Travis

I'm not familiar with either of those brands, so I couldn't comment on the quality of the machine. However, if the saw works the way you want it and doesn't cause any problems, I'd invest in some other tools instead. I'm using a Craftsman 16" scroll saw that I picked up for $120. I think most would consider this an entry-level saw. But my saw performs very well and I can cut whatever I need. While I'd like to upgrade to a nicer saw, that to me would be more of a luxury. I'd rather buy additional tools so I can expand what projects I can do. Things like a table saw, drill press, sanders, planers, air compressors, brad nailers, chisels, etc. However, if your saw isn't accomplishing what you want, you should probably upgrade. Problems like too much vibration, blade alignment, throat capacity or some other limitation. With that said, when people upgrade to a higher quality saw, they're rarely disappointed.

those turned out awesome! I'm going to have to get my hands on that book. They're such cool approach to segmentation. Nicely done. I"m sure the little ones will be thrilled!

I really like the contrast. The reflective nature of the metals will really make this stand out. I can't wait to see it done. Nice job!

those turned out really neat. I'd imagine they'd be great sellers too, expecially around my neck of the woods. I can't remember if I asked you or not, but do you sell your work at craft shows at all?

Hi Marco. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us. We'd love to see some of your work. Feel free to set up a User Gallery (you can find a [tut]tutorial here[/tut]) and show off a little. Its fun to see what others are working on. Anyway, welcome aboard. Jump in and have some fun.

Hi Joe. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us. After 15 years, I think you might have a thing or two to teach us. Feel free to set up a user gallery. You can find a [tut]tutorial here[/tut]. Its fun to see what others are working on. Anyway, welcome aboard. Jump in and have some fun!

Hi Gary. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us. I'm also glad to hear you're picking up the scroll saw again. Creativity in scroll sawn art has come a long ways. Its amazing what folks come up with by using such a simple tool. I think you'll really get a kick out of it. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Anyway, welcome aboard. Jump in and have some fun!

I agree. The larger the blade, the less likely it will drift. I use a #5 or a #9. Blade tension also make a big difference. Let the blade do the work.

I use whatever font strikes my fancy at the time. I must admit, I do gravitate to Ariel. But I guess it depends on what kind of wordart you're trying to make. If its a portrait style, you have to make sure the insides of the letters will remain intact. Stencil fonts work well for this because they usually have bridges to the center of the letters. If you're doing a name for a nameplate or trophy, any font works well, as long as its not too thin. Whenever I design something, I like to look at font websites and find a font that works well for the design I'm working on. You can find a list of free font sites here: http://scrollsawvillage.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fonts

Here's a cool little tutorial from a guy I follow on Twitter. He shows you how to make a really neat looking cross from a coin. This is perfect for a necklace. He uses a regular jeweler's saw, but you could easily do the same on the scroll saw. You can make a coin holding jig (I think Steve Good has plans for it), or you can just tape or hot glue the coin to some plywood before cutting. Neat project. http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a- ... of-a-Coin/

Those turned out great! I think I have the wizard cut and in a box and waiting for some sanding/paint. Completing projects isn't one of my strongpoints... But you did a really nice job with yours.

Boy, that turned out nice! Your granddaughter's gunna love it. Nicely done!

That' looks great! I'd hate to meet that dog in a dark alley....or a light alley for that matter. Nicely done!

I really like the simple design. Its just right, not overdone. Great jewelry box. I know she'll love it!

ROTFLOL Too funny. I love the scrollwork and pretty writing....very delicate way of saying "stop stuffing your face."

That's really pretty. You did a great job on it. Marquetry is on my to-do list as well. You should give us a marquetry lesson. I'd love to see a works in progress thread on a project. Anyway, great job. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Jimbo. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us. I'm a scroller that's just getting into woodturning. I think you'll get a kick out of scrolling. Lots of cool stuff you can make with such a simple tool. I hope your saw gets to you soon so you can start making some sawdust. Anyway, welcome aboard. Jump in and have some fun!

Here are a couple tutorials on how to use Inkscape to resize your patterns: Prepare A Pattern For Printing Using Inkscape Printing Oversized Patterns This is how I always print mine. Some folks like using resizing programs too. I've never tried it, but I hear it works well. Here's a list of software. Just look for the resizing software. I hope this helps.

Hi Charles. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us. Lots of talented and friendly folks here. I think you'll have a great time. We'd love to see some of your work. You can set up a User Gallery (you can find a [tut]tutorial here[/tut]) and show off a little. Its fun to see what others are working on. Anyway, welcome aboard. Jump in and have some fun!

That's great news! Its so nice to see companies offer great customer service without making you jump through hoops. I'm glad you didn't get the run-around.

That turned out great! You can never go wrong with otters. Nicely done!

Looks like you both got a passing grade! I think she'll love it. Especially since it was designed by your daughter.

It really depends on the thickness of the wood you're working with. If you're working between 1/8" to 1/2", my go-to blade is the #3 scroll reverse. Its a flat blade that has good control, but can get into tight details pretty easy. If you have large sweeping curves or straight lines, a larger blade (#5 scroll reverse) works better as id doesn't wander as much. But detail cutting is much more difficult. If you have very fine details, 2/0 scroll reverse is great. Since its such a small blade, it does get a bit squirrely to control. But the tight detail work, its amazing. You can also consider a spiral blade. This allows you to cut in all directions. It can be difficult to control on straight lines. I typically use spiral blades on portrait style cutting with a lot of organic/wavy lines. The kerf is much larger on these blades. I typically use a #3 scroll reverse spiral and a #1 scroll reverse spiral. I use Flying Dutchman from Mike's Workshop. He has a sampler pack as well that might be worth looking into. I'd definitely mail-order your blades. The stuff they sell at the hardware store are overpriced and garbage. Stick to the name brands: Flying Dutchman, Pegas, and Olson and you'll do great.

Hi Malcolm. Welcome to the Village. We're glad you found us. Lots of friendly folks here to help you out if you get stuck. We have a number of regulars from the UK as well. We all have a great time here. Feel free to set up a User Gallery (you can find a [tut]tutorial here[/tut]) and share some of your projects. I'd love to see a pic of one of your planes. Those look like a lot of fun. Anyway, welcome aboard. Jump in and have some fun!

Well, Memorial Day weekend is upon us. 3 days away from the office. So what does this mean for you? Are you burning more wood (ie camping) than working it? Does the 3 day weekend mean more or less shop time for you?