kmmcrafts

Thank you, I hope I'll have plenty of stock.. Like to ad a hundred or so new styles so that is why I am jumping on the inventory now.. plus wanting to add several wall clocks..

Thank you!

Thanks Wayne,

Thanks JT.. I know you mentioned using Danish oil in many post.. Doesn't this stink up the house doing that in the basement? I will say Danish oil doesn't smell too awful compared to the Blo / Mineral spirits I mixed up.. and I even used what was called low oder mineral spirits... I do my finishing in the loft above the shop.. closed off from the dust etc from the downstairs and I open up the windows.. I still can't stand the smell in my shop for a couple of days.. even with the big garage doors open and the windows open in the shop area, LOL Going to use the stuff up.. but never making it again.. I'll stick to the Danish oil, LOL and my beeswax mineral oil mix that I use in the winter for rush orders..

Yeah, I like to take advantage of the warm weather..

Thank you, That is another great idea.. I wonder how many ornaments would fit on a line that is 32 ft long.. ... I'm about to find out.. LOL

Thank you, Nice to be able to cut them in the warmer weather..

Thank you, Yeah, right now I'm just trying to restock the ornaments I've sold out of last winter.. I normally stock about 200 different styles.. and try to keep at least 10 of each style on hand.. and 20+ of the more popular styles.. sometimes the 20 isn't enough.. especially when companies order them for the employees Christmas party.. not too uncommon to get a order of 200.. and usually a week before they need them, LOL has happen 3 years in a row now.. luckily I can stack cut 4-6 at a time

Thank you..

Thank you DW That's a pretty good idea.. My father use to do that... not sure why I hadn't thought of it before LOL.. This finishing area is actually an area that isn't used other than storage.. Its the loft above my shop.. the loft area is 14 x 32.. But I do like the idea of hanging them up better than building a drying table..

I been there and done that too.. which is why when doing puzzles.. I check the fit as I cut the pieces because no sense in continuing the cut... unless you really want that detail in the ornamental firewood

What 162 ornaments dipped in Danish oil look like drying, lol One day I’m going to build a drying table so I’m not doing this on the floor.

This was an awesome reply!! very well said... Brad

JT, as I said before... many people will have different opinions on what a expert is.. I mentioned many different things, but left out time being one of them.. coming from someone that is a production cutter.. and business.. I feel most anyone can achieve the things you mentioned as pumping out quality work if they took their time.. but coming from a production standpoint.. If I was looking to hire a scroll sawer to help with production.. those things you mentioned would be what I'd be looking for... as well as the amount of time they took.. I couldn't pay someone $20 hr. to produce $5 hr worth of inventory.. I'm in no way saying you and many others that have been doing this for years do not deserve that expert title.. I feel I am very good at what I do.. just as you do.. but giving myself the expert title based only on the quality of work only.. I'd have been able to give myself that title after the first year I started scroll sawing.. pumping out a whole 2- 3 ornaments a day.. now I cut about 15 - 20 an hour.. still the same high quality work.. just lots more experience with that.. I don't give myself that expert level because I'm not proficient at all styles of cutting... the quality is there.. but the production time is not... For instance.. I cut some puzzles that Iggy says he does in 20 minutes... since he only cuts puzzles he is very good at it.. Took me about 30 - 35 minutes to cut the same puzzle.. Again.. everyone has a different expectation or idea of what that expert title actually would mean... Also again.. not saying you and many others are not at that expert level.. I'm merely stating why I don't consider myself as being an expert.. I can pump out the quality in many various styles and materials .. but in a timely manor? most likely not..

Thank you for the kind words.. On a more serious note.. I kinda said what I said because I don't consider myself a expert.. not really anywhere near being a newbie either.. I personally think there are too many types of scrolling styles and materials to be scrolled that one would have to be cutting all their lives to be in a ( what I would consider ) expert level... everyone will certainly have their opinion of what that expert level means just as I do.. Some might consider themselves an expert scroll sawer.. but the only style of cutting they've ever done might be portraits.. or puzzles.. etc etc.. I've done a lot of portrait and ornaments cutting as well as quite a lot of 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick hardwood clocks... To me to be an expert.. I'd say you'd have to master all the types of cutting styles and materials..

That is how i used to do it.. Drill holes to avoid splitting the wood.. then to countersink the screws i used a bigger drill bit to drill so the screw head would be below the surface... I stopped using screws as the screws and holes in the wood weakened it clocks and I actually had a couple that broke right where the screws were... I started gluing them the last 2-3 years now and have not had one issue or complaint.. The down side to gluing them is.. it's pretty much permanent and if something happens to the base or the cutting.. the whole thing is trash

Glue bonds the best on bare wood.. That said.. I've seen many people glue backers that had been painted to fretwork and they claim they had no issues... But for the reason glue to bare wood works best is why i choose natural wood backers of contrasting colors.. ie.. oak cutting with walnut backer etc etc.. I'd like to take a cheaper painting route.. but don't want my customers stuck having to re-glue backers that come loose or fall apart.. LOL so I stick to the wood to wood method..

I've been sawing for 12 years now and seriously scrolling for about 5 + or - years.. with production cutting.. I'm turning 50 years old in November.. I'm thinking the best scrolling expert level i'll achieve in my lifetime will be expert at producing ornamental firewood..

It's Harvey's pattern but not sure if Scott has this one on his website or not.. but it is available here.. http://www.woodenteddybearonline.com/x/product.php?productid=6661&cat=1023&page=2

Thank you!

Thank you! Yeah, it's been talked about in the last few years about taking analog clocks out of schools.. because kids can't tell time with them anyway.. I may be old fashion but.. why not teach kids to read them rather than remove them.. Guess it doesn't matter.. I'll just switch to selling them with digital inserts one day..

Thank you, I hope they sell good..

Thank you!

Thank you

Thank you