kmmcrafts

I also enjoy all the people and knowledge here on the village.. I've been a member of many many forums over the years and non compare to the village.. I thank all of those who take part in making this the best site.. first and for most Thanks to Travis for keeping up with all the required things to keep the place running smooth.. But not only to just Travis.. but everyone that takes part in discussions along the way.. without the discussions that go on here.. the site would be quite boring.. On a side note.. I recently joined a couple of FB groups for CNC laser cutting... Wow.. what a bunch of rude people there.. ask a question and they bite your head off and tell you to use the search function.. If someone ask about a pattern they go off on you about wanting to be a free loader looking for free patterns or advice.. I was in awe when I seen how some of these guy were..

I personally don't recommend pegas blades for a beginner.. they are quite aggressive blades for a beginner in my opinion.. I personally recommend a flying duchman ultra reverse.. they cut most anything you want to cut.. just depending on what you are cutting as to the size you'd want to use.. I've used a lot of the Olsen blades too years ago.. and about the only one I like from them is the PGT series.. and the Mach speed not too bad.. My issue with the PGT is.. they are somewhat aggressive like a Pagas blade.. but.. the downfall to them is the smallest size I've ever seen is a number 5.. and the ends of the blades are bigger than the actual blade.. so getting them through smaller pilot holes is sometimes tough and I end up bending the blade sometimes.. Those Mach blades aren't bad blades.. but they do cut on a steeper angle that I'm used to.. Over the years of seeing these type of post about what blades to use.. it seems to me there are more people happy with FD blades than any of the other brands.. not to say the others are bad.. but just saying I think by choice.. more people's go to blade is FD... I keep on hand.. FD blades .. in many styles and sizes.. but I also keep a few sizes of the Pegas MG blades as well as Olsen PGT blades.. Sometimes I just like to switch things up... and remember why I like my FD & Pegas blades... LOL

I do something similar... except usually once I set the timer.. one of the kids come out to ask me something or the wife comes out and starts talking.. had a few blades I had to trow out that never even got use Hahaha.. then I started just using a blade until its not cutting as it should.. depending on the wood.. some blades I can get 30min.. and others 5min.. so I just run them until I feel like I'm having to push though harder than I should.. Now.. on delicate work.. I do change them often.. like you say.. a bad blade can ruin several hours worth of work and some lumber real quick..

I use beeswax and mineral oil on most all my work other than my portraits.. why I use it? because there is no strong smell.. and.. once applied I can package the item right away and ship it out.. I bought a 5lb. block of beeswax ( would get pellets next time ) I mix 1/2 cup packed firm shaved ( I use a cheese grader.. try it then you'll see why I say I'll get pelleted next time LOL) to a 16oz bottle of mineral oil.. and as stated above cook it up just enough to get the wax melted..WARNING: use a cooking thermometer that clips onto the pan and set it 1/4" above the bottom of the pan.. DO NOT let the temp get above 150F as the oil and wax can cause a flash fire.. I put it into some plastic containers and let it cool then screw the tops on for storage. When dried it turns into a paste type wax.. I like it a little thinner.. first time I made it.. I think I use 1/2 cup to 8oz mineral oil and it set up pretty solid.. I used to pack the wax quite firm.. now not quite so much.. If it get too solid add more oil and cook it again or vise versa.. I apply it to my work with small metal handled acid brushes from Harbor Freight.. Try to push it into the cutouts as best I can but what can't get back in the small areas.. I leave a little glob of it.. then take a hairdryer / heat gun and heat it slightly to melt the wax into the areas.. while it's still all melted.. I use paper towels to wipe off the excess and also somewhat polish it.. I use the blue shop type towels as they work better.. get a big bundle several rolls from our local Sams club..

