kmmcrafts

Yes, the name is Rick Gray.. I think I've seen another topic somewhere concerning him and someone mentioned he is on FaceBook .. I don't know for sure.. just what I had seen somewhere on another topic....

I could be wrong but I think woodywoodscroller is a female. I believe it’s Rick Hutchins? Wife Rick is the one that used to run the free4allpattern site shortly after the msn groups got closed down and everyone migrated to scrollsawer site.

I guess maybe I mis-understood the original part of the topic.. I took it as.. "is the end near for selling scroll work" .. To that question.. NO... Maybe the way the crafts are being sold is changing.. and those that don't keep up with the times are at a loss.. Most all the craft shows around my area are a joke.. more like a flea market loaded with resellers.. even the one that is supposedly a high end show that is juried and cost $700 to get into.. with a waiting list.. it's a big joke... would I sell at one provided I could? Yes.. Do I want to? NO.. Hauling a set up to a show is not my idea of fun at all.. then packing back up the products I don't sell and bring them back home... I'm not one who likes being in a large crowd.. Much easier for me to make products.. and inventory the items ( or no inventory and just made items as ordered which is what I did this year ).. No sense in making inventory for items that might not sell real well.. Once the first one is made for the pictures.. I don't need to keep that inventoried.. Back when I first started selling my kids was much smaller and dependent on me.. doing craft shows wasn't an option.. that was something I was going to do once they were bigger... well.. now they are bigger.. and my online sales keep me busy enough to stay out of the shows.. so i don't really have the need or want....for doing the shows..

Depends on how much you want to believe. I never believe people when talking about sales and I try not to include them unless pushed. Many things do go into sales of any items and of course location is always #1 and #2 I don't think location is much of an issue selling online... Do you? Selling online in various vendor sites such as Etsy is a crapshoot to say the least.. I'd say it really depends on how much effort you put into selling online no matter where you sell. I find it odd that people can downplay online selling especially when they know nothing about selling online.. can and will lead to an overflow of product to choose from and thus price wars. Guess you'll have to stay a step or two above the others.. do something different to stand out.. Personally I find that the majority of sellers online know nothing about internet marketing and SEO.. Like I've said many times.. doesn't matter what the prices are if nobody is seeing your web page.. ( My ornaments are selling about as fast as I can make them at $16 each... most of my competitors sell at $8 - 10 ).. Guess maybe I am a step above the others..as I've had classes on internet marketing and SEO.. I will comment about the laser thing. It has always been an obstacle to us scrollers.. Lasers probably do have some effect on scroll saw work.. but I find that most people that know very little about them seem to think that they just magically pop out products at a 100 pcs per hour or something.. You can scroll faster than a laser can cut.. most lasers cannot cut very thick material.. unless your talking about a $50,000+ laser.. then you have to sell the crap out of stuff just to pay for the laser.. not to mention that they do wear out just like any scroll saw would.. The affordable lasers for the crafter type people are lucky to be able to cut 1/8" material.. They do make great engravers or pyrography type stuff.. and are good for many other things.. but I don't see woodwork/ fretwork style stuff as being all that great at.. A CNC router is the same way.. great for carving.. not so good at actually cutting fretwork type stuff.. the router bits can only go down to a small diameter.. hard to get good sharp corners with a round bit that is still bigger than most scroll saw spiral blades.. That all said.. yes like I said in the beginning.. lasers probably do have an impact.. but I think there is room for both..as both have their limits.. I never sold anything craft wise 30 years ago.. so I don't know what selling was like back then.. My father tried his hand at selling his work.. Did a years worth of craft fairs back in 1989 - 1990.. only one show he made enough money to pay for the booth.. He told me one day to take all the stuff and hand it out to my brothers etc.. I took the stuff to work to show co-workers.. I ended up selling about everything he had within a week.. and had a couple orders for him if he wanted them.. when I gave him a wad of money he was like.. whats that for.. I told him I sold all his craft work... he couldn't believe it..

