raymondb

My woodworking club is working with SUNY ESF professors as they work to commericialize the Darling variant of a new blight-resistant American Chestnut. A few members created pens and bottle openers from some of the wood they provided. A new group of pens engraved with "250" and the American flag were handed out to participants at an Arbor Day tree planting on the Eclipse in Washington, DC. My husband and I are attending the AAW conference in Raleigh and decided to present a display of items created from this wood so as to further educate folks about this exceptional breakthrough to bringing back the American Chestnut to our forests. Of course, the husband cut most of the wood into 7/8" square pen blanks as club members were creating 100 pens. For me, there was no easy way to create items such as boxes from the wood on the scrollsaw. Instead, I decided to create a few compound cut pieces which also meant some serious size reductions when printing the compound patterns. I think some are printed at anywhere from 40-60% of their original size. Thought I would share a photo of some of the items I've created to date from this Darling variant of American chestnut. The fretwork vase (Sue Mey's design) is about 3" tall (versus the pattern at 7") and created using 4 blanks. Nothing is finished as yet and the earrings still need the findings. Chestnut cuts pretty easily. I am using the Pega Super Skip blades in various sizes, a blade I've found that works best for compound cuts. I buy mine from Dennis Knappen at Artcrafters Scroll Saw [artcraftersscrollsaw.com].

I spent a bunch of time this past year playing with compound cuts before teaching a program on it at the Showcase in Saratoga Springs this past March. One thing that I found is that the best blade to use was the Pegas Skip Tooth (or most skip tooth) ... Why? because while you want the cut, you want to (a) not bring the sawdust back up into the cut (with a reverse tooth) and (b) the skip tooth seems to reduce the pull when cutting. I buy my Pegas Skip Tooth blades from Artcrafters (https://artcraftersscrollsaw.com/). Dennis responds quickly. His site got hacked so he put up a new one but only with the price list. Don't worry, he'll answer. Otherwise, slow and steady. Be comfortable when cutting. Cut at a steady pace. Make sure your lines are dark enough to see after putting packing tape on to retape. Remember that packing tape (or any tape) will lubricate your blades.

This is one of those ... anyone remember or have a link to questions ... Years ago, I remember having an application on my computer that provided an index to the contents of the old Creative Woodworks & Crafts magazine. Naturally, I cannot find it and I wanted to find a pattern that was in it. Anyone have an idea about the application and where to get it? Right now I am looking for the issue that contains an oval basket where you have to flip the layers around to glue it up but sure would love to have the overall index! Thanks loads

Here's my tiger ,,, we think the wood is elm. Still needs a finish.

This morning, the following email was received in our club's mailbox (Woodworkers of Central New York) about the Excalibur saw. Quite interesting. I felt everyone should be aware. Barbara I wanted to reach out to you and your club as your name came up as I searched for Scroll Saw Clubs in the USA. Let me introduce myself first. I recently took the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing for DMT Holdings. DMT purchased the General, General International and Excalibur brands about 5 years ago and I have been hired to re-build the brands and dramatically expand our distribution channels. My background has always been in the Woodworking and Power Tool industries. I have owned my own consulting business helping inventors and smaller companies get their products manufactured and into the marketplace, I was the VP of Wholesale and Global Sourcing for Rockler Companies for 5 years and Senior Manager at WMH Tool Group managing the growth of the JET and Powermatic woodworking brands for 15 years. I am writing you and your club today to see if you and your members have an interest in a promotion on the popular 21” Excalibur Scroll Saw that has been rated as one of the best in the industry. This saw typically sells in the market for $899.99 everyday. We will be promoting the saw in January for $599.99. If you can order a quantity of 6 (1 Pallet) shipping to a single location we will offer your club $50 off each unit and include the stand FREE. This offer is valid thru January 21, 2020 or while supplies last . If you have any questions about this promotion and Club offer please email me here or call my cell number below. DMT Holdings, Inc./General International John Otto: Vice President of Sales and Marketing 33400 9th. Ave South STE 104 Federal Way WA 98003 USA US Cell: 630-715-7235;US Office: 253-754-6072 Fax: 1-800-491-5250 Email: [email protected] www.gipowerproducts.com www.general.ca http://www.excaliburpowertool.com/

My dream workshop is one where I don't have to back out of it to make a decision (that's what it is like now). So a large space with plenty of storage for everything that is laying around now. An area where the wood is organized and easily accessible. Where scraps can be placed in bins for reuse in smaller projects (not much goes in the wood stove here from my saw). A place where projects can be layed out and not have to be move because my honey needs to use one of the other tools. A place where I can get to both of my scrollsaws and my sand flee without moving tons of things. A place where I can get to my lathe, not just his. A place where my saw is not on wheels so the workbench storage can be accessible. Oh and a place where I don't bump my head on the furnace cables regularly. Plus, ideally I would like to be upstairs so on beautiful (but cold) days like today, I can at least enjoy the sunshine but be warm (or as warm as we can make it).

Please enter me in the contest for the Designer's Pack.