Well this time I'm going to take some pictures of the saw boxed and un-boxing.. When I bought my Hawk 226 Ultra back in May I was soo excited to put it together I didn't take any photos to prove that it was brand new in the box when I bought it.. Funny thing is I was planning to buy one of the new named Ex's ( King ) from woodcraft after the holidays.. I maybe would have already bought one.. but I was waiting for them to get the 21" one in stock.. which never happened. I usually keep an eye on Craigslist and other sites for a steal of a deal.. but for the last month I had not done so.. Then my son was looking to buy something and I got on craigslist to help him look and there was the EX.. just posted within the hour.. I'm thinking as busy as I've gotten since the first of this month.. I doubt I'm going to get time to get it set up.. I am working on 7 different custom orders.. plus have already sold out on several ornaments.. I normally am not this busy until after Thanksgiving.. going to be an interesting year.. Thanks everyone for the comments and tips.. gotta get out to the shop to work now..I might fire me if I'm late to work again gave myself a verbal warning yesterday Hahaha..

Sounds like a nice order to do.. I do know the feeling of not really wanting to cut something again.. so I feel for you on that aspect.. I have a couple companies I do ornaments for every year.. last year they wanted 300 ornaments that had a piece of heavy equipment on it with the companies name.. The first 100 or so wasn't too bad... but man... I tell you.. I was sure glad to cut that last stack of them.. felt like I was never going to get them done.. Nice fat wallet on that job though...

Very nicely done.. I like it.. finding pine without a knot is like finding a four leaf clover.. sometimes LOL

I just got back home with it.. Yes.. I opened the box before paying.. and told the guy about my friends deal with his $70 brick, LOL.. came with foot switch etc. but no stand.. I feel I got ripped off now.. I have a couple stands I picked up at garage sales a year or so ago.. guy had several of them at $2ea.. and I bought all 6 of them.. just not sure the saw will fit on them... that saw looked huge in the box.. I had to take a double take on it to be sure it wasn't a EX30.. So.. The guy I bought it from says his dad claims that Home Depot is going to start selling these.. I told him that they don't make the saw anymore and he said yeah he knew that.. but they are supposed to start making them again and having them on Home Depot's web site.. Must be his dad works on the H.D. web site or something by the way this guy was talking.. Seem like he knew what he was taking about..

I had a co-worker that bought a $70 brick once like this, LOL

I actually hope to keep my Hawk 226 Ultra but hope to sell the Hawk 220VS.. I don't need both Hawks and have rarely used the 220 since I bought the 226.. As for the Excalibur.. Yeah I've been wanting one ever since I tried the one years ago.. just haven't found the right deal at a time that I actually have any cash I'm hoping I like it as much as I did years ago when I tried one.. mind you.. I only did a couple test cuts so.. once I "really" try it.. never know.. maybe I'll end up keeping the Hawks and selling the Excalibur, LOL

Seen this saw on craiglist last night.. been talking to the guy and it looks as though we have made a deal... Just in case he takes this down.. its a new in sealed box EX-21 for $360.. Now.. if anyone local on here might be interested in a Hawk or Two let me know.. I don't need all these saws.. and it's time I unload some.. Hate to send my 226 ultra down the road but.. I have run a EX on a test run years ago and it cut just like my DeWalt does.. maybe a little smoother... been a while.. anyway I feel the EX will be able to cut as aggressive and work much like my 788 does.. My Hawks are both awesome working saws.. they just don't cut as fast as my 788.. and I'm thinkin I'll like/use the EX more than that of the Hawks.. https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/d/new-excalibur-120-volt-21-in/6376740275.html

If you have a bandsaw you could buy a 3/4 - 1" board and resaw it.. then you have a book matched piece of lumber.. I guessing you don't have a bandsaw or a planner though.. If you do end up doing a glue up.. just a word of caution.. the glue line will cut different than the rest of the board.. and it happens a bit before the glue line where it soaks into the wood.. it cuts fine.. just different.. so just be aware of that while cutting.. at least that has been my experience.. I haven't cut too many glue ups but was something I did notice when I did cut one..

