kmmcrafts

I'd guess that 99% of the pattern designs could be cut on a 16" saw with straight blades.. and if you're good and can do the spiral blades.. I'd guess one could probably do most of the remaining 1% of the patterns.. that would normally be too large for a 16" saw with straight blades.. I have had a 20" saw for 14 years... only one time did I ever get to use the full 20" capacity of the saw... and to be quite honest.. I hate cutting that large of stuff anyway.. I've strongly considered getting a 16" saw for my next saw.. simply because it's smaller and lighter.. which would make it more portable to take to the campground etc during camping season.. So with all that said... and if money or space is tight.. I'd go with a quality 16" saw before I'd go buy a cheap 20" saw... as the quality saw is more important than the size of the saw if that makes any sense to you... however... most of the 16" saws on the market I'd consider not of very high quality other than one saw that I can think of that is still made in the 16" size..

I'm not sure there is any kind of rules as to sizing.. I typically cut my clocks from 5/8 ish solid wood... usually Cherry.. I plane it down to 5/8 for two reasons.. One.. I think the thicker wood for clocks starts making them look too bulky.. not to mention taking longer to cut the thicker wood.. also.. planing it down removes some weight.. since I sell online.. weight is a factor to consider.. while I don't pay the shipping anyway.. it still adds up for the customer.. One could make clocks out of much thinner wood than 5/8 even.. but too much less than 5/8 especially once you get down to 1/2 or less.. then it makes me feel like its too thin and sort of cheapens the look.. This is solely just my opinion so who knows how the customer feels.. but I sort of feel 5/8 is sort of in the middle of the two and seems to be what I like.. When it comes to ornaments.. some I make are 1/4 and some are from 1/8... again just an opinion.. but I feel the 1/4" ones are a little on the bulky side.. and for me 1/8 is very slightly on the thin side.. some folks use much thinner than 1/8 for ornaments.. I think it was Rolf that cuts them from 3/32? not sure what the size was he uses but it's real thin stuff.. Personally I like to cut the thinner stock due to being able to stack cut.. typically stack cut however many it takes to get 1/2 - 3/4 thick stacks.. so if I stack 1/8" I get to cut double the amount.. weight on something like ornaments doesn't change enough to matter which one I use... For a while I had planed my own lumber to 3/16.. for the ornaments.. I liked them in between.. but I typically stopped doing that because the cost factor in time.. Being a business sometimes you have to make a choice in these factors to keep the cost down for customers.. so I generally now just use 1/8 BB ply.. Portraits for me... are always cut from 1/8".. mostly BB ply but also have done many from 1/8 Red Oak.. and afew from 1/8 Oak ply.. If it's a plaque type wall hang that isn't framed.. I typically cut from 1/8 and glue to a backer that is 1/4.. Many patterns recommend X size.. I many times will cut patterns that recommend 1/2 or more.. I cut them in 1/8 and glue to a backer.. why 1/8? because my mind is in production type mode.. and I feel like way only make 2 from 1/4 when I can make 4 from 1/8.. so my mind thinks in these terms.. from a business standpoint.. I factor in productivity and weight into my final piece.. to help keep cost down.. Cannot mention on segmentation etc as I haven't done any of that yet..

I started out years ago on the SSWC board.. never did really love the site but for a long while that was the only one I found and knew .. I'm there under a different name but I don't think I've posted on there in several years.. and rarely even look.. Also on Steve Goods forum... but again.. don't check in much.. and last time I tried I couldn't get logged on for some reason. and still can't get on it. The Facebook groups are fairly active.. but I don't partake in them very much..

I'm really glad to hear you're having a good day and you sound as if things are getting better..

If these are the actual pictures.. it looks very lightly used.. The table doesn't take long at all to look well used on these saws.. and this table looks pretty new yet.. https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/tls/d/excalibur-ex-30-scroll-saw/6524375483.html

I cannot speak for the other members of this forum.. but I'd love to see more interaction from companies that make the tools we all use...I think these days consumers are interested in the companies in which they may be purchasing items from.. and in this day and age.. the internet should make that easy.. The more personally known a company or brand is the more comfort level the consumer has in purchasing their products.. So this goes back to my first sentence.. I'm pretty certain others would also be interested in knowing someone from the company was here and somewhat active in the forums about their products.. I believe this is somewhat how Ray from Seyco got so well known.. Many people would rather buy from him because they have a sense or feeling of knowing who he is.. as he is on many of these message boards..

Just guessing but... I think a lot of them are coming up for sale because... One.. they are mostly the old ones coming up.. and.. most of the old ones are owned or was owned by older folks.. most all of them I see in my area say in the add.. Dads old saw or grandpa's old saw.. typically saying the they are no longer able to use it or they have passed and they are cleaning out his old shop.. How both my Hawks came up for sale... Hawk sold a lot of those back in the day.. On a side Note.. I also see tons of Hegners up for sale too... just the ones I see are the old ones that are either single speed and or doesn't have the quick release at the front of the saw..

