things that I started and not finished.  I am going to try to get these things finished before I begin again.  I DO lead a monthly Scroll Saw Club. I already have a challenge peace for the month completed, it’s jewelry. So, let’s see if I can get some of these finished before the next club meeting. I also completed a candle holder for my general woodworking club challenge. OH! There is also that whirligig I started….