kmmcrafts

Had two nice days to work out in the shop. Amazing how much more work I can do with some decent temps to work in. Just building a little inventory of sold out items is all. Now if only this weather was sticking around . But nope not quite yet. Mid April I should be going full force.

That is awesome news!

Thanks for all the nice comments and likes from everyone.

Hmmm, might be a setting for your computer? I know I've had done a dumb thing a few times where I've had multi pal tabs open and went to shut one by hitting the wrong X and close my browser.. I come back here to re-type my message and it's already there as it saved it... I thought it was the a setting within the village web site because I don't think that happens anywhere else.. But anyway to answer your question.. Somehow I have auto save.. but I don't know if it's a setting on my PC or if it's the village web site..

Hahaha love it!! . Great work on both the cutting and pattern

Was a fun little project I made for a friend that has a collection of beetles. Cut with #3 Pegas MG blade cut from maple.

Most blade manufactures offer sample packs where they will have 6 blades of each size in that particular style.. As for what blade works best is very dependent on what type of scroll sawing and material you'll be using.. My go to blades are.. Pegas MG #3 and #5 or I also like flying Dutchman blades.. and that would be Ultra reverse #3 and #5. but I also like the Scroll reverse and the spiral blades.. with spirals I've never used anything more than a #1 usually use a 0/1

Very nice work Jay!! In my photos you can clearly tell where the spiral was used.. I usually do like someone else mentioned and cut the veining with a straight blade and then go back to cut with the spiral.. I didn't do that with these clocks... While I feel I can cut a project out with a spiral and have acceptable results.. They do not cut with the fine detail that the straight blade does... I use the spirals for certain types of cutting.. but the straight blades give a more detailed project.. Not saying that one that uses them do any less quality of work.. just a spiral cannot cut sharp crisp points on corners etc.. and for the most part.. the average person ( non scroll sawer ) would never know the difference.. but when one pays very close attention to a piece.. you can tell a difference.. if a piece was entered into a show to be judged even a non scrollsawer judge may not catch that.. so that is how close to the average persons eye these pieces are.. Working in the autobody repair for years has trained me in looking closely at the details.... when we are out and about many times I use to say.. that cars fender/door or whatever panel has been painted.. everyone in the family will look and say..how do you tell that? lol.. the paint itself can match perfectly but I can still see it was painted because the way the texture of the paint is different than the rest of the car.. There are some awesome painters that can spray that same texture as the rest of the car.. but.. again.. mostly only us painters would see that difference.. most people look for color match.. and that is all they see..

First photo looks to be the one done with flat blades and the other was done with spiral.. What kind of prize does the winner get?

If I get some decent weather and some shop time I may give this a try.. I use either blade.. but for the most part I like the straight blades best.. and like someone posted above.. it really depends on the project at hand.. I've used both style blades on the same project.. for instance.. these two clocks was cut out with both.. straight and spirals... most all the inside cuts was with the spiral.. normally only do the veining with the spiral, but I was experimenting since I've never actually cut thick wood with a spiral.. usually just thin ( stack of 3 bb ply at 1/8" is the most I've done with spiral blades ) First time was the truck.. cut from pine since it was soft and easy cutting.. then I tried the cherry with the Camaro.. The text and outline of the Camaro was done with a straight blade.. Both cases was 5/8" thick wood.. both times was with a FDNS #1 One thing about spirals is.. they like to take the path of least resistance (in my opinion ) so you have to really be watching what the blade is doing or trying to do..

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..