kmmcrafts

LOL, Sometimes I think the same thing when I see that... but the truth is.. people do adjust to the climate they are in after being in that type of climate for a few years.. so I believe they do get quite cold feeling... to them.. Same principal as we northerners will complain about the cold in the late fall early winter when temps might be 30 -40 out and bundle all up with heavy coats boots etc etc.. but after mid late winter early spring when we get a 30-40 degree day we are out there in just a jacket and tennis shoes thinking about how nice it is outside.. I remember complaining to the wife about how cold it was last fall at 35-40 even 45.. I just came in from working out in the shop for two hours to warm up.. setting here right now looking at my thermometer.. it's 18F... which by the way is the warmest day we've had in at least 2 weeks.. I'd love to get one of those 30 -40 days again so i can get caught up on my orders.. I'm sure it wouldn't feel so bad after these single digit temps we've been having..

Maybe I should learn the site a little better, LOL... I didn't know this was an option.. Thanks for commenting.. It's interesting to see how others view the site..

Yeah, I don't wear rings either.. well did my wedding ring for a lot of years until my finger got injured and I had to remove the ring.. it was stuck on.. guess after wearing it for 25 years I must of gained a little weight... will wear it again but not until I get it resized.. I made rings for my daughter to wear.. then a bunch of her friends wanted one.. I was the ring guy for a year or so making and giving rings to the little middle school girls LOL.. Made the wife one and she wore it for a while but don't think anyone has worn their rings for a long while now.. They are actually fun to make... but quite hard to sell as handmade jewelry is a hard tough over saturated market.. maybe not as bad for wood jewelry but I did hand stamped jewelry for a year or so.. was a tough market to sell in..

I recently seen a couple of topics that mentioned "only a couple people commented " or only a few people even liked my post.. which I've also noticed that sometimes topics are quiet while other are very active.. I come to the village and the first place I check out is the "general scroll saw" topic heading.. I rarely go into the bragging section or most any of the other sections.. sometimes I'll scroll through the list to the bottom of the main forums page and look to see if there is any main topics headings that look interesting.. but rarely open up that main category unless that topic title looks interesting.. then when i do open it.. I find many other topics that look interesting.. Anyway.. I guess I should explore more here.. but for some reason.. I barely go off to the other categories off of the "general" scroll saw talk one.. I read a post the other day somewhere that some people mentioned they mainly go to the bragging section.. which got me thinking about what others main interest here on the village is..?? What part of the village do you visit the most? Maybe this should be a poll of some sort.. me posting this just in the General section might not be seen to those that mainly just go to the bragging or other sections, LOL

Nice work on both the puzzles and that Caddy... I too will be doing a few puzzles soon.. but I first have a lot of clock inventory I'd like to build up first.. also have some portrait work I'd like to do..

I think it was Steve Good that has a pattern and maybe a video of making one.. I did a few several years ago when i seen the idea on his blog.. That said.. I also seen a youtube video of a ring that they made out of veneer.. the fellow just cut strips of veneer and soaked in water then wrapped the veneer around a dowel about the size of the ring size needed.. he used CA glue and just rolled it upa little at a time.. then the CA glue also was the finish.. polished up real nice.. there are some good videos on wood rings..

That's what I use.. I have a 30# cylinder and aim the heater toward me.. (the 20# cylinders are okay but work more on my feet that on me, LOL).. about 3ft away from me and usually run it on either low or Med.. Now.. this don't heat my shop.. just me, LOL but.. I think it would do really well if I had a small shop that was well insulated.. My loft is insulated but my shop hasn't been yet and my shop it big.. to big for one of these to heat even if it was insulated.. Anyone ever built a insulated portable wall? I don't want to close off my area for the nice breeze that blows though in the warmer months.. but would like a temporary wall that I could just heat a very small area.. maybe 6 or 8 ft square or so.. Maybe I could buy those styrofoam sheets and tape them together for a temporary wall? I'd like some tips if anyone had anything to offer.. maybe some ideas would also work for others.. so they could heat a small area around their saw etc..

