montgomery0

Good evening from The High Rocky's. I have been out of touch for over a year now and have accomplished much in the art world of the the unknown. The unknown would be " the scroll saw artist" and the art of "intarsia". The public is amazed it was not done with a cnc or laser, but rather by creative minds and hands that are involved in a labor intensive art that is becoming more lost with every boat load of laser, mass produced cute stuff coming from china and japan to our country's. Oh well, progress is progress, and here we are to carry it on. I have missed conversing with you all and i still love learning from you here on SSV. I am opening a new studio in Fairplay, Colo. home of the silly cartoon " South Park ". I have been welcomed into an art coop there. I am glad to be back and reallllly want to expand my skills.MUCH RESPECT Mark

I remained exclusivly at this site until I read this topic and decided to check out a few of the others.. I personally would feel as if I were being disloyal to the Good Folks here that have offered so much of their knowledge and time to help and guide me in my own endeavers after visiting others. It seems I was bumping into a lot of egos and self centered people on other sites. I woud have to read through a lot of arguing to find any wisdom. I did find some { all recomended in this post } that are worth visiting. The University here is great, haven't seen near as nice of a pattern library as SSV...So thats my experiance, and I like this community Tried,trued, and tested hands down, my favorite.. Much Respect

Way cool Travis, sure wish my wallet was a bit thicker for a few small pieces of that.

Finally, a bowl to serve up all the broken bits of Christmas candy in Nov. And Dec. Just Kidding Paw Paw Ray. Sorry for the bowls demise, most likly will drive you to create a masterpeice in the end. Much Respect, Mark

One of many successfull discoverys since I have returned to my saw is, Flying Dutchmen blades. After opening my first order from Mikes, and using them, my skills improved at a very fast rate, and the finished projects are now something to be proud of, and a sellable item with no regrets. Out of 144 blades only broke about 8 or 9. Just recieved my second gross from www.mikesworkshop.com , great service, thanks Mike. Another SSV education I recieved was getting comfortable while scrolling. I used to stand, and would not take advice to buy a foot switch. Wow, seems like the dark ages now. SSV's University Showed me how to cut a straight, Victor, nice tutorial, thanks. I use the same application for all of my cutting, not just straight lines now. Much Respect, Mark

Hey thank you all for supportive words..Things kinda snow balled on on me, my vision, my goals, and a place to display my finished work all came to play with paitence and extensive reading at SSV. Nobody is buying yet and I have used all of my wood. all I can afford at this point is rough cut cedar fence slats. Am unable to go journey out for free wood sources, palletts, dressers, etc. I will not be discouraged, I know things take time. Mark

No regrets in selling my Bass Guitar and buying a scroll saw with the money...Hello to all that I know here, and to the new Folks in the Village..I have been submerged in my own campagn to become an artist who makes a living at this art. My guess is most have, or have had the same aspirations..My disability leaves me no choice, plus I really love this medium of art.. If you recall, { i'll refresh } Got my saw in March..Researched and gained structured wisdom from SSV for 2 months..Made a deal to cut 80 pieces for a high end frame shop. Ended up bieng more like a 130 pieces then and still cutting for the man and his buisness...Landed an account at a great hard wood shop...I now have rented a small studio and am a resident artist at a historical art museum in the down town art district one block from where the frame shop displaying all of my work is.. I feel I have reached my target goals as a scroll and fret work artists. I am no match for the skills of most of you though, so even if I am In the right place at the right time, I do need to expand my knowlege of the " buisness end " of my situation. I will be heading to the Village University for starters.

AND THE NEIGHBORS will get over it when they see what you have done with all that noise..Plane Away Brother......

Only in my dreams can I shave this piece of maple to the 1/8 inch I need it.. Nice find . OR how about putting a scheen on those {9" by 9"} rafters beams...Nice find... Or how about a "real " 2 by 4...Nice find.... Or how about segmentation..gotta have some square and precise edges there...Nice find on and on I could go.. Nice Find. Have funnnnn

No camera yet. Some day I will be able to share my work. Am recording it all with the neighbors digital that i borrow once a week on a chip. My computer cannot' handle another file without bogging it down...etc. etc. Can't wait to share, and THANK YOU all for sharing with us..Right On SSV

I have been through this before as many of you may have as well, this one however, I will not throw out the window. It stands before me, waiting, and reminding me to finish it with Honors and always PLAN-PLAN<-PLAN my projects. MUCH RESPECT>>>>>Mark

So I have this $40.00 blank from the hardwood shop[.18" by 24"} and decide to do the dragon pattern in this months Scroll Saw Magazine I get the pattern centered in this beautifull wood, spray glue,drill all the saw gates { lots and lots } and realize its a floating pattern that did not require fancy borders, or frilly edges.... A piece of hard wood scrap would have yielded the same results.... So now I have to cut around the dragon so he { she} is exposed and still keep the dragon in this piece of expensive cherry...Gotta' re-de-sign the project in progress... Pays to plan your projects....