I agree with you on that statement.. Did you buy your green EX from Ray at seyco? My understanding was he unboxed the saws and tuned them etc so it's ready to go once you get it.. I ask this because you mentioned the upper arm of your new King saw... The upper arm on my NEW old ex out of the box was very similar to what you describe with your King.. If you look back through some post of mine you'd see I mention how I disliked how hard the upper arm was to lift up.. etc.. Just thinking this is a standard for brand new EX type saws out of the box before they are tuned and set up?

WOW!! That is a nice one..

Very nice!

Hmm.. guess I'm the only one that uses the belt sander No actually I typically use peel and stick labels to print my pattern on.. but for those that I do use the adhesive I typically do as new2woodwork rub my fingers together ..

You are right JT, and I knew this... I've seen this coming to this.. not just craft shows but everywhere.. I envisioned this happening back in the mid - late 90's.. and it's far from being over..What's next? well in my area there are people grocery shopping online.. we have a few stores doing this.. and they pay a shopper to shop for the list of items on the order.. checkout with it and take it to the persons house.. I have a cousin making a grand a week as a shopper / delivery person.. It's just crazy where this is going.. and this is nothing compared to whats to come.. we've only began this whole internet thing in the last 20- ish years. What's ahead.. smart refrigerators.. that automatically reorder food that is about gone.. This is only the grocery sector of it.. and most people will be doing any shopping by a smart phone that is by voice. Tell your phone to buy socks.. next day socks are delivered to your door..LOL I don't know where this will lead in to the craft sector of it.. but I can say.. I'm betting another 10 - 20 years.. the craft shows will be a thing of the past...which is why I think it's important for anyone thinking about doing this as income.. should be selling online by now and preferably 5-10-15 years ago.. I do understand that it's not about making money at it for most.. Personal computers will be a thing of the past as well... phones and tablets are hot things now.. There is going to be a big boom in reality type tv shows DYY shows etc etc.... but not on tv.. real armatures doing this online maybe youtube? twitch? vine? who knows.. but the movie stars as we know them.. are about to get a whole lot of life change in the next 20 years. If you know someone that's funny.. and likes making people laugh.. they should be doing this online.. get in on this in the early stages.. There is already lots of people making money doing this.. read about a guy that live streams is video gaming on a site called twitch..he's making like 200,000 playing video games..

The ones that are personalized I don't work until I'm paid in full amount.. my store policies state that.. its no work until order is paid in full and no refunds on these type of orders either.. the only refunds issued are for damaged goods by the mail.. and then it's a refund or replacement.. as the insurance covers the refund anyway.. I'd like to see all the crafts shows thriving.. but the truth is.. they aren't what they used to be.. not sure if they are dyeing out or just in a slump for the past several years..

That's a good idea... I used a credit card to try to keep it smooth.. did okay with it.. but then I picked it up about 20 min. later and put finger imprints in it.. and I couldn't get them smoothed out..

About 40% of my business is custom orders.. I have in my store policies that they are to be paid up front with no refund or cancellations once the cutting begins... That said though.. I normally do not enforce that unless it's a personalized something that couldn't be sold to someone else.. The two items I've made so far for this customer are very sell-able to others.. I enjoy custom orders.. it's interesting what ideas others have and many of them turn into a product that I offer in my etsy shop..and some are a very hot seller.. so sometimes doing custom work really pays off for me..

I've done the arleens tacky glue for puzzles and then used the triple thick glaze as Dan mentioned with good results.. But the trick with that glue is getting it on thick and smooth enough.. my first puzzle I got it on too thick and it ended up with some lumps or dips in it where I picked it up before the glue had dried.. so next time I made a fairly thin smooth gluing.. but in sawing it it lifted off the board.. Next puzzle came out better.. but I think a spray glue like for patterns might be a easier better option.. haven't tried that one yet though..

I always put my name in my signature... Helps me remember what my name is, LOL.. That said..many people have called me Kev over the years.. before I made the business name of KevsKrafts..

Only pricey if bought in small quantity's..... But most casual cutters probably would be never use a few thousand sheets a year either.. LOL.. I buy 1000 sheets at a time for around $50..I figure buy the time I pay for regular paper and many cans of the 3M-77 and the mess it makes with the over spray.. yes.. makes a big mess with the over spray getting on all sorts of other things surrounding where it's sprayed at.. and using it at my scale creates a gooey sticky floor and most everything around the area that it's spayed in, LOL So.. I use them always.. unless it's a large pattern that takes more than a 8.5 x 11

I buy the 3M 77 because it is used for so many other things in “my” shop. Awesome for gluing sandpaper to a disc sander. Also works in the Autobody repair sector of my life as it works well for gluing molding and emblems back on that are the super thin ones. The thicker moldings I use 3M double sided molding tape. Anyway, I use it more for that stuff that the patterns. Most my patterns are printed on self adhesive full sheet shipping labels. I only glue patterns that are larger than the standard 8.5 x 11 papers as I haven’t found any self adhesive papers any larger than that.

