OCtoolguy

Multifasited, I'd love to see more pics of your setup from the side angles. Also, what kind of small drill press is that? It looks like it would sure more handy than a regular bench top press. You'd never have to get up from your stool. I really would like to see what you consider to be your "finished" setup. The swing arm is interesting and I'd like to see more of it. Thanks for posting all your pics. Ray

Thanks Doug. I used to have a nice shop but after selling everything and going out on the road for 3 years we came back in and bought a mobile home. I now have a very small shop that is 9 x 13 and I have to share it with my wife and store all of her Christmas decorations up on shelves. I don't have a lot of room for anything much in the way of dust collection so I am interested in whatever I can do on a very small basis. When the box fan was suggested for use with a scroll saw, I got curious as to how folks are using it. In my mind's eye, I see a box fan in a window and pulling the dust out. I'm just not sure of what folks are doing in conjunction with their scroll sawing. I'll do a search as you suggested. Thanks, Ray

Several of you mentioned using a box fan. I'm dense. Can you explain how you use them? I think I like the idea of clip on magnifiers for my glasses and a good LED light of some kind. I am also going to get a mask that was recommended over on another scroll saw forum. But, I am interested in knowing how you make use of a box fan. I would think that would just blow the dust around. Like I said, I'm dense. Ray

I have seen that many of you are using lighted magnifiers along side of your saws. I'd appreciate some advice on what ones you all are using. They pretty much run the gamut of pricing and I'm not a wealthy person so I'd love to find something that I can afford. Also, I was practicing the other day and the next day I was having a terrible time with my nose being stuffed up and almost painful. I was cutting some cheap luan plywood that I had found in a dumpster. So, my question is what type of dust masks are you all using? I can get the cheapie throwaways from Home Depot or step up and get something with removable cartridges. Any advice on this? Thanks, Ray

Thanks to everybody for your input. I guess I will just have to tinker around and see what works. I think my shop stool might be the problem. It sits too high even in it's lowest setting. I'm going to try to find a wooden bar stool at about 30 inches and see if that helps. Thanks again. Ray

Thanks to both of you. I think maybe my problem is not so much the saw as the stool. I'm going to try something else and see if that helps. I did put and axle and two wheels on the two rear legs so it would be easier to move around. That was a good mod. I'm trying to come up with a way to mount the foot switch so it's easier to operate. In my mind, the front should have only one leg so a person could straddle it. Two legs just get in the way. I'm going to mess around with it but I thought maybe someone here would have a suggestion that would make it easier to start with. Ray

I am new to this hobby. I have an older DeWalt 788 with the factory stand made of steel tubing. It seems awfully tall. I'm 6'1" tall. I was wondering if some of you who might be in the same size range as me could suggest what height is best for you. I have an adjustable shop stool and even in it's lowest setting, it is too high. My saw table is high but I have put the two rear legs up on a 3" spacer to angle the saw table a bit downward. I saw this suggestion somewhere and it does make my arms more comfortable for working. But I still feel that the saw is too tall. Before I take a hacksaw to the legs, I thought I'd ask here what everybody's thoughts are. I'd appreciate any feedback you all might give. Thanks, and I really enjoy reading all the stuff you folks have to say. Ray

I just thought of something. I was curious as to who might live close by to me so I looked at the member map. It actually doesn't do much good. I found that there are a few members who live close by but when I tried to find out where, there is no info. I live in Huntington Beach, Ca. Anybody out there who is close to me? Ray

Well, I've finally rounded up everything to get started so, now I just have to get out to the shop and get going. Thanks everybody for the warm welcome. R

Hey all, I know I told you I would post a picture of that peddle operated saw but when I went to the class, he didn't have it set up. He had 10 Delta saws all set up for the class so there wasn't room for it. I will try to get him to snap a pic of it when he is using it. By the way, the class was really great. It was four hours and he taught us the basics of marquetry inlay with the table set at 8 1/2 degrees. We all made a picture of two leaves on a small twig. I must say, mine came out great. He showed us how to do shading with hot sand also. Now, I'm looking for a hot plate and bowl so I can do it at home. If I can figure out how to attach a picture, I'll show you all what we did. I had a great time. Ray

I'm in So.Cal a mile from the ocean. It's in the high 60's to low 70's. I'm still wearing my shorts and t-shirts. My little shop is nice and cozy. R

I live in So. Cal. so everything here costs more but there are millions of people so things are way more plentiful. I bought a used type 1 with stand and light for $250. The table was a bit rusty but it cleaned up very well. Works like a charm and no wear and tear on the moving parts. I guess it really depends on the market where you live. If there are a lot of used ones, go for the best of of the lot. Anything below retail is good if it's in good to new condition. R

Heppenerguy, I'll take a pic of it and post it. The class is not until November though. Ray

Thanks to you all. I get the idea. Practice can turn into something worthwhile. I'm still at the point of learning the basic directions and turning etc. I have not really cut anything out yet that could be regarded as a picture. Still doing the straight/zigzag/circular stuff. I'm signed up for a marquetry class in Nov. so I better get going on practicing. And while I'm doing that, I'll be reading here. This seems like a very friendly, helpful forum and a great group of folks. Ray

This all sounds great but where I live in SoCal we have to fight the Hispanic junk collectors who get out in the middle of the night and scrounge through everybody's trash. At one time, I used to service a Harley Davidson shop and the bikes all came in on fantastic palletize wooden crates. I would go by in the afternoon and knock them apart. I built my entire work bench and woodworking shop with the clean 2x4's that I gleaned from them. It was great. I had a wood supply that lasted me years.

Ok, here comes the silliest question of the day. In order to become a proficient scroller many hours of practice are required. My question is, where do you get the scrap wood to practice with? I have gone to HD and Lowes and even a few cabinet shops but can't seem to find anything that is suitable for scroll sawing. What do you all use and please, where do you get it? I can't believe you are all buying boards and cutting them into small pieces. Thanks for your patience. Ray

I'm not sure if there is a name for the saw. It has a table about 5 feet long. It is not peddle powered. I uses a foot treadle mechanism so he can run it very slowly. I'll try to get a picture of it and post it here. Ray

Hello all here at SSV. I have many hobbies and now I can add this one to the list. I and my wife attended the Orange County Fair this last summer. It was very enjoyable. We always save the best for last. The display buildings. I love the things that humans can create. This year as in years past there was a display put on by the Orange County Woodworking Guild. But what took my eye was a fellow who was demonstrating his method of marquetry and he was cutting very thin veneers on his homemade scroll saw made entirely of wood except for a few metal fittings. I was immediately hooked. So, I had to do some research on what was the best saw to buy etc. Long story short, I bought a used saw from Craigslist and I will be attending a class that the same man, Ken Cowell puts on a few times a year. At this moment, I am on vacation up in Idaho but I look forward to getting home and learning from this master scroller. Thanks to all of you here at SSV for providing me another option for learning. I also hang out on a woodcarving forum and have learned a ton there. So, I will be lurking here and trying to soak up as much as I can from just reading and checking out your work. Ray