GrampaJim

You can do it! I didn't like my first couple of attempts, but then I didn't like my first fretwork attempts either. I am still a beginner, but the response from family and friends has been good. I do not have the ability to take a class from Judy Gale Roberts or Kathy Wise, but did get the beginner books that each sells - they are a must have IMHO.

Yes you can use the scroll saw in the basement. I have been doing that since I started scrolling almost 4 years ago. Get a 20 X 20" fan and put a good furnace filter on the front and pull the dust away from the operator. A lot of us do it that way. The Dewalt is a great saw in my opinion. If the 788 that I bought used off of CraigsList (which is now at least 15 years old) would die tomorrow I would buy another without a second thought. You will want a stand or make your own. It should be bolted down. If you have questions, ask away. The folks here are very helpful.

OK, I found a great deal on a 8" grinder on CL and bought it to make a sander for Intarsia instead of using my drill press. The flex sander drum from Seyco works great on one side and I want to put a drill chuck on the other side to mount sanding mops. I know it can be done, as I have seen pictures of a setup on SSV. The shaft on the grinder is 5/8" and is threaded on the end. How or where do I get such a chuck? I am sure the mechanical minded have an easy answer. Thanks, in advance.

Nice work! Next thing you know you will be trying word art and spiral blades! You prove my theory that Intarsia is harder than regular scrolling. In addition to cutting you have to figure out the colors, shaping and contouring. Thought I was pretty good after three years of scrolling until I tried Intarsia. That took the wind out of my sails for a while.

I know general dust collection has been discussed here many times. In doing some research on the subject I came across what seems to be a well known blog that is dedicated to the subject. After looking over the large amount that he has written in his blog. I came away with the following: 1. If you are not eliminating the fine sawdust (the kind you cannot see) you WILL end up with breathing problems for yourself and probably anyone in your home. Almost every home shop will fair an air quality test. 2. Almost all dust collecters can pick up large dust and chip, but are really just pumping the fine dust back into the air to breath. 3. The minimum size needed to move the quantity of air at the required velocity is about a 3 hp collector. This needs to be placed or exhausted to the outdoors. 4. If you are pulling all that air out of your basement shop, you will probably be sucking the exhaust back from any gas run appliances like water heaters and furnace. The resulting carbon monoxide will then kill you. I understand that our scroll saws do not produce nearly as much sawdust as table saws, routers, etc. but many of us do have and use those machine also in enclosed shops. I have intentionally not named to source of this info to get better responses. I am not, not ever have been an engineer or an expert on air quality and/or the mechanics of air and dust. So my question is all this just a big overkill by someone selling super systems that probably none of us can afford? Please comment, not so much as to what you have, but are these points valid.

Great job with a great pattern!

Amazing work Randy. And congrats to your son. My Grandson will be going through the Crucible at Pendleton in the next two weeks, so I understand your pride. Well done!

I use mineral spirits. Sometimes I add an equal part of poly, too.

For general scrolling, I have been using the "box fan with furnace filter" setup for ever and am just fine with that. For doing Intarsia sanding and shaping that is not going to cut it. I know that the really fine dust is the worst to breath, and most dust collectors are really for chips and large particals unless a very fine filter is installed. What do the experts here use and recommend?

Here is one that meets in the Woodcraft store in New Berlin. Still quite a drive from Madison. http://wiscwoodworkersguild.org/Introduction.html Jim

The Fretwork ones are a Steve Good pattern that I modified. Cut from Oak. I had sold two of these in the past to a friend of a friend in the past and she liked them so much she gave them away as gifts. So she ordered two more. Being a lazy, I asked if she would like this other pattern (from Arpop) instead. She said no, but will take two of them also. These are cut from Western Red Cedar. Jim

They are good people with good products and service.

Hi Dan and Wendy. I'm from Jackson, over by the West Bend area. Make yourselves at home. This is a great place to learn and just hang out. Jim

I have seen a couple of these old versions of Excalibur's on Craigslist for $700 and the comments are always about the new ones are twice the price. LOL Randy is correct - Pass on this.

In the past couple of years I have cut dozens of this Steve Good pattern (first pix). Thankfully if is one of my all-time favorites. Someone contacted me to see if I could change the letters to a different language - I said OK. They sent me the exact lettering of the translation, I looked at it and said "NOPE, not with that pattern. How about a plaque for the wall?" They said OK. Here is the result. (second pix) It will be hand carried to a "southern European" country and given to a local pastor who is working in an difficult situation. I was asked to be vague in any details about where it is going, I can only imagine why. Jim

Check your e-mail. I sent Seyco an email last Saturday after lunch with a sander question. I figured it the weak-end and they would answer me on Monday when they opened. Ray sent back to me within the hour with the detailed answer. I was impressed. I turned out ordering the sander and they had it to me in three days which with the distance is a great time. Based on my experience they are a great company to do business with. Jim

Another nice benefit is that in the basement I have heat in winter and AC in summer. What's not to like about that! Jim

Yup! I have to agree. These are the best thing since sliced bread. I just got a small one and can't believe I didn't spring for one sooner! After a scroll saw and drill press, I think this is the next must have piece of equipment.

It can be done. I have always done my scrolling and sanding in the basement. As Bill said, you need to control the dust. I have a Dewalt and use a Box fan with a furnace filter attached at the saw and at the sanding station. They run for several hours after sawing and/or sanding. The furnace filter has always been a very high performance type. My wife has asthma AND major allergies and dust has never been a problem in the living areas. If it became a problem, I would just go to a higher end dust collection system. My chop saw and planner are in the garage for the noise as well as the dust.

Danny, I HATED top feeding the first couple of time I tried it. I forced myself to keep trying and now it is second nature and SO much faster. The trick is you attach the bottom clamp by feel. I will never buy a saw that doesn't top feed. Just my preference. Jim

I would really consider the purple one - the others not so much.

Here is a Steve Good pattern that was a lot of fun to cut. I used a one dollar frame from the Good Will store. The wife found a place for this one pretty quickly so I guess she likes it. 1/8" oak play, stack cut the layers and finished with BLO. Jim

Agree with Bill Wilson. I too, started with a new Craftsman and it broke in 6 months. I found a Dewalt 788 on Craigslist and bought it. That was 3 1/2 years ago and I run it every day for at least an hour. My saw is 15 years old or more - love it. Jim

I use a box fan with a good furnace filter and run the fan on high speed - in my basement. The wife has allergies and asthma and has not complained about dust in the 3 years I have been scrolling. Change the filter often and keep the floors clean. I have a used piece of carpet on the floors and use a vacuum on them often. All the big sanding and the chop saw is done in the garage. Jim

Well done Matt! That looks great! Better hurry with the finish, our heat is coming back later this week. Jim