SCROLLSAW703

thats good news, rocky! happy to hear it's the better motor, & you're gettin' a new bearing, too! And you're right, Sir. Bushton is just a small spot in the road, but it's a busy community. The folks at the Hawk plant have more responsibilities than just lookin' after their jobs at the plant, & keepin' the saws movin', but some of them are farmers, one of the secretaries is not only a service tech for the saws & the company, but is raisin' her family, for the most part, right there in the front office, & is a part time librarian for the town public library. The owner of the Company is a farmer himself, a long with other family responsibilities. The husband of Nicole, the secretary, librarian, service tech, & mother, is the head designer & machinist at the plant. So, as you can see, sometimes patience & research pays off. It's good to hear your Hawk will be up & on its wheels soon!

JT, what's so special about the #5 silver? I've never used it, & am curious.

well, there are several ways your questions can be answered. I've used Flying Dutchman & Olson blades for years. If you're cutting 1/4" material, I personally wouldn't recommend a skip reverse blade, just from experience. Reason being is tear up of the project. My preference is a #3 Olson polar blade. A smoother cut, blade lasts just as long, & less tear ups. In 1/2" material, such as oak, walnut, cherry, maple, you can get along ok with your #5 reverse skip. Dependin' on how much detail is in the project decides what blades I use. Even in 1/2" material. Sometimes I will use a #1 skip tooth in 1/2" material, sometimes a #2 skip tooth, other times, I may just end up using a polar blade on the complete project. It all depends on what it requires. And I use both FD & Olson blades in the same project. There again, it just depends on my preference for the business at hand. Your LEAST aggressive blade is going to be the blade with the least amount of teeth per inch at your preference. Only you can decide what works best for you & your project. With my Hawk, I can cut a complete project with the same blade, in 1/2" material. Getting the most out of your blade has a lot to do with blade setting & speed, tension, & pressure put against the blade. I cut a lot of small detail in my projects, therefore, I use some smaller size blades in order to get the detail to just the right look. I think patience, usin' the blade in the proper way, & speed play a key role in gettin' the most of your blade.

I very seldom create a project that needs a frame. Most all of my projects are cut from hardwood. Usually 1/2" in thickness, or there abouts. I don't use backers, either, unless it's by customer request. I keep stock available for frames. I make custom frames for customers, cut a dado, & place the glass in them. If their frame needs a backer, I use 1/8" hardboard. My frames may be barn wood, beetle kill pine, or hard wood. One thing I've learned over the years, customers have a tendency to want to bring in some special wood they want a frame made out of for their given project. Most of the time, there ain't enough material there to make a frame, or the wood is just flat junk. I try to reason with them & explain the situation, & offer what I have in inventory as replacement. They are satisfied with the situation.

I would stop buyin' from your lumber people, but make it a point to tell them 4/4 lumber is NOT a glue up, & they are sellin' under false pretenses.

my apologies JT. I didn't mean to step on your toes. Ya know, I've got a lot of respect for you & your experience. But sometimes I've noticed you have a tendency to rain on other folks' parades. Ya don't have to agree with the situation, or the changes goin' on around you, but you could try a kind word on occasion. I think the trophy idea of Travis' is a good idea, & brings awareness to the newbies coming on board to see what we are made of. I don't always agree with a post, or what others have said, but I try, in my own sweet way, to join in the conversation if it's somethin' I can voice experience or a valuable opinion in. Please try to have some respect for those of us that think new ideas are a good thing, & an enlightenment to the village. In your words "you've been here long enough, you know how things work."

what meflick said. Personally, I keep 21 different sizes & types of blades in inventory. I cut all hardwood projects. That isn't the deciding factor of the number of blades I keep. I do fret work, inlays, lettering, design work, etc. Everything I cut is 1/2" projects, unless I'm cuttin' feathers or fret work. I keep spiral blades, skip tooth blades, & polar blades, & some reverse blades, too. I've not a project yet, unless it's a small project, that will use more than one size or type of blade. Ya just have to find the blades that work best for the projects you cut, & as you gain experience, try different blades & sizes. Figure out what works for you, & keep those blades on hand.

good news! happy to hear you are gettin' back on your feet! hopefully you'll be back at the saw soon!