I plan to add heat to my shop as well.. don't care if I need to wear coat and gloves.. still but working in there below 30F isn't fun.. My shop is too big to heat the whole thing.. 24 x 32 with a 14 x 32 loft.. I've been considering building a small room which would be heated just to keep my saw in.. I eventually want to heat the whole lower part.. but still working to put insulation up.. upstairs is insulated with 4" Styrofoam sheets.. just haven't got to the lower section yet.. Maybe I should heat upstairs and heat it up there.. since its insulated LOL.. Not really wanting to block off a portion.. but not wanting to heat the whole thing yet either.. I was thinking of a ceiling hung shop heater.. or maybe a electric radiant heater.. but really haven't looked into it too much yet due to not enough $$ yet anyway, LOL

I just came in from working in the shop.. was a bit chilly out there at 10F.. good thing I was able to finish up my project within only a couple of hours or I could have gotten a little cold... I still have 3 custom orders to make.. hoping to get some of them or maybe all of them done tomorrow considering we have a heat wave coming in.. might have to wear shorts out there as it's supposed to get to 19F... Looking forward to those low to mid 30's that is supposed to get to next week.. that I complained about being cold a month or so ago, LOL Customers keep me out in the shop..by placing orders.. I don't willingly go out to work if it's below 30F.. Do have a little radiant propane heater that works well at keeping me warm.. other than my fingers.. So anyway.. customers typically keep me from getting too lazy... I have a ton of bookkeeping to catch up on here in the house where it's warm.. but.. procrastination has kicked in on doing that part of my job... Hate Bookkeeping but it's gotta get done for the Tax lady to get started so i'm not late on reporting my sales tax.. Uhggg LOL

I'll be doing this on mine very soon.. I bought enough bearings and sleeves to rebuild the whole thing last fall.. but I never got to it.. I don't plan to rebuild the whole thing.. I just wanted the parts on hand this time as a couple years ago I didn't have the parts.. so .. I rebuilt the front portion and since then I try to shut down and clean up re-grease every year.. so far the front has been maintained very well and not no issues with it.. but the parts at the back are getting noisy once again.. last time I didn't have the parts so I just cleaned and greased.. now it's quite noisy so I have all new parts and will replace the back portion.. then probably just re-grease the front

Ultra I think just is a name they came up with to change from the VS.. But.. the I.D tag will still say VS.. as mine says 226VS.. but it's actually an Ultra.. The Ultra saws was a redesign with a different lower blade clamp and... the the lower arm has two positions for the blade aggressiveness.. otherwise.. I think it's probably the same saw.. I'd like to have a BM226 simply because the blade can be fine tuned exactly how you want it.. ( variable adjustment rather than the two positions ) I think I read somewhere about the G4 being variable adjusting? anyone?

Unfortunately these saws don't really bring all that great of money considering what they cost new.. Maybe just my opinion but I feel that saw is a little on the high price side.. If I could get $600 for mine.. I'd sell it in a heartbeat if I was looking to sell it... and mine was brand new still boxed in May 2017.. I have the VHS, box of pattern books, blades, and 10 blade clamps, original sales slip, etc that I received from the original owner.. he bought it new in 1998 and before it got mailed to him he had a stroke.. never opened up the box... by the time he went through the therapy etc he had lost interest in sawing.. or couldn't do it.. not sure.. either way he sold it to me.. gladly paid his asking price without even trying to talk the price down.. The best reselling saw in my opinion is a DeWalt.. old type 1 saws selling at $300 still.. while new that saw may have only been 300-350, LOL I think mine was ( on sale ) priced at $379 or something.. (less than $400 shipped ) with stand and light from Grizzly during the "Holiday" sales back in 2009.. Betting I could sell it for $275+ still.. even though I've used the crap out of it and rebuilt the thing a couple times.. and quite honestly still think the DeWalt saw is really the best bang for your buck.. really they are quite hard to beat for the money..and quality isn't too bad either for the pricing you pay.. Now.. not to say that there aren't deals on used DeWalts.. just saying the majority of them sell at more than I'd pay.. Hawks and most other higher end saws just don't seem like they hold the value.. in my area.. most all the Hawks are priced around $250 - 400 for a 220 and the 226 seem to be mostly in the 350 - 600.. most of the $600 ones seem to be listed for many months before they are taken down or sold.. with that said.. even though I gave $400 for mine still boxed.. I don't feel I could get much more if any than that out of it...unless I sat on the thing for several weeks / months..