You know, while this type of customer is annoying.. I've found that in working with them... many times gets a great repeat customer.. About 5 years ago I had a customer like this.. but with a larger scale order.. she knew she was a pain in the you know what.. while she didn't say it right away.. she waited until she received her order and messaged me that she was a pain to work with... but a nice thank you note for being patient with her and making the exact piece she wanted etc... This customer orders $500 worth of products every holiday season from me now.. I grew to know what she expected and we grew a online friendship.. I have a few other customers the exact same way.. and are now repeat customers that are actually a pleasure to do business with from then on out... Besides.. we scroll saw for fun right? why not take advantage of getting to saw three or more items to make that "Perfect" gift they envision.. after all.. it is an excuse to make something new right? LOL When you bend over backwards to make a memorable experience for the customer.. They remember that.. and will talk to friends about the experience they got... if it's a bad experience.. then they also run there mouth about that as well.. In selling my work.. while many think it's all about profit.. in the end.. for me.. it's more about making a "perfect" gift for that special customer..When you start making the money the priority is when you loose business.. Yeah I make money.. but in some orders.. I loose money for now.. but many times make it up from that customer or from a friend of that customer later down the road.. Thank you all for the nice comments

I bought a can of the elmers once.. actually not long ago.. because it was half the cost of the 3M77... I had issues with it lifting as well.. then read something along the lines of what Jay said on the can.. While I still only sprayed the pattern.. I learned that you need to really wet it pretty good.. and stick it while it's still wet.. don't wait for it to get tacky.. I used it until the can was gone.... I did learn though.. even at half the cost of the 3M77.. In the end it was more money.. because you use twice as much spray to get it to stick..

The whole tube broke? or just a few of the sections? I took mine apart when I got my DeWalt as the hose was too long for my liking and kept getting in my way.. I took a few of the links out to shorten it up some.. Those come apart ( hard but they do ) and when trying to reconnect.. then it's easier to have them heated up so they have a little more flexibility.. Just run them under hot water for a few minutes and sometimes helps if the water is a little soapy so they slip together easier... though it does also make it harder to hold onto Enjoy making some sawdust

Thanks everyone for the comments.. I just got a email from her... just as I expected.. It's not exactly what she wants and she wants two slight changes but wants me to call her to hear what they are... this lady can email and normally gets back to me real quick.. yet she's always wanting me to call her.. I'd have to tell her that I'm booked for the year because she doesn't need these until Oct.. LOL.. funny thing is.. showed her the pattern I made.. she okay-ed it.. now that I made it.. she wants changes.. I typically get 1-2 customers that are like this every year.. at least this one has given me until Oct..LOL Typically they want it next day or the day before they contacted me.. LOL I'll probably call her Monday and depending on what those changes are whether I'll either talk her out of it explaining that I have to make a whole new clock since the clock is already glued to the base and a oil finish has been applied.. or I'll mark up my price to a point she won't want it.. On a side note: I don't typically cut a custom made item out until it has been paid for in full with no refunds.. That is stated on my site.. But then.. I always do my best to make the customer satisfied too so we'll see..

That's one of those 220's that has no tension release lever at the front of the saw.... Not sure but I'm thinking it's a belt drive and may or may not be a single or maybe 3 speed model..

Someone from a dog show / club contacted me about making a Brittany clock.. She referenced the clock to my pheasant hunting clock.. so I asked about if she wanted the hunting clock with a Brittany in place of the pointer dog.. she said no just a Brittany.. So I made the clock from Harvey's / Iggy's puzzle pattern ( posted on here a couple weeks ago.. I sent her photos and she said that's not what she wanted.. she wanted the hunting clock with a Brittany, LOL.. Lady make up your mind, LOL.. she wanted me to call her to talk about the clock.. so I call and she didn't have anything to say that she hadn't already said..other than she is in charge of the prizes for this organization and has a healthy budget to get Brittany items for the prizes and a raffle.. asked if I had any other ideas for items... Dang.. I tried my hardest to send her to Iggy's web site... as I could tell already she is going to be one of those dreaded customers that has you make all sorts of things then doesn't want anything in the end, LOL Anyway here is another Brittany themed clock for her... if she frowns on this one I'll send her to anyone here that might like to deal with her because I'm done after this one.. BTW I cut this on my old Hawk 220VS and used several different blades to experiment with some different blades.. and I did get some slight burnt ends on some of the pointed spots.. won't use the Olsen Mach Speed for cutting Cherry.. they was cutting good.. and didn't have the saw speed up much.. even turned it down to around less than half speed.. FD-UR did the same for me too.. but the Pegas.. no burnt edges even on high speed.. Gotta love those pegas MG series blades..