A Very Belated Hello

[Archer]

Hello everyone,

I'm Archer, from Australia. I actually joined back in August but I only recently actually looked at the forums. I was - and am -  more interested in the patterns then the social aspect. But I thought I should say hello and tell a little about myself. Sorry in advance if I ramble on a bit.

I live in rural Northern New South Wales, Australia. The climate varies between sub-tropical and warm-temperate, depending on the year. The rainfall varies so much we don't have a consistent average, but overall is fairly dry, except when its not. Temperatures range from +40 degrees Celsius in summer to -5 degrees Celsius in winter. All this means that wood can be hard to work with because of its tendency to warp and swell and shrink and crack with weather changes. 

The area I live in is semi-forested so there is plenty of wood available. Local hardwoods can be bought straight from the sawmills. Most Australian hardwoods are very hard. They blunt blades and wear out sandpaper very quickly. On the other hand, it is easy to burnish  them because they are so hard. I don't usually cut the hardest woods on the scroll saw. It is possible but it takes time and many blades.

My favourite wood to cut on the scroll saw is silky oak, Grevillea Robusta. Silky oak is a popular hardwood timber in Australia due to its beauty and workability. It is softer then many hardwoods but resistant to rot and pests. It has a beautiful wavy even grain and varies in colour from pale yellowish to pinkish to reddish. It cuts like butter and sands easily to a smooth finish. It also weighs less then some of the denser timbers, so its good for ornaments and other hanging things. 

Other woods I've cut with the scroll saw include Peach, which finishes beautifully but is hard to cut, Pine, common but not a favourite due to its resinous and pithy nature, and bamboo, which is not something I've seen other people use.. I get the bamboo by buying bamboo cutting boards which can be expensive but not if I buy them on sale. Bamboo is my second favourite timber to cut on the scroll saw. It cuts even easier then silky oak but is more prone to breaking and tear-out. 

I don't actually own a scroll saw, yet. If anyone has advice on scroll saws available in Australia I will welcome it. I am fortunate to live near a local Men's Shed which has a collection of woodworking machines and tools and knowledgeable people to show me how to use them. Those tools do include a Ryobi brand scroll saw. It is a smooth and accurate saw but uses pinned blades, which is annoying since the blade needs a 6mm hole at minimum. This does limit the patterns I can use, but I just have to get creative.

The Australian Men's Shed Association is an Australia-wide non-profit association which focuses on men's mental health and the betterment of their communities. Most sheds have tools for things like woodwork or metalwork but this is not a requirement.  For anyone wanting more information googling "Australian Men's Shed Association" will show you their website.

I dabble in a variety of other creative pursuits including, but not limited to, - Pyrography, Pottery, Rag Mat Weaving with old, worn out clothes and bedlinen, various other woodworks, various paper crafts and leatherwork, and many others.

I love animals and my family have many on our property, including sheep, miniature ponies, ducks, chooks {chickens for those of you who aren't Aussie}, cats and dogs. I'm including a photo of my dog, Dusty, who is as I write this, lying on my bed. Sorry for the poor quality photo, my camera doesn't take good indoor photos. 

Animals feature strongly in most of my crafts and scroll sawing is no exception.

 

I think I've rambled long enough. Congratulations if you read all of it. I hope I didn't go off on to many tangents.

Thank you for reading, and happy scrolling,

Archer. 

[JimNC]

Welcome Archer.

 

[daveww1]

welcome to the village

[Scrappile]

Welcome to the village, and thanks for the great introduction.  I have always thought the "Men sheds" I read about in Australia is a great idea and would be a lot of fun.

[Denny Knappen]

Welcome to the Village forum from Tennessee

[Archer]

 

4 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Welcome to the village, and thanks for the great introduction.  I have always thought the "Men sheds" I read about in Australia is a great idea and would be a lot of fun.

Thanks Scrappile! Yes, they are a lot of fun.

[wombatie]

Welcome to the Village Archer.  I live in Hastings Victoria, way down south.  Could you tell me what mills you get your wood from please, I am presently trying to compile a list of mills that sell retail.

Marg  

[Archer]

1 hour ago, wombatie said:

Welcome to the Village Archer.  I live in Hastings Victoria, way down south.  Could you tell me what mills you get your wood from please, I am presently trying to compile a list of mills that sell retail.

Marg  

Hi Marg. Good to see a fellow Aussie. To my knowledge none of the mills local to me sell retail. I know the people who own them and purchase offcuts and scrap as a private sale. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[wombatie]

22 hours ago, Archer said:

Hi Marg. Good to see a fellow Aussie. To my knowledge none of the mills local to me sell retail. I know the people who own them and purchase offcuts and scrap as a private sale. Sorry I can't be of more help.

That's OK, thanks anyway.

Marg

[Scrolling Steve]

Welcome to the Village, glad to have you aboard.

[Richard Hotchkiss]

Archer, welcome from Ashland, Virginia. Enjoy the forum and the great help and advice you can get.