kmmcrafts

Well, mine isn't going to be anything with scroll sawing.. well maybe it is in a round about way... I want to get better at the pattern making part.. and since I'm getting a CNC router and a laser... I know very little about the design work for these.. hope to learn on the software they use for these machines.. but this would also be able to be printed out and used as a pattern too.. at any rate... design work is what I intend to learn this year.. I already do a little.. but need much more practice.. Hope to add a whole lot of new designs to my store for next year...

So when windows sticks... I can spray my computer with that stuff and it'll un-stick? Where Do I spray it to un-stick windows.. Sorry Couldn't resist that one, LOL

Mr Blaster is a brand and they have several different types of lube. Guess I should clarify that I used some sort of dry Teflon spray lube. It dries really fast and doesn’t take much and last a long time.

Thanks for those measurements JT.. you had me curious so I just went out to measure the EX-21.. cold out there and was in my pajamas, so I did a quick measure.. looks like at best maybe 4-1/4 " from front of table to the front of the blade.. The Hawks don't bother me this way... but that Excalibur sure does... I know it's something one just needs to get use to... I was real interested in the Jet saws until I seen how they are the same way.. probably the same 4-1/4.. does look like the new 18" Jet has a little more table in front of the blade.. but not a whole lot more.. I don't do the big stuff often.. but I did cut a 28" frame for a friend to put her stained glass piece in.. This was before I had several saws.. so was done on my Dewalt.. I used flat blades for the most part then used spirals on areas that I couldn't do with the flat blades..

Usually the only time I find awesome deals on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace is when I'm broke... otherwise they are asking as much as new cost for stuff when I'm actually looking to buy something and have the cash.. That said though... I've found and bought more than my share of deals...

I'll have to check that out Ray, Thank you for sharing this info... The CNC Router will come with a software called Vcarve.. it's a vectric software.. I've watched a ton of videos on this and have somewhat been planing for a few years to get a CNC.. was always torn between the CNC router or just a stand alone laser machine.. Almost bit the bullet last year.. but really didn't want to spend the cash either... This year has been wonderful with a lot of business..

If buying new... personally I'd suggest a DeWalt for the simple reason they are popular saws and hold their value pretty well... heck 15 year old DeWalts are still bringing near $300 for used ones. probably the easiest saw to sell and recoop most of your money back from... if you decide the hobby isn't for you.. many times a DeWalt can be bought cheap enough on sale that if you don't like it you'd get all your money back in selling it as a used saw.. I bought mine on a Christmas special from Grizzly for $340 with stand and light.. now that was years ago ( 2008) but at that time they was regular priced at about $450.. at that time.. many used ones was selling for $300 - 350 so it was a no brainer for me to buy that saw.... Still have it and have put a lot of hours on that thing...

I believe that might have been me that brought up the topic about Mr Blaster .. as I was looking for dry graphite for the Hawks.. but the only thing the one store had was the Mr Blaster so I bought it to try.. I use that stuff on all sorts of things now..awesome stuff.. my lawn mower is a self propelled and the handle was sort of stiff to push so I used that on the cables and also around the wheel bolts.. as I don't use the self propelled feature on it.. but anyway that thing rolled a lot easier too.. car door hinges and everything I can think of gets sprayed with that stuff now, LOL

Yeah ornaments is my thing really.. and I really enjoy cutting them. For the most part.. I don't need a larger table.. but like the Excalibur I learned real quick that I don't like the table on it.. and it is bigger than the table on the one Hegner I did see.. but that was a very old and small 14" saw.. the table width is what was small.. and while the width isn't my issue with the Excalibur.. it's the blade position being close to the end of the table that I don't like.. there's not a lot of support on cuts that are near the ending of the project and I sit close to the saw so the wood many times is getting hung up on my jacket or something... good thing I'm a skinny guy.. I suppose I could get use to it... great saw for doing my ornaments.. many of my car desk clocks are 10 - 13 inch long.. and that hangs out more than half the board off the end of my table.. on the Excalibur.. and I do cut portraits.. not huge ones and not all that often.. but most of these I cut at 11 x 14.. not much a issue if I'm using spirals... Probably just something I need to get use to on the Excalibur.. as that is my only complaint with that saw now that it has the Pegas chucks on it. So far I haven't found cutting the ornaments boring.. they are actually my favorite thing to cut.. second favorite is portraits... but I try to not make those as I've never had great luck selling that type of work.. and while I enjoy cutting most anything.. I do prefer to cut stuff that I can sell rather than sitting on projects for years before they move..

