Travis

In the early days of SSV, we used to have a Thursday night chat. I was wondering if we should bring that back? I don't think that many use the chat room because there is no set time. Perhaps if we had a night set aside, perhaps we can get some folks gathering. Indecently, the chat room is always open. When someone is in the chatroom, there is a little red number next to the Chat Room tab that indicates how many people are in the chat room. So when you see the red flag, pop in and say hi. Anyway, waddya think? Should we bring back Thursday Night Chats?

I love the different species for the puzzle. Don't see that very often. Nice job!

I think ti just depends on the desk. Basically, it has to be pretty heavy and rigid for it to cut down on vibration. I think a 2x4 table would work well. I've seen some folks build a box on the bottom and fill it with sand to add weight. When it needs to be moved, they just empty out the sand and move it to where they need it.

Great tip! I have a lightbox I built out of plexiglass and pine boards. Really handy when you need it. Sounds like a nice setup you're building. Be sure to post pictures of your light box/photo tent. I'd be curious to see it.

Here's a quick tip for ya that I picked up from another magazine. Many of us will clean our scroll saw bed (or any tool bed for that matter) with WD-40 and then put a coat of paste wax onto the bed. This helps protect the bed from rust and it helps your project slide easier when working. Next time your bed needs a quick fix, grab a sheet of wax paper and rub down the bed. It deposits a thin film of wax that will protect your bed and makes your projects slide easier. It doesn't last as long as the method I described above, but it sure is quick. Pick up a roll of wax paper at the dollar store and you should be set for awhile.

Corel Draw is best for regular patternmaking, but not portraits. Steve Good has a lot of tutorials on using Corel Draw. I haven't played with Corel Draw since the mid 90's, so I'm not sure how easy it is to learn. I certainly think it's a great option. For portrait making, perhaps Photoshop Elements. It's not too expensive and has a lot of great features. The concepts of portrait patternmaking I cover in my GIMP class apply, but the process and location of the buttons will be different. I'll probably still suggest GIMP and Inkscape for a couple reasons. First, they're free. Free is always good in my book. Second, if you get stuck, we'd be able to help you out. Many folks here have gone through the classes and can give advice & support. GIMP and Inkscape are not as polished as the commercial counterparts, but I think they do pretty dern good and certainly meets the needs of scroll saw pattern makers. Others can weigh in on their thoughts.

Great find. Thanks for sharing! Here's a direct link to Festival Network Online: http://festivalnet.com/

That's awesome. I bet if people know you'll work with salvaged wood, people will keep that in mind before throwing out old wood, furniture, etc. Great neighbor!

That's awesome. I'll see if my son wants to try it. He might be afraid of the noise right now. But he sure likes it when I make toys for him! My nephew is 9. I should have him over so he can try it out. He might get a kick out of it. Thanks for sharing the video. It really warms the heart.

I really like the beat up, rustic look of the wood. I'm thinking projects that won't impact health might work well. Things like picture frames, artwork, garage/shop fixtures, tool totes, outdoor projects like whirligigs, tool sheds, and scroll work that doesn't have a lot of handling. I'd avoid anything that has a lot of human contact, like furniture, toys, play structures, garden fixtures (chemicals leech into the soil and eventually into veggies), boxes that hold food. Shelves, depending on what it holds. I'm kicking around the idea of using the wood to cover my shop walls and perhaps some shop fixtures. But that might be more work than it's worth. Like I said, I waffle back and forth. Sometimes I think it's a great idea, others times I think it's a terrible idea.

Hi Jesse. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us. If I'm reading it right, the "blade not cutting straight" is normal. Scroll saw blades are stamped out of metal, so there will be a burr on one side of the blade. This will cause the blade to not cut straight (or what you'd expect to be straight). So you'll have to compensate by going at it at a slight angle. You'll get the feel for it with the more scrolling you do. Some people (myself included) will set their chair slightly to the side of the saw. On a side note, bandsaws work in the same way. You have to compensate for the blade drift when using it.

I've been toying with the idea of making some projects from wood shipping pallets. I waffle back and forth on whether or not to try it. On one hand, you have an abundance of free wood. On the other hand, there are safety concerns regarding chemicals used to treat the wood or accidentally spilled on the pallets. I came across this article on Instructibles which lays out the laws in the US regarding pallet construction. Each pallet is marked so you can easily see if it has been treated with chemicals or heat. Naturally, you want to avoid the ones with chemicals. Be sure to read the article if you ever intend to use pallets for your project. The next concern is what was actually transported on the pallets. Perhaps some nasty chemical from a drum leaked onto the pallet. You just don't know. I'd avoid any pallet that looks like it has been stained by a spill, smells strange, or looks off. Don't use the pallets for anything that touches food. This includes making raised vegetable beds as the chemicals will leech into the soil and eventually into the veggies. Don't make anything that a child would interact with; toys, furniture, playhouses, etc. Children are much more susceptible to toxic chemicals. When working with unknown wood, be sure to use a dust mask. You don't know what you're breathing in. I guess the moral of the story is; use at your own risk. I know I still haven't decided if I'll use wood pallets for projects. Right now, I'm leaning toward no. What do you think?

Yes. The blades are flat and will only cut in one direction. So you'll have to turn your work as you cut. I think you have a lot more control with flat blades. The lines are easier to cut, and your blade has less tendency to drift. Since you started with spiral blades, I expect you'll find it frustrating at first. But I urge you to keep with it. I use spiral blades for portrait-style cutting. It works really well for organic/wavy lines that gives portraits their signature look. But for precise lines, straight lines, sweeping curves, and things that require a sharp corner or edge, I use flat blades. If you order, I like the Flying Dutchman Scroll-Reverse from Mike's Workshop. I use #3, #5, & #7. Avoid the blades from big box stores. They're not very good and very overpriced. Hope this helps. Keep asking questions. That's how we all learn.

Happy new year from Montana! I hope it is full of happiness and sawdust.

I posted an article called "A New Year's Resolution" awhile back. It got me thinking, what is your new year's resolutions in regards to scrollsawing/crafting? This year, I'm going to try spoon carving, do more woodturning and scrolling. I also want to start an Etsy store just to try it out. H'bout you? What do you want to accomplish for 2013?

Hahahaha...

Not an app per se. But SSV does have a skin set made for mobile devices (some call it a web app). Use your phone's interenet browser to go to SSV. Everything on the forum is optimized for the mobile phone with easy access to menus, logins, etc. Just note, the skin set does advertise for a mobile app. I haven't tried it out, personally. But reading the reviews, it doesn't sound very good. I'd stick to the web app.

I heard the Dewalt had a fuse in a strange place. I'm glad you found out your problem and back making sawdust again.

I've never seen that before. The other side is fine, though? I bet the guys at Lumberjocks.com or WoodTalkOnline.com seen it before. Report back what you find out.

Those are really pretty. I'd love to give those a try sometime. Good job!

Very classy. Nicely done!

Those turned out great. I really like the ribbon box. Nicely done!