Well as far as blade clamps go.. only way to " upgrade" those is you'd have to replace the lower arm.. as the barrel clamp and the newer clamping is different.. I have both a barrel clamp and a square type clamp with a roll pin through it.. I cannot say either one is any more of a pain to do / learn over the other.. maybe the newer square type one is slightly easier.. The saw in the link looks like a nice saw.. Biggest worries I'd have with it is the motor.. otherwise the saw has the options you most wanted... it is a variable speed one..has the tension lever at the front of the saw.. only thing I see that would get changed.. is I'd upgrade the blower hose and or.. hook up some sort of vac instead of blowing it in the air.. I upgraded my older one to the flex hose and it's long enough to blow the sawdust to the side and or toward the back of the saw.. the way those older hoses are just clamped to the saw aiming the sawdust right toward you was why I upgraded that part on mine.. The kit was bought from Bushton.. but.. to do over and the price of the kit.. I'd probably try to build me a vacuum system instead..

Well, any Hawk with the round lower blade clamp doesn't have the adjustable blade aggression.. ( If that matters to you ).. saw will cut great without this.. if.. you aren't used to a aggressive cutting saw.. The Ultra saws ( I believe 1996 and newer ) saws have a different lower blade clamp and you can ( for the Ultras and Maybe later saws ) position the lower clamp in two different slots on the lower arm.. front slot for thin ( less aggressive cutting ) and the other for thick wood ( aggressive) cutting.. I personally find for "me" the front slot not quite aggressive enough and the other slot a little too aggressive.. Again.. my style cutting etc.. this would be different for each type of work and type blades used and many other factors.. For a hobbyist just looking to go out and "play" I don't see where this would be a huge issue I suppose..( from my perspective ) but.. I don't do a lot of different style cutting.. Hotshot likes a saw that have about a complete straight vertical for cutting the coins.. as small as the coins are and the detail he puts into them... I see why he wants a saw set up like that.. For a hobbyist.. doing fretwork style cutting.. I think any older Hawk would be just fine.. as for updating a old Hawk to the newest features etc.. I wouldn't say doing it would be at all worth it.... I'd just mainly look for a older Hawk at a good deal and not worry about the bells and whistles..etc short of maybe staying away from one with that older motor that had issues.. unless you think you have the ability for retro fit a new motor on one yourself.. or good motor shop to help you do that.. If the price is sweet enough I'd buy one with the older motor, which I have with my old 220VS I figured for $100 I wasn't going to get burnt too bad if it stopped working shortly after I got it.. I just was looking for some cheap experience with a Hawk.. to see if maybe a better newer model would be worth the additional money..

Not real sure what all you want to know about it.. but by the serial number I'd say it's a 1994-1995 model.. due to the barrel clamps it's not an ultra.. so it doesn't have the adjustable blade positions for aggressive cutting.. Not too sure about the motor issue.. you'll need to call Hawk on that one.. I only know that it's newer than my 1993 because my serial number is 23059.. I think it was 1996 when the ultras came out.. The motor issue was with a certain brand motor.. and I believe the issues with them is the speed controller rather than the motor itself.. but.. because the motor is wired to the controller and the company that makes the motor is no longer in business the only option is to replace both motor and controller as a unit.. I'm betting a good electric motor shop could wire up a new $5 - 10 controller.. Issues with the motor itself.. might be an issue for parts etc.. but then.. not a whole lot to a small electric motor either...so again.. a good motor shop should be able to fix you up... Bushton would fix you up but that would be a $350 bill for the motor plus you have to send them the saw... I think the older motor brand is Fasco or something like that?? maybe someone else knows..