Mr. Travis decided I earned 3 more trophies today! Thank you, Sir! I appreciate it. I think your trophy idea is a good one. It lets those of us that are trying to make ssv what it is, & know we are helping one another. Thank you again, Sir.

i keep wonderin' when you're goin' to invest in a Hawk, Kevin. After all them saws, ya could of had a show room of Hawks, & money in the bank.

how i got here? man JT, you ask a lot a questions.;) I was drivin' OTR for my Dad in the early '90's, & he was runnin' another driver & I to Corpus Christi, Texas & back to Colby, KS 3x a week haulin' sunflowers out of the field. We were tryin' to stay ahead of hurricane Katrina. We wound up gettin' caught at Orange Grove, TX when Katrina come ashore. Plenty of readin' time then. After we got out of there & headed home, I came in one sunday evening, walked in the door, didn't even have my clothes bag on the floor yet. My bride looks at me & said you look like hell! It was good to see her, too! She loaded me in the pick up, & off to the ER we went. Luckily, our family Sawbones was on call. He gave me the once over. Proceeded to tell me what all was wrong, & told me if I didn't QUIT eatin', sleepin', thinkin', & breathin' trucks, there was goin' to be a small funeral here in town. Mine! My bride jumps up about that time & says he needs a hobby! I looked at her & asked what that was. She says how 'bout wood working? Well, not bein' around wood, ever, I didn't think she was givin' me much of a choice.;) Good thing I like to read, 'cause I done a lot of it! And still do. Well, Bein' in the truckin' business all my life, I'd never been close to anything woodworking. Come to find out, my bride was workin' for a woman that her husband was in construction, & recently passed, & She was sellin' his tools. So, I wound up with a single speed Craftsman scroll saw, which I finally wore out, a ras, router, bits, & other odds & ends tools. And I made my share of customized firewood before anything even began to look somewhat like a pattern. Determination & perseverance set in. In my time at home, I spent tryin' to learn these dandy tools now in our possession. I left it alone for awhile. I went to drivin' for a different outfit, & was out 3 wks to 2 months at a time. In 2009, I had viral menangitis. A long stint in the hospital. Made a strong effort to go back on the road for about a year, then come 2 major back surgeries, 2 years apart, & my health & depression finally got the best of me in 2012. I've been scrollin' more & doing other wood working since. The saw calms me, lets me forget about the chronic pain & depression while i'm workin' on a project. Keeps my hands & mind busy. It has been a learning journey, & meeting new friends. In the 25 years of it, we've accumulated a full shop of equipment. i guess that's my .02 worth.

I've never had any issues gettin' in touch with the folks at Bushton, or getting parts. I will say that the reason I traded my 220VS was because the wedge was worn out, & I did replace it, & had to send the top arm in to them to be repaired. After that, the motor was on it's way out & it was cheaper to just trade than to put more money into it. I guess it's what resources you have around you that enters into the main decision. Out here in the middle of nowhere, we aren't fortunate enough to have a place that will repair electric motors. So, it's get them new, or junk the saw or whatever it is. Most of the time when a saw goes down, I don't have the time to tinker with it until I'm finished with the projects I'm working on. But if it's my Hawk, they have always managed to keep my saws runnin', & get me the parts as soon as they can get them out.

thank you all for the continued support! We greatly appreciate it! She says she'll walk me to the shop this week end so I can spend a few hours "playin" as she puts it. It's supposed to be cold & snow here this week end, but just the thought of goin' to the shop is encouraging. Goin' to see our family dr tomorrow to see what's goin' on with the blood thinner, & a med review. We'll see how that goes. Meflick, Mary Ann just grinned when she read your post. Just so you all know, Mary Ann reads all of your posts, too. She says she can't believe the friendship & family feeling there is here on this site. I spend more time here than I should at times probably, but this has kept me involved. Thank you for allowing me to do that. Brad & Mary Ann.

Sounds like a great idea, Travis! those of you that put pictures up, excellent pictures! Remember, to you it may look like a mess, but any shop is a blessing for your hobby. It's your escape from the rest of the world for the few hours you get to spend in it. You know where things are, keep on keepin' on! I'll try & get pictures of my shop on. I've got 400 sq. ft. of work space that has my equipment "strategically" placed for navigation. And at the moment, it looks like a tornado hit it bcause I ain't been in it for nearly 4 months to shine up from a couple projects I'm workin' on. Good Idea! I'm anxious to see more shops!:):)

Another update this evening. Things are going ok, for the most part. I'm feelin' ok. Physical therapy has come back in & started workin' on my legs again. I'm not goin' to say it's workin', & or it ain't. I'm movin' around the house without my cane, but if my bride or therapist takes me outside, I still have to have my cane. I'm climbin' stairs better. So maybe improvement is in the makin'. Lately we've been havin' issues gettin' my INR level into therapeutic level. Which is the blood thinner. For the last week, I've been goin' to the hospital everyday for two injections of Lovanox. It's a form of blood thinner that is injected in the stomach just under the skin. Yes, it smarts a little, but it is what it is. So far my INR is not comin' up to fast. I see my Sawbones friday for a med review & see what else is goin' on. Mary Ann is doin' well!:) Working her 3 days at the grocery store, & keepin' me out of the shop. Still!:( She keeps tellin' me to settle down, the smell of sawdust will still be there when she turns me lose!;) Women! "Nobody knows what's on their mind"! John Wayne. How true it is, but I don't know what I'd do without her!:) I guess that's it for now. We appreciate all the thoughts & prayers, & kind words! You all mean the world to us!!!! Thank you for allowin' me to post while I'm inactive in the shop. It has kept my mind busy, & less time concentratin' on the bad things. Hopefully I'm helpin' somebody with my experience. God Bless, & thank you! Brad & Mary Ann.