Good termenology Vector.. " chatter " If that boards jumpin' around on ya', better hold it down for a true cut...That is a tremendous aid to a true cut, staying down and true to your blade as if you were in a caddy going around those curves opposed to the ol' 51 plymouth. Tight...True.... and Firm....= good results...I do agree with Dan as I have found the # 3 a good blade...Aggressive, good on turns, ya' gotta stay awake tho, it will wander on those straight-aways.

It looks like your chipped edges are on the sharper turns that are on your pattern. My chipping occures when I try and turn those curves fast cause I know I can stay on the line, however, I have found that I need to slow down a bit and let the blade do its job, therefore getting your "peaks, waves and points to come out whole from top to bottom. I personally have found that the FD-SR blades cause me less chipping {extra hard woods} and allows me to go into my turns a little more aggressive a with smoother flow and a good follow through. My advice is not set in stone. There are more Wise folks in the Village... Great advice awaits you....MUCH RESPECT...Mark

Nice score...The finish looks nice...I'll be sure to check locally as well, cauze a hand full of those would be swell.....

Here you are David, have fun and enjoy a lot of fun stuff with some fun people. You are right, this is an art " more than a little fasinating". Most of us can't wait to finish one project and scurry on to the next. Thank you for stopping by, and do come back. Mark

I Have not seen such a style of scroll work that is accented with what you have done here.. Very nice work.. And hey, how about a behind the scenes glimps of the artist himself at work..

Joe, I stopped in on some hillbilly wood carvers once in Ark. end of August once. They were in a barn to big to cool, they each {3} had built simple little booths 5' by 6' with work benches. Each had a simple inexpensive ac unit in each booth where they spent most of their time carving. They would save any finishing or large sawing stuff that needed done in the barn area for the cool mornings...So a small booth to retaine cool air around your saw?? Just an idea. And a little faster than growing a shade tree....Mark

Hello vince in the UK. Your enthusiam is a shinning star. I have been in the Village sneakin' up on 2 months now and am still finding great and wonderfull information to apply to my own enthusiam. Your mention of "good blades". My quest for a good blade was ended when Flying Dutchmen blades were recemended to me. Check out posts on General scroll sawing abouts the subject. And of coarse, WELCOME..

AAhhhh, now thats something to look forward to...Thats cool, and I really mean coooool.

I'm with you all the way, and support all artists rights. It is a great privelage to have the Pattern Library available to me. All I make and sell without permission are from pattern books that are avaliable at any library or book store any where in many nations. Beyond that your steppin' on someones toes in a very rude manner..I am glad you posted this Travis, I am always up for a some education to paint a better picture in my own mind. Well Said sir, Mark

Jim, nice, nice by all standards. The anchors look really cool cut to that thickness. Hey, dose that little guy that runs around your square ever get tired? He just seems to go, and go.

Hello, glad to know another Artist stopped in on the Village and liked it. Like kevin, I visit daily and read, read read.The Archives are filled with interesting tips and tricks. Welcome Sue..........................Mark

Good Sunday Morning, I cut out 8 pieces {16} stacked in two days.Its not whats selling, so far that has my good fotunes going. Now im cutting for a man that owns a frame shop with a vision of selling art and mirrors with my art in the corners. So far he has chosen wild life and the overlayed feathers from Spielman and Reidle pattern books. He says most people think its laser cut..I take that as a compliment..As soon as I have a little more exposure, I will have requests for Skiers, bikers, boaters, mountaineers etc. I live in an active area where the economy is good and vacationers still flock to see the wonders of the rockies.Bet if I cut out 10 Bronkos helmets, they would be sold in a week. Say Dan, do you know any one in Redford, Ellington area. I am a desendand of the Wolfe clan " Tony Wolfe"? ? Thank you all for your positive inpute, helps tremendassssly. Mark

Hello Will. Have been through Gallup many times, it is "very southwestern" if you will. Lots of fun history as well. Sounds like you have had a fair amount of practice at your saw.Have an enjoyable stroll through the village, and meet some great folks. Mark in the Rocky Mountains