Yes, i'm fully aware of that.. which is why I chose to purchase the CNC now.. before I get to a point where I need to spend all my time at the scroll saw... I probably made it sound as though I thought I could just set the machine and push a button and walk away... I do realize there is a huge learning curve on these.. I opted for a stand alone laser rather than the one that goes in the CNC because one that come with the router is very limited and not very powerful.. I don't know much about the routers... but have done a lot of research on the lasers.. I know a little about the Vectric software and vector programs as I helped a friend through the learning of running his plotter vinyl sticker machine.. I'm sure it's different than what he does but i have a little.. very little concept of what to expect.. I have a table saw that works and does most everything I need it to.. as well as the jointer and bandsaw.. and can do glue ups.. I do glue ups now.. when I say I don't know woodwork I mean big stuff like furniture and larger projects. joinery etc. things that would require making / buying jigs etc for the table saw.. I do not expect to learn these CNC machines in one or two years.. but something I want to learn.. and take my time learning not expecting to jump in and start making money with them or anything of that nature..

Yeah I was just trying to give the Hegner guys a chance to talk me out of the Hawk.. .. I've only seen one Hegner in person and it was a real old 14" single speed with no quick release.. I'm interested in trying a Hegner but not really at the cost of this particular one.. Buying new I have more comfort level with the Hawk as that is what I know.. but still have interest in Hegner's basically just looking to learn the ins and outs of them..as I know the Hawks.. Right off the bat there are small tidbits about the Hegner that sort of turn me off.. small table being one of them but it's a simple fix too... The purpose of the CNCs is more about enhancing my scroll work and capabilities rather than replacing the scroll work... I don't believe CNC work to be considered "Handmade" while many do.. maybe my mind will change on that after I learn them... I really wanted the laser machine more than the router.. But I purchased both for a few different reasons.. I may start another store and do a different type of work using the CNC.. but at this point the scroll work is very enjoyable and profitable for me.. I don't consider myself a woodworker.. but more a scroll saw artist ... which is why I backed down from the big table saw.. I don't know much about woodwork and table saws.. could I learn? yeah.. but I feel if I'm going to take on a different type of work.. I might as well do something that doesn't require my whole attention.. working a table saw and doing a different line of woodwork requires my time.. which would take me away from the scroll work. The CNC will take my time in designing and setting up the machine but once started I can walk away to go scroll saw while the CNC does it's thing.. If I expand it out into different projects.. I see the CNC's as a better investment for me.. and just like scroll work.. the CNC can do many different mediums.. I suppose the table saw can too.. but.. still requires me to run it.. My scroll sawing business gets busier every year.. I don't want to get so big with the scroll work that I need to hire people.. as this brings on much more tax laws and liability things that I'm not interested in dealing with.. The laws I have to deal with now is plenty enough for me.. and that is getting worst with these new state sales tax laws etc.. The husband and wife team you speak of is probably the same couple that contacted me several years ago wondering if I would be interested in buying their business as they was ready to retire.. They only did ornaments and small things.. maybe keychains? anyway they was doing $120,000 a year in sales back in 2007-8 ish.. I wasn't ready for that kind of commitment at that time.. and would have failed the business as at that time I was still very new to the business side of this..and had never really done shows.. and that was all they did.. I don't think they did any online stuff..

