RangerJay

This is really a stunning piece of work - quite an inspiration for the rest of us - can you tell us where you got the pattern for the bird? Thanks, Jay

There is a lot of joy in cutting patterns like this one - and you're doing a superb job!! But a warning!!! .... cutting this kind of detail can become really addicting ...... A couple thoughts for you - not for this project - but maybe for a bit of future experimentation. On these kinds of larger, time consuming, and detailed kinds of project think about mixing your blades up a bit: > leave your 2/0 blades and your 3/0 blades to the finer parts of the pattern where they are needed most. > on the larger areas - (but not so large your eye is drawn to the edges) - try a #1 FD spiral with flat ends - this blade cuts very easily through most woods, is very comfortable to use, and lasts an incredibly long time - to break one is rare. > on the really large areas (voids) where a viewers eye might be drawn to the cutting edge then use a flat blade that leaves a clean edge. Just a couple thoughts for the future. You're doing a great job - really looking forward to seeing the final finished work. Jay

Randy: Thanks for the link to the tutorial - you can bet I will be taking a run at it - not exactly sure when - but it is very definitely on my bucket list! Thanks again, Jay

Incredible - that does not look easy - would be really interested in knowing how you do it! Thanks, Jay

Stunning piece - well done. Jay

Really gorgeous piece - well done! Jay

I've enjoyed following this discussion. I recall my first efforts with spiral blades - all I can say is they were little more than exercises in frustration. But once past the learning curve they become a real joy to use - when you develop get the knack of handling them, understand the best place to use them, and which spiral to select then they turn into a valuable and comfortable tool - but like any tool there are tasks where they excel and others where they do not. And no - you sure don't have to be an expert - but you should also recognize that every good butcher goes through a training phase ..... Thanks, Jay

Beautiful work.

Thanks for all the kind feedback folks! Marg: here are a couple pictures of a single Moose - hope they give you what you want. Thanks, Jay

Finished these guys up today. The pattern is found in the Scrollsaw Woodworking and Crafts 2014 Holiday Pattern Collection. Pattern-maker is Ruth Chopp. They are about as desirable a little ornament as any you'll find anywhere - but there is a heck of lot more work goes into them than meets the eye ...... not possible to put a price on them that comes anywhere close to the value of effort put into them so they will all be gifts - hopefully welcome ones ..... Comments welcome. Jay

Terrific job on a terrific pattern. Jay

Thanks again folks. No - I don't keep track of the hours - I really like these kinds of detailed projects and have started to refer to them as "Time Pieces" - meaning that I poke away at them, a little bit at a time, usually an hour or two, maybe once or twice a week, over a long period of time - and between other jobs - think I started this one in April or so ...... The number of cuts?? - something else I don't keep track of ...... I think quite a bunch ..... Thanks, Jay

Thanks - I really appreciate the kind words. To answer a couple of questions: - the frame is a "Greene and Greene Frame" - if you Google those words you will find many variations on this frame - most call for a mortise and tenon joint but I used dowels. - the cording is braided cord purchased from Amazon and I think readily available through most hobby/craft stores - very inexpensive - attached with a bead of CA glue along the entire joint - really easy to do - a lot easier than I originally thought. Thanks again, Jay

I have wanted to cut this Charles Dearing Lynx ever since I first saw it - that was at least a couple of years ago - maybe a little longer - and I finally got round to doing it. I can see myself cutting a lot more of his patterns in the future - but holy smoke they sure take time ..... The cutting is walnut and the frame is pine. Any comments or suggestions will be very welcome. Thanks, Jay

Quite a while back I had the same problem - and expressed the same level of frustration ..... upon advice from this forum I scrapped the spiral blades I had and purchased Flying Dutchman blades - "Spirals with Flat Ends" and also the smaller "New Spirals" - that problem is now in the distant past and Flying Dutchman spirals have become my "go to" blades for all intricate fretwork. Jay

Holy moly - that's the real Cadillac of cutting centres!! Jay

Been a heavy duty lurker here for quite a while - enjoyed the gallery a lot - and have recently completed one course at the Village University ..... and didn't even know about the free cookies ...... great forum. Thanks, Jay

Wow - looks like you have the entire biblical community in that project - absolutely great - marvelous work. Jay

..... my apologies if I jumped the gun ..... Thanks, Jay

We're all scrollers here Larry - some young - some old - some newbies - some veterans - all here for no other reason than furthering their own skills or contributing to the skills of others - really don't understand your beef - whatever it is it seems misplaced. Jay

This kind of post adds nothing to anything ...... Jay

For the church window I just did a google search titled "Church Windows" - there are lots that come up but the one I used can be found here: http://photographyofgrace.com/3dTextures/transparentpngs/outside/OldChurchWindow.png I printed the picture in black and white but it did not exactly print in even proportions - maybe the picture was taken at a bit of an angle - so I ended up reproducing it in a line drawing made with pencil and ruler and that worked out fine. Yes - I stack cut the Christ figure as well as the Cross. Christ figure is about 3/16th inch and the Cross is 1/8 Baltic Birch. Hope this helps. Jay

Thanks so much for all of your kind words. First - a very humble apology - I do love cutting from the patterns of both Sheila Landry and Sue Mey but in this case I got the source of the patterns wrong - so - with genuine apologies to the both of them ...... the cuttings came from Wildwood designs - the Christ figure is pattern # 1476 and the Cross is pattern #62243 ...... guess I really need to bite the bullet and do a serious clean up the filing system for my patterns ...... sorry about that. The church "window" design is taken from images that turned up in a Google search. These pieces are not that big - about 10" tall and they are not that hard to cut - all you need is a little patience. The inside cuts on the Christ figure are cut with 2/0 flat blade. The inside cuts of the Cross are cut with a #1 and 2/0 spirals. The biggest lesson I learned on this project is that Maple Burl is a lot easier to cut than I would have imagined - a good thing - but - when cutting thin stock you really need to be careful or the swirly grains of the burl will take the blade in places you really don't want to be ..... and ...... no matter how gentle you are ...... a sanding mop is simply not a good idea ...... the original idea was that all the Christ figures would be from the Maple Burl ..... only one survived the sanding mop ..... you'd think I would have learned after the first one broke up ..... Thanks again, Jay

Just finished these up this afternoon - first time I've posted pictures on this site - hope it works ..... Patterns are put together from work by Sue Mey, Sheila Landry and my own hacking around with the backing pieces. Backing pieces are Elm (one Striped Elm and one stained White Elm) and Maple - White Elm and Maple are "Rescue" wood from old - really old - school desks - old guys (like me) will remember the desks with ink wells in the corner ..... Crosses are Baltic Birch. Christ figures are Walnut (2) and Maple Burl (1) - first time working with Maple Burl - really like it - finish effect is terrific. Comments welcome. Jay

I haven't actually read here that anyone sees a benefit to moving to Windows 10 - no "Wow - this is a ton better!!" - so my question: 8.1 is working fine for me - is there a reason to move to 10 and go through a new learning curve? Thanks, Jay