Travis

Working with certain hardwoods, especially exotic tropical woods, can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Some reactions are minor like eye irritation. Other reactions could be potentially fatal. Here is a toxicity chart of woods and their potential allergic reactions. This is not an exhaustive list. Please use care when working with any wood you are unfamiliar with. If you'd like a printable PDF version of this chart for your shop, you can download it here. Wood Reaction Site Potency Source Incidence Bald Cypress S R + D R Balsam Fir S E, S + LB C Beech S, C E, S, R ++ LB, D C Birch S R ++ W, D C Black Locust I, N E, S +++ LB C Blackwood S E, S ++ W, D C Boxwood S E, S ++ W, D C Cashew S E, S + W, D R Cocobolo I, S E, S, R +++ W, D C Dahoma I E, S ++ W, D C Ebony I, S E, S ++ W, D C Elm I E, S + D R Goncalo Alves S E, S ++ W, D R Greenheart S E, S +++ W, D C Hemlock C R ? D U Iroko I, S, P E, S, R +++ W, D U Mahogany S, P S, R + D U Mansonia I, S N E, S +++ + W, D D C Maple (Spalted) S, P R +++ D C Mimosa N ? LB U Myrtle S R ++ LB, D C Oak S C E, S ++ ? LB, D D R U Obeche I, S E, S, R +++ W, D C Oleander DT N, C ++++ D, W, LB C Olivewood I, S E, S, R +++ W, D C Opepe S R + D R Padauk S E, S, R + W, D R Pau Ferro S E, S + W, D R Peroba Rosa I R, N ++ W, D U Purpleheart N ++ W, D C Quebracho I C R, N ++ ? LB, D D C U Redwood S, P C E, S, R ++ ? D D R U Rosewoods I, S E, S, R ++++ W, D U Satinwood I E, S, R +++ W, D C Sassafras S DT C R N + + ? D D, W, LB D C R U Sequoia I R + D R Snakewood I R ++ W, D R Spruce S R + W, D R Walnut, Black S E, S ++ W, D C Wenge S E, S, R + W, D C Willow S R, N + D, W, LB U Western Red Cedar S R +++ D, LB C Teak S, P E, S, R ++ D C Yew I DT E, S N, C ++ ++++ D W, D C C Zebrawood S E, S ++ W, D Reaction I – irritant S – sensitizer C - nasopharyngeal cancer P - pheunomitis, alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonia) DT - direction toxin N - nausea, malaise Site S – skin E – eyes R – respiratory C – cardiac Source D – dust LB - leaves, bark W – wood Incidence C – common U - uncommon R – rare What is a sensitizer? The more you are exposed to wood, the more sensitive you get to its exposure and the more severe your reactions are. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. You should use care when working with any wood you are unfamiliar with.

There are many font resources on the internet. Although many fonts may be free to download, licensing terms for use of these fonts vary from site to site. Be sure to read the licensing terms before using their fonts. Do you have a favorite font site? Post it in the comments and we'll update this list. Free Fonts 1001 Fonts Abstract Fonts Acid Fonts Da Font Dingbat Pages Font Garden Font Meme Font Space Font Squirrel Google Fonts Scroll Crafters (a few scroll saw fonts) Simply The Best Fonts Type Now Webpage Publicity (6500 Free Fonts) Commercial Fonts Fonts.com International Typeface Corporation Lino Type My Fonts So Fontsy - Affordable fonts for crafters. Font Tools Stencilfy - Turns any font into a stencil with bridges.

Clipart and photographs are often used by pattern designers to create unique patterns for the scroll saw. Be sure to read their Terms Of Use agreement carefully before using any of their images. There may be restrictions that may prohibit you from distributing your patterns. Remember, just because they're free, doesn't mean they don't have a copyright Do you have a favorite clipart source? Post it in the comments and we'll update this list. Free Clip Art Graphics Ace Clip Art Clker I Heart God Clip Art Karen's Whimsey Open Clip Art Library Out West PD Clip Art Public Domain Clip Art Rattlesnake Jack's Old West Clip Art The Graphics Fairy Tribal Shapes Visipix Wiki Commons WP Clip Art Free Stencil Graphics Stencil graphics are clip art that is practically ready to cut. However, they may need a little modification to make them cuttable on the scroll saw. Since these items require very little modification, you may not add those modifications and claim the work your own as derivative work. However, they can be used to make your own cutting and finished projects. Stencils to Download Free Photographs Copyright Free Photos Flickr Free Photos.org Old Picture of the Day PD Photo Public Domain Clip Art Public Photos.Net Public Domain Pictures Stock.xchg Uncle Sam's Photos U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Visipix Wiki Commons WP Clipart Commercial Clip Art & Photographs Clipart.com

Originally published in The Village Square - May 2010 Now that its May, dreams of playing outside and enjoying the warm weather is becoming a reality. Thoughts of BBQs, picnics, camping are swimming in my head. But one other thing that I often think of is scrolling. One of my favorite things is having my scroll saw on the patio with an ice cold beverage, making sawdust, and listening to the birds chirp. A scroll saw is a pretty small tool and can easily be transported from the garage to the patio with little effort. I just set it on an old table, plug it in and go at it. I always have good light, and with a gentle breeze, you have an natural dust blower. If carrying your scroll saw to the patio seems too cumbersome, consider building a simple scroll saw stand on wheels. The stand can be constructed easily from 2x4 with a MDF or plywood top. Add a shelf to hold your project, scroll saw blades, and tools for added convenience. Now you can simply roll the scroll saw to wherever you need it. This is especially helpful when chasing after shaded areas. When you're ready to scroll, it is very convenient to have everything you need with you so you don't have to run back and forth to the shop. For this, I use an inexpensive tool tote. In the cleaning aisle of many stores, you can find a cleaning tote. Its nothing more than a plastic carrier, usually with a well on each side of the handle. This is used to carry cleaners, but it also makes a great tote for your most commonly used tools. Fill it up with spray adhesive, acrylic spray finish, blue masking tape, clear packing tape, scroll saw blades, scissors, a hobby knife, and a cordless drill with small bit. When you're ready to scroll, simply bring the tote with you and you're ready to go. I encourage you to try scrolling outside this summer. Its such a simple pleasure will enrich both your scrolling hobby, and your outdoor living.

