JTTHECLOCKMAN

No that is not my design That is an old pattern from the Berry Basket that I believe is still around but owners do not own it any more. That insert is not available any more. Believe me I tried. It was an expensive insert and I got them from Steebar Corp many many years ago. Keep at it you will enjoy making clocks because people love all kinds of clocks and they are not going out of style any time soon.

Lots of good tips on drilling. As with any pattern you can enlarge or shrink and use any size insert. I agree about drill holes before because you can secure bette but I make many clocks and drill holes after. It is a matter of knowing that a bit can grab and the duller it is the more harder you push and the more chances it grabs and pulls it out of your grip. No need for pilot holes. Those bits have a starting cutter so it needs to center itself to become dead on. What I do and I drill tons of insert holes is use an awl and just puncture the cross hairs. Now when I go to drill I line up that starting cutter with the punctured hole with the drill press off. I then secure the piece in some fashion and the slowly start drill and advance it. A good sharp bit is the key. One other note always use a drill press with forstner bits. Do not use a handheld drill. Asking for trouble.

Good to hear. The economy looks to be solid this year so this could be a good season for shows. Nice display and lots of variety. What would you say was the best seller and did things from past years sell this year that did not do well in the past?? Were people looking for anything in particular?? Usually at shows there is someone selling something that everyone is buying. I did a show many many years ago and there was a person selling snowmen on a stick as we called it and all it was was a snowman cut and painted and mounted on a stick that you stick in the ground. Everyone was walking around with them and it became the joke of the show between vendors. We all were staying we should go out and get some sticks and just mount whatever it was we were selling on a stick and we would do good. Another year was the growing stick gauges. Put it on a wall and kids mark their growth heights. You never know what will sell year to year.

At that time I made them flat. But since I now have a lathe and do some turning I would do with a lip and probably do some segmenting. I also cast so I probably would do mine in acrylic cast material adding a host of colors. You can use a BLO underneath. You do not want to use Danish oil. Just let completely dry. Dip once and all you need. Kevin lets see you get creative. So many things you can do with things like this. Make a theme. Add state quarters, add dowels of different sizes, do some segmenting with cross hatching, you can always scrollsaw designs in them and do an infill with epoxy resins and then no top coat is needed. Yo can scroll inlay work in them. Look at cutting board designs and use some of those for ideas in segmenting.As you see I am from the not plain look tree. Yes make a box or rack of some sort. Scroll design in and if themed then that is the design. Oh I can get really fancy but remember the more detail the price goes up. I bought the cork at either AC Moore or Michaels. Hobby Lobby was not around at that time. I rounded the edges. I am sorry I have no photos of many projects I have done over the years and this is one of them. They did not sell quickly but did sell. I am far more creative now than I was back then so I could pull off something better. Like I said I may have to give this some thought over the winter. By the way the box I made was a simple flat bottom with 4 dowels sticking up and the coasters rested in between them. If I remember it was 6 coasters.

Just beware this is clear finish so not yellowing or changing of color of wood. Stain before hand if you want that. Do you put cork on the bottom of your coasters?? I made a few sets over the years and that is what I did. Have not made them in a long time now. I may give it a go sometime again.

waterbased urethane Minwax makes that too. That just has UV protection from sunlight. if that is something that interest you. This is what I use but in spray rattle cans when I do use it. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Minwax-Polycrylic-Clear-Gloss-1-Qt/17253540?athcpid=17253540&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVAV&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=6a5156d9-57a-166db86099f6a3&athena=true

I agree a water based poly or any poly if you can stand the smell and dry times. That will stand up to drink spills. Danish oil does not have enough poly in it. Lacquer is not good for drinks. If you do not gloss use semi or satin.

No Brad I survived the reading. They all look good and the use of the color of the grain in the woods is smart. Gives them a natural look. Need to post more of your work. 25+ years. another old sawduster. I know if when I pass and they have to do an autopsy they will find saw dust in the veins too. To me it is the most relaxing hobby and was glad I found it some 35 years ago.

Has to be the longest title I ever seen here for a new topic

Nice cutting Kevin. I never did have much luck cutting and selling portraits either and never really got big into it. I try to make things that are usable such as napkin holders, shelves. mirrors. and of course clocks. The Navy plaque that someone showed here by Steve Good is probably the latest pattern that had many holes that I did but turned out not too bad after all. You do get in a rhythm.

For me every project is different. I try to drill all the holes at once but I do not do projects with hundreds of holes. There are times I will drill all the holes that I can with a larger drill bit and save all the tiny holes for the next round of drilling. I have made mistakes that were unfixable so I put that piece on the side and use it for scrap to make a jig for another project or use it to hold something down and put weight on it. I rarely just throw the wood out. Not much more to that that needs explaining. Learn from your mistake and you will maybe not do it again but maybe you will. Not the end of the world. Have been there too when you get an entire project done that took some time and droped it beyond repair . Life goes on. Happy scrolling.