I'm thinking about selling my DeWalt, old Hawk, and Excalibur and buying another high end saw.. Really leaning toward a new Hawk BM series.. but ran across this Hegner tonight on Craigslist... Not knowing the Hegners very well.. Not sure I'd like it.. took me forever to have the Hawk grow on me and now I don't really like any of my other saws, LOL... I notice the table on the Hegners look small.. one of my bigger complaints on the Excalibur.. and that the blade is close to the front of the saw rather than setting back aways.. Yeah I know I can build a larger table... and might if I was to know that I actually would like the Hegner.. I also see the are on sale... Still leaning toward the Hawk.. but I also have always wanted to try a Hegner.. rather spend $400 ish on something to "try" than $700 + https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/tls/d/scroll-saw/6767867748.html I scrapped my idea of a new table saw... and bought a CNC Shark HD4 router with water cooled spindle.. While spending some money.. also got a CNC 40W CO2 laser ( cheap china one ).. just to play with.. Also picking up a Festool MIDI Vac.. to make a dust collection system for my scroll saw... In no way will these two CNC machines take over my handmade scroll saw stuff.. I wanted the table saw to branch out and make cutting boards or something different than scroll work.. but got to thinking about how I would have to man the saw and glue ups etc etc.. which takes time away from scroll sawing... so the CNC machines caught my interest.. I don't know much about them but will be learning either if it was an investment or a bust... I feel the table saw for me would be a bust because I'm getting busy enough that I need to be at the scroll saw more and more.. and not expanding into something else that will also take a lot of my time... Maybe dreaming but hoping to be able to set up the CNC and while that is making something.. I can go scroll saw.. but since I don't know much about them.. There'll be quite a learning curve to not only run it.. but now looks like I'll need to learn more design type work with the computer.. so i can run the darn things, LOL.. If nothing else.. this is probably at least going to give me some scroll saw pattern making type of experience... even if I throw away the CNC's LOL Anyway back to the scroll saws... This Hegner... Since I know very little on the Hegners... anything stand out in this saw that I should not bother to go look at it.. It's only about a 30-50 minute drive from me. One thing that turns me off right away is the fact they was too lazy to at least dust the thing off before taking the pictures.. LOL But maybe a good sign that it works too, LOL.. I feel the price is a little steep but maybe that's just me.. I'm probably going to pass on it.. and go with the new BM Hawk... since Hawks is what I know.. and I'll have a lot of learning with my other new toys..

I have a couple pair of work tunes noise cancellation head phones.. Bought them way back when I started my lawn care business.. Use them a lot for several summers.. hoping the bright yellow would fade away and make them not stand out on my head like a big yellow jacket bee.. but no luck... still bright yellow

I need to watch that video when things slow own for me.. I really want to know how to do this. and also want to know how to fill an area with text.. like the animal puzzles Iggy cuts.. I'd like to be able to take a silhouette and put text into that like those puzzles.. Many many things I could make if I was able to do that.. Some day... I hope...

brad point bits are awesome.. I had a set several years ago and never had any ripping or push through splinters.. I doubt they have them in the small numbered sizes though do they? Don't think I've ever seen them smaller than 1/8..

I use a scrap board for drilling.. a real good sharp drill bit helps some too.. also.. take it slow.. especially going through the last ( bottom )of the stack.. When drilling wood.. I find that if you are making a small pile of fine sawdust on the top board.. your probably going the right speed... if not then you end up with the drill clogged and as you bring the drill back up it unclogs and leaves you the packed sawdust strings rather than a sawdust.. if that's the case.. pushing to fast through the wood.. I push through most times if its away from the line into a waist area.. otherwise I go slooooow, LOL..

Cutting plywood.. eats up the blades quite fast.. I've been sawing ornaments as much as I can just to keep up with orders and inventory.. and falling way behind.. sold out of over 50 different items...... yesterday was a slower day and today I'm not working much... taking a "me time" day off.. as much as I can anyway.. I've enjoyed reading the messages I've missed for the past 3 weeks.. I've been on here.. but not very much.. mostly just a quick pop in and back out, LOL.. Pretty much working from 6am to 10-11pm either packing orders or sawing 7 days a week for the last 3 weeks as my inventory depleted way too fast and all of a sudden.., LOL only cut for about 30min. today.. didn't even wear out one blade yet, LOL.. The next week and a half will be crazy with last minute shoppers ordering it today and asking if it can be there by yesterday, LOL.. I'm ready for the slow down...and so is the Hawk.. it's got a bad bearing or something... as it's squeaking down near the connecting rod or the motor.. area...stopped using it since those blades are all messed up anyway.. so now the EX-21 is getting a workout.. was going to use the old Hawk.. but dumb blades can't decide what size they wanna be LOL.. I thought having 50 each of my most popular ornaments would be plenty.. guess I thought wrong.. then some that was popular last year and I made 40-50 of and have only sold a dozen of.. just never know what will sell..

Yeah.. not all my blades have that tip on them.. but so far all do have the notch.. Almost like their cutter that cuts the blade to length was broke or out of adjustment.. not sure but definately an issue.. and I hope my next blades are not like this.. Although.. this time of year I go through a lot of blades... I've used about half of this gross I opened up a couple weeks ago..

