Scrappile

Looked this post up because I was thinking I read someone was searching for the pattern. After rereading I don't see that, but if someone is it is available here: http://www.scrolleronline.com/product/8478/363 I ordered one. Don't know when I will try it, but I have a weakness for scroll saw patterns, like my wife has a weakness for quilting patterns and material!

I would have to believe most machines today are direct drive. It is nice to be able to turn a knob to adjust the speed, plus the fact that in most cases you have infinite speeds where with a belt you have only as many speeds as you have belt/pulley changes. This discussion comes up often in the lathe turning world of wood working. Both work, but if you have the option, I would choose direct drive, in fact, I did.

Very well done! I just placed an order for a gross of 3/0 new spirals and a gross of 2/0 new spirals. I am trying to use the 2/0's for the larger cutouts (although I do not like them as well as the 3/0) just to save on blades. I break a lot of 3/0 blades. The down side of spirals is I cannot cut a sharp point. So sometimes I cut the spot out with a spiral and then go back with a flat blade where a sharp point is required. I did it quite a bit when I scrolled the "Viking Worrier". Charles Dearing, as I have read, uses a No. 5 spiral. He can get by with it because of the size of his projects. It would be too large of a blade for the size portrait I normally cut, I think. He also has a video where he shows it is possible to make a sharp point using a spiral. I have tried it many times but have only succeeded once. I will keep trying, maybe someday I get it down.

Nice stuff. Great use of the scraps. I really hate burning scraps of good wood. You could easily tell that if you saw my shop. I have lots of little scraps. Keep thinking they will come in handy if I ever get brave enough to do some intarsia.

Very happy you joined the Village. Lot of fun here. Nice looking projects you have done. Keep them coming.

Looking very good, Dick. Looks like you used a piece of solid wood. I prefer it to plywood.

Very beautiful!

Randy I went back and got a blank. I logged in to the site and was able to get it.

Sorry, Frank, looked back and it is staring me right in black and white. Forgive this old fool.

Looking good. Which spirals are you using on it?

Okay, you the master! I always get excited when I see you posted a new one. Great job. By the way followed your link and clicked on the attach file and got nothing. Maybe a person has to be a member to access it.

It happens. I finished a very detailed one, Mike Williams' Moose, decided to trim one side on the table saw. BOOM!! The biggest piece was about a 1/2" square! My fault, I had to look at it as an opportunity to cut the pattern again. Sorry it happened to you, shake it off and get scrolling again.

Very Nice!

Welcome to the village. Very nice to have you as a neighbor.

That really makes a nice display. Well done!

I tried what you suggest, when I first started scrolling. It did not seem to help much. I'd suggest finding a source for Baltic Birch, and less aggressive blades.

Just a thought, but I have read here and elsewhere that somehow you can sell on Facebook. I don't know anything personally about it, and I don't understand FB much, but might be worth looking into.

I agree with Dan, us bargain hunters look at Ebay. I will say it appears to be harder and harder to find a bargain. I have seen scroll saw work listed, don't know how well it sells on Ebay. I have read where people do quite well on Etsy.

You have your New Year starting out right. Joining here is a good thing. Glad to have you.

Still a beautiful piece. Nothing to be embarrassed about, we all get old and confused, least that is what I hear....

Rusty, for the most part, I think this is true, and I have always heard they did, but they must have missed mine. I had loose bolts and had to adjust the upper arm so it would stay up like it is suppose to. Not a big deal but I was a little disappointed. Soon as I started using the saw, I was so happy it did not matter.

I confess, I think the scrolling is much easier than the pattern making. Especially portraits. It is a whole different talent, which I do not possess. SO MANY steps to making a pattern, my eyes roll back and I start frothing at the mouth after about five minutes.... God bless all you good pattern makers.

Guess I am weird but I found spirals easier to use and more natural to me than flat blades. Now using a flat blade is like starting over for me. Dick somethings to try/think about with when using them. FIRST, relax, breath normal and do not force them. I concentrate on watching the side of the blade when cutting, i.e., keep the side of the blade at the line. You can still turn the board. I do not try to only move the board forward and back and side to side, I will turn the the board also. I find I have the most control when I am pushing the wood away from me, so I sort of try to go that direction. I do not turn the board all the time to follow a line but if it is a long cut, I will turn the piece so I am doing mostly a push cut. Hard for me to explain, hope it makes some sense. Tension is important, if the blade is wondering somewhat, not going exactly as you want, try a little more tension. Experiment with speed. Personally I usually run at max speed. Others like slower speed. Find what works best for you. I have the most control (again this is me, may be different for others) when cutting approximately 1/2" thick material. Baltic Birch I always like to stack two 1/4" pieces. My preference is to cut solid wood though but it is more expensive and each piece is one on, so if you are selling or something, may not be feasible. My absolute favorite blade is the 3/0 New Spiral Flying Dutchman. But be prepared, to buy them by the gross. I break a lot of blades. Now I am trying to cut the bigger areas with a 2/0 New Spiral and using the smaller 3/0 for the small delicate cuts. It is saving me blades, but I still like the 3/0 best. That is all I can think of right now. Glad to see you give them a try. I really think you will like them for portrait work.

I read in the Scrollsaw magazine that a good thing to do is print the pattern on a transparency first. Then you can lay it out on a board and see how it will look with the grain, knots, and other character the wood contains. Give a good look at where to glue the pattern. I plan on giving this a try.

Congratulations! I think you will be very happy with that saw.