Funny you mention this.. I've turned a couple customers over to the laser made stuff since they wanted " perfect " work.. customer took 8-10 days to get back to me.. I got the order..and a big one too.. $500 worth.. There are tons of laser made stuff on etsy.. there are tons of other scroll sawers selling the same items as me on etsy.. yet I'm busy enough to turn work away.. done over $3000 in sales in the last 10 days... just on etsy.. Something a scroll sawer can do.. that a laser cant do very well....unless you have a very $$$ laser set up.. and that is stack cut.. While I am only one person.. and a guy with a shop full of lasers can run more per hour than I can.. I can out cut a single laser any day.. and I can have nice clean unburnt edges.. I could add a lot more to this list.. but I've got to get back out and cut orders...

That is pretty impressive.. Hope you do great at your next event.. then if you're anything like me you'll take a few days off and get bored... and then back to work.. LOL Enjoy your last show and your break afterwards.. you're gonna need it.. at least a couple days.. LOL I should keep track of how many items I sell.. I could do it the hard way and look up each order on etsy and the other couple web sites I sell at.. unfortunately they don't keep track of individual items... while my orders counter only shows me to have had about 300 orders.. a very big portion of those orders was multipal quantities.. for instance today I only had 12 orders.. but one of the orders was for 30 ornaments and another one was for 15 ornaments 4 clocks in another one etc etc etc... in all just today I've done $1472.81 in sales.. days not over yet.. LOL I've been averaging $200 a day for about 3 weeks now.. with the exception of today and a couple of other similar days... getting tired and burned out.. just about ready to put all my stores in vacation mode..

Yeah, mine had downloaded it and the computer was hogging all of my slow internet.. could hardly get online for the last couple of days.. then this morning it wanted to restart my laptop.. I clicked to restart it and figured it'd be done when i got back home from taking my son to school.. NOPE.. in all I think it was about 3 hours.. lucky for me.. I printed my days worth of orders and patterns.. so I just went out to the shop and worked.. then later checked my messages etc..

Yes, always paid up front on orders.. only time I don't take payment up front is during the design stages even then ( provided it's personalized ) many times it's non refundable payment up front for the artwork.. don't typically charge that artwork fee if it's an item other customers might like and I can add it to my inventory..

Well, Very very surprised.. but.. I just received a message from the customer.. took him awhile to respond back.. I'm guessing he couldn't find anyone else to do the ornaments for him.. Anyway.. I got the order.. of coarse now that I am about 6 clocks and 20 ornaments behind.. LOL Guess I'll be putting in a couple 10 hour days to get caught up and get this order done.. I rarely work overtime.. can't afford to pay myself time and a half let alone double time, LOL

I couldn't tell it to anyone just because I remember the moves more than.. actually how to do it by telling someone.. But.. with that said.. my son was determined to learn my trick.. there are youtube videos that would teach you how..

I also memorized the rubiks cube.. My son come home from school one day and thought he was going to get one on me.. he borrowed his friends cube... made some smart bet about getting some computer time.. Think he was joking with me at first but when I told him the deal was on.. he got a big grin on his fave like he was going to get some computer gaming time.. he thought there was no way to solve the thing.. while I didn't get it in 3 min. as it had been 35 years or so.. and I did make a wrong turn on it a few times.. but within 10 min. I had it.. his mouth dropped.. he forgot all about the bet about being able to get online.. he was floored that I got it.. had to message his friend with a picture.. It was priceless.. I think the puzzle challenge is a great idea..

I've been meaning to ask these same questions.. and I'll add another question.. how easy would this unit move from one saw to the next? Since I have 5 saws now, LOL but in reality I only use one at a time .. no really out of the 5 I only intend to use / keep 3 of the saws.. Wish I could figure a way out to use two at a time.. I mean.. I've got two hands and two eyes.. shouldn't be that hard to do.. Thinking in my situation maybe I should look into a Festool vac.. and pipe it to the saws with a shutoff valve or just unhook hose from one saw to the next..