i like that rack, too. I've got a shortage of space & have tried several different ideas. I like the looks of yours. I may have to steal your design for my meager shop, Sir.

the 220VS would be worth your trip, Jim. They are a good saw. just not a newer one. But parts are available for it. Knowing Kevin, it's ready to make saw dust! And it will have the the barrel type blade holders. The newer saws have better blade holders, but the piece underneath that holds the blade holder in place is metal, & does break. Something else to think about. They ain't hard to change out, just a couple small hex screws. And a couple bucks for a replacement. Also, check the threads on the adjustment bolt at the back of the newer saw. If there is wear on the threads, it's a dead give away the saw has several hours on it. There are several other things, too, but until you see the saw up close, Bushton will give you more information by the serial number.

kevin is right. If you can get your hands on it to have a closer look see, check the wedge at back of the top arm. If it shows any wear, metal grindings, etc., & no lube such as graphite, it has some hours of use. There is more to just replacin' the wedge if it's bad enough. The bottom arm may have to come apart & sent to Bushton for repair. That wedge, the bearings, & the motor & controller are the main parts to look at. Your blade tension at the nose of the top arm can be adjusted to snap over & hold tension on the blade. Hopefully it has the manual with it. All & All, $450 isn't a bad price. I've seen them higher & wore out. Just be cautious. And call Bushton & ask questions.

when ya goin' to invest in a Hawk, Mr. Kevin?

I wouldn't worry about the pieces that pop out, as long as you've fully cut them. No reason to tape them back in place. If you start cutting your project in the center, as a rule, cut out from there. I personally cut clockwise from the center out. When you come to a place in the project where several cuts meet close together, start at the weakest point & work to the strongest point. This way, you've got the smallest, weakest, pieces cut when you get to the stronger point. And while you're cutting your stronger points, the weaker places don't break apart. As far as blade size, personally, I would use a #3 polar blade. In the smaller cuts, I would use a #1 polar blade. Both Olson blades. The reason for my choice of blades is because of the thin material, & the polar blades give a cleaner, smoother cut. hope all this answers your questions, jes. If not, post more & we'll answer'em.:)

I cut all the feathers for the dream catchers I make. They are 3/32" thick. I drill one hole at the bottom & use a #0/2 flat blade, & follow the opposite direction of the feather in order to get the outside cuts. In the center, I drill one hole, cut the center out. I use small spiral blades when I'm cutting animals. Like shoulder lines, jaw lines, tail lines, tree lines, leaves, etc. I use a 68 or 70 bit, & start in cutting in those places a flat blade won't make the turns.

Not to jump in on kevins post, ray, but, were it me cuttin' it, I would drill entry holes close to his nose, between the whiskers. I'd start the cutting at his nose, leaving the whiskers to cut at the end of the project. Leaving support around the whiskers to prevent breaking. Probably taping too. The rest of the project would get cut out around them. And then come back & cut out the whiskers to finish out the project. Does that mat make sense?

Your ships look great! Keep up the good work! Are you goin' to frame them? That would make them really stand out! I've got one saw set up with a zero clearance pilot hole. I use it for feathers, small fretwork projects, etc. Otherwise, my BM 26 gets most of the work. It doesn't have much of a clearance pilot hole. When I drill my entry holes in small fret work, I don't drill them close together, or in curves. reason being, to initiate a cut directly next to one another in fine work is disaster in the making. Drill your entry holes opposite of one another. That way, not only the start of the cut, but the vibration of the blade cutting doesn't break what you've already cut. And I tape small, close work to keep it from breakin' apart. Another primary issue with fine fret work is blade size & speed. I'm a slow cutter, & in fine work, use the smallest blade I can to keep the work lookin' shiny.;) I've been called a perfectionist more than once. Fretwork has a reputation of wantin' to jump a little during cutting. As mentioned, it is tough to get cut with a scroll saw. It can be done, but, well, we'll leave that for another day. If your project wants to jump, try slowin' your blade speed down just a little. Use your hold down foot that came with your saw, or, you can put a little down pressure with your fingers on both sides of the blade.

no offense, but I never had much use for poplar. I'm for the camp fire wood.

that's a fact, Mr. Rocky! Those of us that grew up & live out here in the agriculture industry see it everyday. And, sadly enough, the family farms are gradually fading because of low market prices, high equipment & fuel costs, etc. So, the farmer has to become resourceful to make ends meet. Investing in other endeavors is usually the first thing they do. The Farmer puts his many talents to work, along with his mechanical mind, & the next thing ya know, he has put together something the world can use indefinitely. Rocky, I sincerely appreciate the prayers, my friend. Lately, they have been valuable.