I rarely see any woodwork at shows in my area.. most of what I see is jewelry, sewn items, usually a guy selling honey and maple syrup.. the rest are pampered chief avon and the like things.. which.. in my opinion have no business selling at a craft fair.. what part of Avon and those others have to do with crafts.. who let them in? Maybe because they have a hard time filling up the venue.. or just poorly managed.. We do have two nice shows a year that is typically really handmade stuff.. but then.. one time I was there a fella had all kinds of laser made wood ornaments and that sort of stuff.. at china made prices.. haven't seen him since either.. so either he didn't do well or they found out it wasn't handmade?

Well since you brought this up.. maybe i should start a new topic in the business forum.. but anyhow.. a couple years ago etsy switch their payment system so they themselves can accept the payment processing rather than Paypal.. There are many people who do not like PayPal.. Then there are those that would rather pay through PayPal.. but at any rate.. my sales jumped quite a lot once I changed and started accepting etsy's checkout.. so far I'd say around 95% of my sales go through the etsy checkout.. probably in part because it is streamlined with etsy.. if you pay with PayPal you have to be directed to PayPal site..log in and checkout.. where as etys is all right on the shopping cart streamline.. Most of the other sites I sell on only do the PayPal thing.. One has recently gave out another option but as a seller I have to set it up and make an account with their new processor. I need to do it.. as I imagine that would help sales there as well since it is more streamlined.. Another fast growing trend is mobile shoppers.. ie people shopping and making purchases with their cell phones and tablets etc.. and the web site you set up and sell on needs to be mobile optimized.. or you'll be missing out on sales from those that shop with their phones.. Right now it's about 30% of my shoppers checking out on a mobile device.. and that trend is growing tremendously..

I played around with selling my scroll work back in Sept. 2010.. but I was only playing around testing the waters and whatnot from 2010 until 2015.. 2015 is when I decided to give it a "Real" go and work at it.. In 2015 my sales count in my etsy shop was 30.. yeah.. only 30 in 2015.. But I was selling on another site for a year or so before that.. that site offered classes for online selling.. classes included shop critiques etc.. where a trained person would offer advice on anything from your pictures to better ways to describe items for better SEO.. etc.. classes was free at the time and I took advantage of all of it I could.. Unfortunately that site ran into many issues and forced many sellers packing there shops up and moving to etsy or?.. I had nearly 130 sales on that site within one year.. The fellow doing those classes no longer works for that web site and they no longer do those classes.. On a side note.. I've been considering starting up a blog site and apply much of the stuff I learned for others that would like to start up a online store.. Of coarse.. this won't happen until after the holidays.. The blog site would consist of some info and resources for shipping, photographing your products, building a photo booth tips etc etc.. would cover many things pertaining to online selling... Whether I actually do it is another story.. seems I've always got great ideas that never get done, LOL.. in the mean time.. there are some books one could buy and read.. I bought one that is titled something like " Selling your crafts online " and they cover selling on many different selling platforms.. good read but coverage of actual selling tips is limited.. which many of these books are.. There is a ton of info online.. however sorting through the good / bad stuff is a pain to do..

Sorry to hear you had a bad sales weekend.. I think the post from the other day ( Believe JT started ) hit the nail on the head with the fact that.. these online venues are taking away from the craft shows.. and the show organizers from what I've seen have been having a hard time getting crafters to sign up to sell at their events.. In my area.. there are always ads looking for vendors.. I half wonder if this is why they let in all the flea market type stuff.. Myself crafts shows just don't work with having to run my kids to their school sporting events etc.. I can't plan out a few weeks from now let along months.. too hard to commit to a show.. and most of the shows are like you stated... full of cheap flea market junk.. for these reasons is why I turned to online selling.. by no means bragging or rubbing this in.. but my weekend has turned out $700 in sales so far ( days not over yet )..while I've been sitting here watching movies etc with the family.. while everyone is gone during the week.. I'll be packing up orders and making the custom orders..

Rubber stamp is a neat idea.. I had never thought of that.. I've been using a fine point Sharpe marker to brand my items.. However I do not brand my ornaments.. but would like to.. I often wondered if it'd be worth putting a small heavy paper tag on the hanger..