I do not go to many other sites for scrolling and can not follow FB or even peoples blogs. I like real forums. You are youngin in the scrolling world. I probably started on forums a couple years before you. Did not own a computer. I now remember the name because I remember writing this in answer to one of Iggys questions in May of this year. There were alot of top flight pattern makers back then. here is a few. I happened to look at an older Creative Woodworks and Crafts magazine 2004 just yesterday, and was looking through it and noticed so many of the long time pattern makers and saw Harveys name with many of his puzzle packages listed for sale. Saw names like Jacob and Wayne Fowler, Phiip Wilson, Vernon Brown, Shelli and Kerri Robinson, Sheila Bergner, Marilyn Carmin, Robert Hiavacek SR., Wes Demerest articles, John Nelson, John Polhemus (the white Buffalo) Dianna Thompson, Dirk and Karen Boelman, articles written by Scott Kochendorfer, Nancy Jones, ever popular carvers Ivan Whillock, pen related articles from Joe Herrmann and all put together by a friend of mine and editor at that time Robert Becker and also one of the big sponsors Steebar who I did alot of work for back in the day. Many other noted pattern makers graced those magazines as well. I know I am leaving out quite a few.

Probably that was how long ago she was here.

Yes I found it and grabbed a copy. Do you remember a pattern maker that went by the name White Buffalo. I can not remember his real name but he use to do alot of unique lettering patterns. I think he too was part of that forum and group. Can not remember the wifes name too. I am sure I have his patterns somewhere in my possession. He did a series of profesional jobs patterns with the names as the center of the project and added themes that matched the job. They were wall plaques. Boy I am going way back. The wheels are turning up there but they are just spinning and no traction.

2009 someone must be bored

New format and yes things are different but basically the same old sawdusters here doing our thing. Travis is keeping the lights on for us. Welcome and jump right in. This is the most active scrolling site left.

Green Painters Mate (medium to high adhesion rate) http://www.paintersmategreen.com Pro mask blue (medium adhesion rate up to 14 days) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Intertape-Polymer-Group-PT14-Pro-Mask-Blue-1-in-x-60-yds-Masking-Tape-9-Pack-PT14-24SL/202667711 Basically both these tapes are of equal value as far as adhesion and neither one is low tact. If these are the ones you have. For low tact tape and I use it on delicate projects I use Duck purple painters tape. If the tape says 30 day limit for easy release usually means low tact. That is another key way to tell differences

This is true but with all projects weather it is furniture making, pen turning or scroll work, the bottom line is to make it look good it needs a good finish. All part of the process. Unless you can hire someone to do the finishing part I found no easy way but have found dipping in Danish oil to be the most rewarding and easy finish to do. The finish many times separates the good from the best. Some customers do pay attention.

RJ, yes I do make pens. I started those about 12 years ago and sell them at my shows too. I will start making pens again some time in Dec. Shows are over by then. I only make one of a kind pens these days and am into segmenting alot so I like to create new and different things. as far as time goes, some days none and other days I tell everyone do not disturb I am in a zone.

Kevin I am well past that doing any kinds of numbers like that. I would just give this hobby up for sure if I had to go back to that rat race. Now it is one or two of a different project or if I have to replace a sold item from a show. I think I mentioned once before here I took on a job for a customer who wanted 500 ornaments with possibilities of more. After 200 I told her to find someone else. Never could do repetition work and would never take it on again. I even refuse names put on projects. been burned there and swore never to do that again I will leave all that to you eager beavers. I do these projects at this time of the year in bulk because of the 2 shows I have left in the year. These are the only shows I do any more. Again been there done that and had enough. I do this now for fun. 10-- 15 and even 20 years ago I would have been right there with you trying to keep 6 stores filled and doing 7 shows a year. Try those numbers. Especially this time of the year. Plus working at my real construction job. I am retired in more ways than one.

Those will be coming in due time. As Kevin said that if new projects then have to take photos and these are all new projects so there will be photos. I will hope to get to by the third week in Nov. and I hope I can match the projects with the pattern makers because there were a few different pattern makers.

I will give a look for it a little later. The text makes the clock, you have to leave that. I recognize the Berry Basket clocks. Have so many of those styles and made so many over the years. I remember that name from another site but can not put my finger on it right now. Over the years there were many scrolling sites but this one has become my favorite and most active. The pattern makers here are top shelf.

At my house it was a national dipping day today. The past 2 days I have been making bases for my clocks and then sanding all clocks napkin holders and plaques getting ready for this day. Well 3 hours latter and 35 clocks with 35 bases, 5 plaques, 20 napkin holders divided by 2 because each has 2 sides and 10 bases. Dipped wiped down left to dry for about an hour outside and now all in basement where they sit for about a week. Then polished and assembled and price tag put on. I have about 5 other projects that I will continue to work on and hopefully will be done and ready for dipping end of next week. I am cutting it close so some projects may get pushed off for next year. Will see. I am still having fun creating things so on we go. Hope you all have a good day. I did.

At this stage of my life I can not find the patience to do a project like that. I wish you luck and show us a progress album.

That came out great. I too am in the camp and I have been doing this for a long time, but sometimes I can not figure out what to cut and should put bridges in and usually too late. I also sometimes can not visualize the finished product right away. I see the pattern but until it is cut it looks different to me. You did a great job and the pattern maker did also. Thanks for showing.