I came to the conclusion last year that... I'll never ever be able to take on all those custom orders I get at this time of year.. so this year I turned off my custom ordering buttons on my web sites.. While it's been slower I've still made more money than last year and about 110% less stressed.. sure.. I'm loosing out on the awesome orders and many times my customers come up with some of the best sellers I have.. but.. at the end of the day.. the money I would of made wouldn't do me any good if the stress killed me.. LOL or.. I'd end up spending more on doctors appointments and prescriptions.. just not worth it to me.. This year I am plenty busy with out all those custom / personalized orders.. I still get the occasional customer asking for something.. but it's far less and also like I said far less stress.. I've even turned away a few orders this year.. Take care of yourself..

I run across this the other night and thought how odd looking the saw is.. I knew they made a 214 14" saw.. but I've never seen one of these.. https://www.ebay.com/itm/RBI-Hawk-212-Precisions-Scroll-Saw-Compact/122843092001?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

JT, Not to change the topic off coarse from your question... I don't recall whether you said you'd be selling these... and I am sure you probably already know about copyright and trademarked things.. I just wanted to give you a heads up before you get too involved in making a bunch of stock / inventory.. although probably wouldn't be an issue selling at craft fairs etc.. But anyway to get to my point.. A lot of these military things "ARE" copy written and trademarked.. I know they are from pattern books and there should not be any issues with something from a book.. But the truth of the matter is.. Well here is my story.. take it with a grain of salt if you wish.. I had some military themed items on etsy.. ( still do some ) and the patterns was from books or online pattern websites where I purchased the pattern.. specifically "Navy" themed etsy sent me a note saying they took down my Navy stuff due to a complaint from the Navy.. they sent me info to contact the Navy person that said I had copy written items in my store.. They took down several of my listings I had that was Navy related.. I never took it to the person from the Navy and just left it as was.. Many of the military branches have their own logo etc that is copy written.. as well as their own phrases.. such as... " proud sailor " which was one of the things I had that was dinged copywrite.. So.. my point is.. just because something comes in a pattern book.. doesn't always mean it's not copy written.. Many of those patterns in the book you are referring to use the military branches logo / icon.. Not telling you all not to make the stuff.. just being informational about my experience with selling certain things.. Etsy is a big well known company and I personally think nobody would have any issues selling these at a craft show or event.. but when you bring your sales online you open up a whole new audience.. that audience can sometimes be some jerk that is turning people in for questionable things etc.. or just another woodworker trying to compete with your items and turns you in.. I don't know.. but I do know that many of that military stuff really is copy written.. BTW the way the Navy found my items was by going to Etsy and doing a search for Navy according to the info that was given to me through etsy but from the Navy.. Again, just because a pattern is from a pattern book.. doesn't mean your behind is covered.. LOL

Owls were a big thing several years ago.. the trend started coming back a couple years ago.. and yes penguins are somewhat on a rise too.. however I don't think it will get as big as the owls did.. Up and coming will be Otters... otters started coming out of the woodwork ( no pun intended LOL ) a year or so ago.. what is it about otters.. Something along the lines of.. loyalty.. yeah.. someone somewhere finally read the sign at the zoo.. Otters find a mate and they stay loyal to one another their entire life... It's a up and coming trend and the younger girls are buying up key chains and anything they can find that has anything to do with otters.. I started seeing a small trend on the stores.. of little things that have otters on them.. With that said.. I want to get a Christmas ornament pattern of a otter couple.. would be a big hit.. I intended to make one up.. just haven't had the time..

I've been watching it for 3-4 weeks now..and there has been no reserve price.. and not one person has bid on it.. so who knows.. but it just hasn't sold.. I'm thinking if the seller would offer to ship it.. it'd probably sell.. I wonder if anyone has even asked.. many times you can talk a seller into shipping something they didn't want to ship..

In another thread about the "New" Delta saw being on sale I had mentioned about one being on eBay for $150 and had been re-listed several times.. This is the saw that is no more than a DeWalt with grey paint and Delta badge on it.. Not the newer one that is slightly different.. Could be a good deal for someone looking for a cheap saw or even a parts machine for their DeWalt.. Not quite sure why nobody has bought it yet.. Yellow with a DeWalt badge would have been gone on the guys first time round at listing it.. The listing says little use.. I guess that might be a matter of opinion as to how much "little" use means.. Table looks like it has some wear spots.. etc.. betting my version of " little " use is a bit different than his. :) Anyway.. here is the link.. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Delta-40-690-20-Variable-Speed-Scroll-Saw-With-Base/162788078115?epid=1109094788&hash=item25e6ecf223:g:NZsAAOSwK~RaDbtt

I question whether they'll actually have them in the stores.. Many places now offer an item that is "online only" ... Can you go into the store and order it to get your discount? For those online purchases.. they should have a special coupon type code to put in for the veterans discount.. Not sure how that would work..