Took My Hawk 226 apart last Thursday evening so I could clean up and check bearings.. Those shielded thrust bearings was a little gritty.. so glad I went ahead and did this.. I ended up spraying them down good with break parts cleaner and re-greased them with synthetic grease.. They work real smooth now.. I don't know if any of you remember me mentioning the connecting rod bearing being dry and gritty or not.. this was a few weeks back when I broke the variable speed unit.. I still need to replace these bearings.. tried cleaning them up but I couldn't get them to spin freely so I need to get some new ones.. Thankfully I have my old faithful 788 or the other Hawk to cut on because I have several orders come in over this weekend to make.. Sure is nice to have a couple back-up saws.. However I could put this Hawk back together in about 10 minutes and run it.. This would be at least an hour job if I had my 788 apart this far, LOL

He gave me many tips for doing puzzles back when I first started scrolling.. He sure will be missed.. Prayers to his family

I agree with Ray.. Unless your saw is making some very loud noises.. I'd just take it apart and grease it up.. I run my saw a lot.. and I have the original bearings in the back end of the saw.. When the saw was about 2-3 years old I started getting a slight noise from it and was getting some blade vibration.. I watch the said videos. took my saw completely apart.. while I did have some minor wear on the back bigger bearing & bushing.. I just cleaned it up and added the synthetic grease.. that was back in 2012.. back part of the saw has not been touched since.. I did end up needing new bearings and sleeves on the front portion of the saw.. while only two of the bearings and bushings was really the only bad ones with a couple others with minor wear.. I just replaced them all since I had to take the bearings to the local bearing shop so I could match them up.. I have all the pieces needed to do a full rebuild this time.. as it needs it now.. but this is a 2008 saw.. I had it apart on 2012.. and just now getting noisy again.. ( mostly from the back of the saw ) where there was some minor wear.. had I had the parts on hand back when i had the back of the saw opened up.. I'd have replaced those.. but I needed to use it asap.. so I just cleaned it up and greased it.. been running since.. I'm thinking when I take mine apart after the holidays.. I'll only need to replace the back portion of the saw and just clean / grease the front.. noise is coming from the back..

Maybe you two should talk with the stores about the concerns of the service and parts for the King scroll saws.. from reading these forums.. I gather that there would be quite an interest for the King scroll saw but many have concerns about service / parts.. I'd like to see these saws be a good hit for both our scrolling community and for the sales of the saws.. Hate to see a good saw die out just because of worries of parts and service.. i think woodcraft could sell a fair amount of these saws.. if they offered some security in service and or at least parts.. Just My Two Cents Worth..

It's sad but finding people to work in a store that knows the equipment inside and out and willing to answer any questions one might have is really about impossible to find.... not to mention finding one that is passionate about their job and what they do.. so yeah, I suspect this happens to many tool selling outlets.. which is what makes places like Hawk, Hegner, PSwood and Seyco stand out.. because they do know the machines.. I don't know if I've ever met the perfect salesman.. either they are greeting you almost before you walk in the door and follow you around.. or.. you can't find one to save your life.. then when you do find one.. they really don't want to be bothered.. LOL

Glad to hear you got it running good!!

I do exactly the same JT.. I made a couple of puzzles.. then thought about the liability that could go wrong if it got into the hands of the wrong child.. Made candle trays.. never sold one.. they sit here in my house.. Only way I might consider doing these type of lights.. is if I was using LED strip lights.. probably the safest light available.. not really any heat off them.. for a fire hazard etc....

This is what got me into selling my work.. I quit my day job to be a stay at home dad.. that was 18 years ago.. BEST thing I ever did.. and best thing for my kids / family.. once the kids was bigger I started messing around with my dads old scroll saw.. took off from there.. Living on one income.. as a mid 20 year old and just starting what I call "life" you sure learn what is a necessary purchase and one that is just a want / luxury.. did without on a lot of things for several years.. and still do.. trying to help my daughter through college and get my youngest a car to drive in a couple years..