The following tips were collected from The Village Square Newsletter (no longer being published). What's your favorite tip? Leave a comment below and tell us your favorite scroll saw tip. Seeing Better - Leaning over your scroll saw for an extended period of time can strain your back and shoulders. Try putting a 2x4 under the back legs of your saw. This will tilt the saw slightly toward you. It is much easier to see your work and will relieve some fatigue during your long scrolling sessions. Used But Good - It drives me nuts when I have to change to a different size scroll saw blade part way through a project. The blade is still good. But what do you do with it? Don't throw it away. Try this instead. Go to your local craft store and pick up some magnets. The rare-earth magnets are especially good. Hot glue or epoxy the magnets to your scroll saw table. This will hold your gently used scroll saw blades until the next time you need it. Pattern Removal - An easy way to removing patterns is to use mineral spirits. Use a old Windex bottle or rag to wet the pattern till it turns translucent in color then wiping away the excess spirits along with the pattern with another rag. ---Blame Air Scrubber - Many people use their scroll saw in their home instead of their unheated/air conditioned garage. But this can cause an awful lot of dust which can irritate your better half, and (more importantly) irritate your lungs. Here's a cheap and easy way to create an air filter: Buy a box fan. These usually run about $12-14 at most stores. Also buy a furnace filter about the same size. Duct tape the furnace filter to the back of the box fan. Just like that, you have an air filter. The box fan will pull air through the filter and clean the air of sawdust particles. It'll not only keep the dust out of your lungs, it'll also keep it off the living room furniture. Using Adhesive Paper On Photo Puzzles - I used a photo mounted to a 1/4 bb ply and it was coated with triple thick spray. You have to make sure the what ever you use to mount the picture is totally dry and you must use a protective coating over the picture. I let both dry for about 12 hrs and had good results. The paper peeled off pretty easy and it only left a little residue hear and there. What it did leave behind actually rubbed off with my finger. I used Sloan's adhesive paper. This is not really any faster than any other methods but it does work! ---Firedkm Tearout - Sometimes wood will splinter on the back of your workpiece when drilling pilot holes. This is frustrating when it interferes with threading the blade. The tearout can even ruin a project, especially on delicate cuttings. So next time when you're drilling your pilot holes, place a piece of scrap wood below your workpiece. This will support the wood as the drill bit penetrates your workpiece. You'll be left with a clean hole with no tearout. Cleaning Your Bed - Sometimes the bed or your scroll saw will get gummed up with residue which makes sliding your work piece around difficult. Here's how to clean it. Get a can of WD-40 or similar oil and spray down your bed. With a scouring pad (detergent free), scrub down the bed, then wipe clean with a paper towel. This will remove any glue, pitch, and dirt on the scroll saw bed. Follow this up with an application of furniture paste wax (silicon free). Rub it in with a paper towel, then buff it out with a new paper towel. Not only will this protect it from rust, but it will also make your work piece slide smoothly across the surface. Blow Off - After you've finished sanding your project to the final grit, use an air compressor to blow off any dust. This will get the dust off between the fretwork, as well as the surface. This will provide a clean surface for the finish to adhere to. Don't have an air compressor? Go to your local office supply store and pick up a few bottles of canned air. Canned air is used to blow dust off computer keyboards and cases. It works great too! Too Much Glue - Sometimes we get carried away with the spray adhesive and leave a nasty residue behind when we remove our pattern. Don't throw away your project just yet. Use some mineral spirits to loosen up the adhesive and wipe as much as you can away with a paper towel. Do this several times until it looks clean. Then re-sand the surface. You should be as good as new. CD Glitter - I thought I would e-mail an idea I have came up, I've used it a lot and it works. I have taken old CDs that I've collected threw the years and sanded the silver part off. Then when I had a Christmas Ornament coated with Poly . I took the silver dust and sprinkled it on the wet Poly to make it stick. It looks like glitter and looks great too. Believe or not, it added that great touch that only a Christmas Ornament would have. ---Marshall Border Organized Patterns - I hate it when I lose the pattern inserts from my favorite scroll saw magazines. Here's a simple solution that will keep you organized. Buy a 3 ring binder and some sheet protectors. Sheet protectors are clear sleeves used to protect documents. They have an opening in the top to allow you to insert your paper. These can be found at any office supply store. So next time you get your latest issue of your favorite scroll saw magazine, remove the pattern insert and safely stow them away in your 3 ring binder. Your magazine is now easier to read without the bulky insert, and your patterns are now organized and easy to find. A Tight Fit - Here is a handy intarsia tip. If two adjoining pieces don't fit tight, take both pieces to scroll saw. Hold the pieces tight together and saw between them carefully. This will even up any gaps for a nice tight fit. ---Hosie