I'm guessing that the best way to get a gloss finish is to print on photo papers.. I don't think standard paper is heavy enough anyway.. I have seen those foam sheets at the local Hobby Lobby or Micheal's stores that are the flag design.. though not glossy.. If you could get a heavy printer paper you could try spraying clear coat over the printed paper.. I would do this for the simple reason that if it were to get wet ( photo paper or otherwise ) it would smudge.. or mark it.. When i was making puzzles.. I would print on photo paper and glue the paper to my ply.. then sprayed a couple coats of triple thick clear glaze.. awesome stuff.. goes on thick and protected the image very well.. Can be purchase at most craft stores..and I think I've seen it at Walmart etc as well..

When I got mine a month ago the guy said his dad works for Home Depot and they would be selling them again very soon.. before the new year.. I brushed it off as one of those " yeah right " moments .. but at the same time.. some of the things he said made scene and sounded true.. I'm also friends with the owners of a local woodcraft type store.. they've been saying all along that they will be bringing them back.. but wasn't sure when.. Anyway, glad to see them back again... looks like only the 21" is offered.. so far anyway.. which makes me wonder something.. Possible why the 21" King is not offered? Always thought it was kind of odd to have the 16 and 30.. while I thought the 21 was probably the more popular one..

Yes, I've learn a great deal here.. I just wish I could give back as much as I've gained on here.. Maybe one day.. Hands down the best scroll saw site on the web.. Travis does an awesome job with it.. Thanks to everyone who post topics and replies.. whether informational or otherwise.. without some general chit chat the site might be a bit boring.. I check in everyday.. sometimes several times a day just during taking a break from sawing.. etc.. always try to answer questions if I can.. Merry Christmas to all.. and if you're selling.. wishing you many many sales.. so you have to work all year to restock

Flying Dutchman blades used to be my go to blade.. and at times..still is.. that said though.. there is a day and night difference between the FD Ultra Reverse #3 and #5 and the Pegas Modified Geometry #3 and #5.. Those Pegas blades cut way more efficiently faster and last longer as well.. and good smooth back side.. as the Pegas has the reverse teeth.. Pricing is pretty close to the same I think.. I know they aren't a big whopping difference like you show for those super sharps.. I've never tried the super sharps.. might try a few just to see.. but I have a hard time believing they are more cost efficient than those Pegas.. maybe more so for the FD blades.. Those Pegas are hard to beat.. I haven't got too technical on looking at the blades teeth arrangement or even looked to closely at the sizes.. but I will say.. I do know the Pegas #5 MG blade wont fit into the same hole as a #5 FD-UR blade does.. found that out the hard way one day when I bent a almost brand new blade..

Unfortunately the Delta name started falling quite a few years ago.. and they had started cheapening up many of their tools way back in the very late 1990's early 2000.. They also got a bad rap for discontinuing many parts for their equipment many years ago.. in hopes of getting people to purchase new.. Take a look at the parts list for their DeWalt clone.. some of those parts already show discontinued obsolete etc.. I imagine you could just buy the part for the dewalt..and use it on the Delta of they really are the same saw... Anyway.. the perverting of the name is something Delta did all by themselves long ago.. many people seem to think it still holds some good value.. but get burned when they need a part..

Also consider the fact that while the Delta is supposedly the same saw .. is the fact that they don't hold much of a resale value.. take a look at all the used Deltas prices.. and then the supposed same saw in a different color ( DeWalt) .. A used 10+ year old DeWalt brings in about as much $$ as what the saw sold new for way back then...The new Delta DeWalt clones.. often times won't bring $150 used.. There has been one on eBay that had been relisted 4 times at $150 and it looked barely used.. Had that been yellow.. people would have been all over that like fly's on poop, LOL