scrimper

That is probably the most important issue when buying a scroll/Fretsaw.

Think that just about covers everything! lol

There are lot's of different types of pine and some people refer to many softwoods as pine (in the UK anyway) for example European redwood (pine) is very oily but not very hard and cuts well on a fretsaw whereas spruce (used a lot in the UK and often called pine!) is dry and easy to cut though it does have resin pockets which cause problems and ruin your work. On the other hand Pitch pine is rock hard, in fact a lot harder than many hardwood's and more difficult to cut than oak!

Didn't even realise there was a chat room till now!

Well if you are only 15 now it's not that long really!

Oh dear I think I am going to 'upset the applecart'! I reckon I have been doing fretwork longer than most here although I am certainly not an expert. My history is that My Grandfather was a fretworker back in the period between 1900-1940 when he had a shop selling Hobbies and Handicrafts fretwork items, he used to hold fretwork classes to give lessons to youngsters, he taught my late father who was very good at fretwork. Back in the late 1950's I used to help my dad make Fretwork items (toys and calendars etc) he did most of the work on his A1 treadle machine (which I still have). I started with a Hobbies handframe and progressed to using the A1 when I was about 15yrs old, around that time a started to make toy farms which I sold to a toy shop near where we lived. Naturally I have not spent all that time using a fretsaw, I was occupied much of the time with motorcycles and of course ladies; as you do when younger but I have always been a keen fretworker and still am today. Although I have used Fretsaws for a long time they have been either a hand frame or a treadle machine rather than a motorised Scrollsaw so I am not sure my years count? I have been using a motor powered saw for about 28 years. I have been using fretsaws for over 50years!

Lol we don't call them the A word anymore he is a German Sheperd Dog and proud of it! his name is Max and unfortunately he is on his way out, he is now 13 and his back legs have succumbed so he now has difficultly getting about much, sadly it's only a matter of time before we have to make that awful decision and say goodbye to him. Lot's of my friend know I am a scrimper and pass on their 'rubbish' to me to use, it amazes me the useful stuff that people throw out, I just hate to see waste, often I am out on my bike and see stuff put out for rubbish and think I wish I could take that back with me, Most people think I am a little eccentric and TBH I agree with them

oops would have helped if I put in the link to the site: http://www.finescrollsaw.com/freepatterns.htm I did actually know about that one TBH, but thanks anyway. I do have those patterns some also as the original printed paper ones but I also have many other older original Hobbies plans, some are really old and very fragile though.

As soon as I get time I will indeed try to post some pictures of items I have made with my fretsaws but don't get too excited, after seeing the stuff some people make my 'stuff' is very modest!

I will indeed be pleased to post some images of the A1 fretsaw and the hand-frames. I do use the patterns but I don't often get the time to make the more intricate ones, I have been collecting hobbies and Handicrafts plans for over 40 years and have several hundred dating from around 1910 to 1960's, of course I will never be able to make them all but I do get pleasure in looking at them and thinking that all that time ago someone sat in a drawing office and worked out these designs every single week and without any computers to help them! I would be interested to see what patterns are on the website you mention. I have a particular interest in Hobbies of Dereham (pre 1965) and the Handicrafts company (started around 1907 by 2 ex directors of Hobbies) and become quite excited in seeing anything with under the Hobbies brand, I have no idea why I should be so 'afflicted' in this way, I can only assume it is something I inherited from my Grandfather who was a Hobbies company advocate and trade customer.

Thanks for the kind welcome.

Just found and joined this community and felt I had better introduce myself, Hello! I hope you won't be too bored if I waffle on a bit to tell you a little about myself? I use the name scrimper because that is what I am, basically I like to make do and mend things using 'stuff' others throw away, such as old timber, I rarely buy any wood preferring to recycle from offcuts or old broken furniture. I have always been a keen woodworker mostly at home but did do a stint in a boat-building company (wooden boats) and a woodworking factory, though most of my working life was spent in the electrical/electronics repair business. My interest in Fretwork (that's what we have always called it) started when I was a young boy when I 'helped' my dad making toys and gifts on his Hobbies A1 treadle machine in those years after WW2 when toys were in short supply. I always had an interest in fretwork and especially the original Hobbies company in Dereham as my Grandfather had a shop selling Hobbies and Handicraft goods alongside wireless equipment back in the 1920's, my grandfather was brilliant at Fretwork and actually started his business by giving lessons in Fretwork to the local lads when it was all the rage post 1900. I still have many of his original Hobbies and handicraft patterns from those early days and for many years I have been a collector of Hobbies patterns, magazines and annuals. I also still have the Hobbies A1 treadle fretsaw and several Hobbies hand-frames from those early days, my one regret is that when he died he left a Hobbies imperial machine which I let go for scrap and I have always regretted it! I have a fairly decent workshop with all the usual woodworking machines installed and I own three Fretsaw/scrollsaw machines, being -: Hegner HM-2SV Diamond 18 Cheapo Taiwan made Wicks scrollsaw (which was given to me) The Hegner is my favourite, it's a lovely machine to use being both quiet running, powerful and accurate and is the machine that I most like using in my entire workshop. The Diamond is a well made saw, very powerful and will take any sort of blade, pinned or unpinned, hacksaw or even bit's of broken band-saw blades, however it is a bit aggressive and noisy, sadly the owner of the company that made the Diamond died and the company ceased trading. Sorry for rabbeting on about myself and I expect most will have stopped reading my scrawl by now but just in case Hello to everyone.