WolfmoonCT

They are pretty fun to cut DW.. Just takes some time.. Usually bout 4 hrs for me to cut a tray, but maybe someone else that cuts one will tell me if they can do one faster to show how slow I am. LOL And thanks for all the replies.

I follow her instructions.. It's a mix of DecoArt Staining and Antiquing medium, and an orange acrylic paint.. DecoArt is backorded on the color she used, but my GF had a bottle of "pumpkin orange" that looked good when i tested it on scrap wood. I just mix it and paint it on. I don't wipe it off like the staining medium says to.. I usually do one coat, then when that is nearly dry, I do a second light coat, and it usually gives it better color without getting too dark. Your going to love doing her trays.. I've done quite a few, and still have more I haven't cut. I think I have like 20 of her tray patterns.

Here is the finished Sheila Landry Pumpkin Tray. 3/8" thick Ash and measures about 8" x 8"

That's cute.. where did you get the pattern?

Your welcome Marg. LOL How do you find blades last cutting it? Go through them pretty fast?

My problem lately is every time I stop the saw, when i try to lift the arm, it does not go up all the way. I always need to tap the foot pedal to make the head move a tad, then the arm lifts up the rest of the way.

Welcome to the forums. Make sure to ask any questions you have. I'm sure someone will have the answer for you.

I have done some wall plaques, with colored backing boards. I always paint the edges of the backing board the same color as the back is. if you ask me, it gives it a bit more finished look than bare plywood. But i'm using walnut, cherry, or a hardwood, so I think bare edge of ply would look odd.

I don't know how you can cut that in an hour and a half.. Seems like anything i try to cut takes me HOURS.. the only thing I can think, is that I'm usually cutting 3/8" thick oak or ash or cherry, and usually I end up using a #2/0 blade.. occasionally I'll use a #2.

Thanks old dust. My girlfriend has a black cloth that covers the long tables, I have business cards I got from vista print, as well as one of their 3' x 1.8' banners. I probably wont' have many double's of much, since work is pulling me like 50 hrs a week right now, and since each tray that I tend to specialize in, takes me about 4 hrs to cut each one, and I only try to do like 2 hrs a night after work, so I dont' burn out on it. Unfortunately I was only asked to be there last week, so it's kinda short notice for me. You can only go by invite since space is limited. I charge $20 per candle tray, and $25 for the ones that are stained with the colors. it's simple easy pricing... I dont' really make much profit on my time, but I am not trying to make a living doing it. It's more for being able to afford more wood to make more stuff.

So I have been invited to be in a craft fair for Nov 5.. I've NEVER done a craft fair, as I've only got into scrolling back in like March/April. My question is how much stuff do you all normally bring. This is a simple church craft fair, and there will be tables.. Ones that they provide for the vendors. They are standard folding table size ones. So would you all bring multiples of stuff, or do you just bring a single of each thing? I have like 10 items cut right now. They are all the first cuts of the trays I've posted here. Do you think I should try to bring multiples of each? I'm not sure how fast or how much I will sell. I was thinking of just bringing the singles of all the trays, with a book of high quality pictures of all the stuff I've made, so people can see what I can make, and let them order from it. The trays take me about 4 hrs to cut each one. I'm kinda slow I think, but it is what it is for now. LOL Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. i also have 2 trays I have on order that I need to cut before I can even start cutting more for the fair...

So how long did it take you to cut it?

Ok.. give us more info.. what's it made of, how big is it generally... finish applied to it?

Awesome.. Thanks DW.

I may have to try that card trick.. sounds simple.. and use painters tape to hold it so it doesn't leave my table sticky..

so how did you cut the birdhouses.. I'm guessing they all started square, and you had a pattern attched to 2 sides.. do you cut the sides, then like tape them back on to keep them flat and easy to cut? how big are the houses?

I don't think your ever too old to learn.

I'll have to come up with something.. I have the DW788...

Nicely done.

You use a paint, mixed with a staining and antiquing medium.. so it kinda stains them a color.

Would love to see some others done Marg

When I'm doing a lot of Sheila's designs for candle trays lately, they have thin decorative pieces that go on them. They are cut from 1/8" thick wood.. sometimes if it's all painted, it's ply, if it's just stained, it's the same wood as what the tray is made from. Most of these are very small, and I get a lot of chattering and have broken a few pieces (which usually break clean and can be glued back together and you can't even tell it broke). I've been using a #2/0 reverse tooth blade on slow speed. Do any of you think I should try to use just regular tooth for the thin stock, so that I don't have to worry about the up cut on a reverse tooth?

Another Sheila Landry design..

I follow Sheila's instructions.. Use DecoArt Americana paints, and it's thinned with DecoArt Americana Staining and Antiquing medium. mix 1:1 with the paint.. or I use a 2:1 paint/medium usually and just brush it on, and leave it on. I dont' bother wiping it off.

I'm wondering if there is an issue with my Johnsons.. it's kind green colored, smells pretty strong, and is not really a paste.. It's like half paste half gel texture..