Ray not sure how well it shows in the pictures but the blade on the left has the notch.. the very tip also is notched and that extended smaller notch is not supposed to be there.. so my blade is that much longer.. actually more than that much because the bottom of the blade is the same way.. I've been having to use side cutters and snip that little section off.. the issue is seeing where to actually cut it with the side cutters.. With the Hawk saw the blades install bottomed out in the lower clamp and the upper clamp.. then adjust the saw to the proper blade tension.. but having to cut the blades.. if I'm too short or too long in cutting it..well that effects the tension.. I'm not going to mess up my saw adjusting it to each blade I use so I opt to use these messed up blades on a different saw that doesn't automatically have the tension set like the EX or Dewalt.. Once you set up a Hawk tension.. you leave it alone.. and you get the same tension every time.. unless you get a bad batch of blades that are all different lengths like I have.. some of these have that on both top and bottom and some just top or just bottom.. some even have longer and shorter piece to be clipped off. so there is no consistency with the batch of blades I got.. I was going to just order new blades.. but they #5's are out of stock because they was messed up and.. DnD has been exchanging them.. I got into this new gross at a bad time because now nobody has good blades in stock.. Good thing I have other saws these blades will work on.. Also just to note... I don't think the blades are any weaker because of this notch.. I'm breaking them on my Hawk because of the tension changing from one blade to the next because I cannot cut them off the same length every time.. No breaking then so far on the other saws.. DnD is out of stock.. I just placed a order with Bear Woods.. they didn't mention being out of stock on the website.. so hoping they get me some good blades.. but that place has always been slow as pouring molasses in -20F temps LOL.. so it might have been quicker to just wait for DnD to get more stock..

I've had them clipped on both ends or one end or the other... so I wouldn't rely on that clipped area to be top or bottom... it's not a marked blade that clipped area isn't supposed to be there... those blades that are clipped like that are defective blades... Though for the most part have been working great for me on any of the saws I have as long as I can cut the end off at the right length for my Hawk to have proper tension... So far these clipped blades have been all sorts of different lengths for me.. so I'm using them on the DeWalt and Excalibur.. since I'm not getting consistent tension with them on the Hawk due to the various length blades..

I just sent Steve a message.. hopefully he'll get it up on the pattern catalog soon... I told him several people was interested in getting a copy of the pattern.. So not we'll wait and see of he puts it up in the catalog.. If I hear anything from him I'll be sure to post about it in this topic..

Since we all know now that it's Steves pattern.. and if you want it.. I'd suggest emailing Steve directly and use my picture to show him what you are looking for. maybe mention many others are interested and are having trouble finding it.. There are a lot of patterns from way back that I've done and had not been able to find in his online catalog.. I sometimes wonder about the search feature of the site as to how good it really is.. as those patterns over the years I've been able to find with just searching through all the pages of patterns... which I did for this word art.. and never did see it.. even after I found the pattern it bugged me so I went and searched the file name and came up empty.. kinda odd that Melanie found it though.. and others aren't ... she must have a smarter computer or a smart phone

It is a Steve Good pattern.. I thought it was.. and someone kindly helped me in getting the pattern... Some reason the pattern isn't found in his pattern catalog though.. so when I get a minute if I don't forget.. I'll send Steve a message about it not being found in the catalog.. I actually fired up my old laptop and found the pattern.. not sure how it got missed in my transfer to the new computer but anyway.. the important thing is.. I found it.. Thanks for all the help everyone,

Yeah I suppose I'll end up just cutting the wording from my picture.. I'm not looking for the ones with the coffee cup etc.. as my customer has already purchased the one I did a few years back.. however it was a sold out item and I re-listed as a made to order item.. Not wanting to send the customer something different than they ordered.. otherwise they can complain and end up getting it free.. via. item not as described.. so I need the exact pattern shown in my picture.. Thanks for all the help anyway, Kevin

I had this design.. since this is on my website and sold out... so I made it as a made to order item.. Now I've sold it again but cannot find my pattern... I was certain it was a Steve Good pattern but cannot find it in the pattern catalog.. I think I can cut it from my picture if I had too but would rather use a pattern.. I always put my patterns that I make on a few select hard drives and thumb drives as to not loose them for when I sell things and need to remake them.. apparently I didn't add this one Thanks for any leads, Edit to add: The Pattern was found and here is a direct line to the design on Steve Good's Blog Page https://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/2008/11/another-book-of-word-art-patterns.html