Very nice!!

Beautiful work as always.. A lot of time at the saw that's for sure.. LOL

Cool and very interesting test.. I bought some polar blades years ago when trying to do some puzzles and someone recommended them to me.. I wasn't all that impressed with the performance over the Ultra Rev.. ones.. Now that I've used the Pegas they been my go to blade..like to try those super sharps.. but wow.. I'm afraid I'd like them too much and be stuck paying that premium price.. LOL I am going to give them a try.. just to see.. I've heard good things about them.. and could be a money maker for those of us that sell and where time does matter..

I didn't know the blade could be turned 90 degrees on the Dremel 1800? I had one of these that I used for about 2-3 years back in my learning days.. really wasn't a bad saw other than the rod at the back of the saw was held on to the upper and lower arms with roll pins.. and no bearings.. I had to replace the darn thing about every 6-8 months.. nothing more than a piece of flat steel about 1/8" x 1 x 8.. Dremel wanted $40 for the darn thing.. needless to say.. I only bought the first one.. when I took it apart I was mad because it wasn't anything special.. To make matters worst the thing was back ordered for a couple weeks and I had to borrow my brothers ryobi saw to finish a project... and all along it was something so simple I could have made in just a few minutes from my scrap steel pile, LOL

I also know nothing of the saw.. it looks very similar to some other saws I've seen but cannot think of the brand of those saws or where I had seen them.. I believe I've read about another saw that could turn the blade 90 degrees too.. but again.. I don't remember where I seen or heard of that either...

Exactly.. I learned to do portraits about 6-8 years ago and did about 5-8 patterns.. then got busy doing other things etc.. had a friend request a pattern of his dad whom had passed.. I couldn't get it without doing a ton of refreshing with the videos here.. I haven't done one in a long time.. I'm sure I couldn't do one again without the videos.. and now I'm just so busy that it's hard to find the time to do them..

I learned to make "some" patterns myself by watching the videos here and ready the topics in the village university.. Not super great at it yet.. but been a work in progress for a year or two now.. Since I sell online and do custom work.. I try to do them all on my own but during the real busy times.. I reach out to a couple of pattern makers to have them do the work for me.. Yes I pay them.. never expect to have a pattern done for me for free after trying to do my own...it's not easy..at least for me.. I'd like to gain some other makers as they all have different styles of designing.. Sometimes in paying for a designer to make it.. they do a great job.. but sometimes the idea doesn't really match what I had in mind.. I really want to learn more.. but the only way to do that is take time to learn it.. and I'd much rather saw ..

That is Beautiful Rolf!! How big is that? I've always wanted to try my hand at intarsia... bought a book on it with some good patterns in it a couple years ago.. but never did give it a try.. Must be the A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. ( not sure I have either of those) .. as I get way off side tracked.. I say I'll do it then I see a fretwork pattern I just have to cut and so on so forth LOL.. Going to make it a point to do this new year... I think I just made my new years resolution.. LOL

This came across my facebook page so I thought it was funny and fitting for this topic, LOL

I have a wolf portrait that I stack cut 4 of back when my daughter was in 4th grade ( graduated high school this last summer ) for a silent auction fund raiser.. the one we auctioned for the fund raiser brought $50.. I listed the other 3 on the online venues I sell at and also did a couple local craft shows.. only ever sold one other than the fund raiser one.. Now I did well with a wolf dream catcher for a few rounds but that also died out.. That all said... I've never really done very well with selling portrait work other than cars.. then it's not even all that great..