Wilson142

Really nice. I'm always impressed with your finish. A rushed or botched finish can make or break any project.

"This game is played by a lit of people here in the states during holidays and football games. In other words - buy drunk people." Never played corn hole growing up in Minnesota. Horseshoes was the go to game for us. Played by the same type of people. Drunk and drinking. lol

Thanks for the comments. I'm leaning towards no glass. I think the glass makes them look more commercial and less home made. I have the tools to make frames and I do cut glass because stained glass is another hobby I have. Lately I've been going to the $ store and buying plain black frames. It's challenging to take a pattern meant for 10" or 11" and reduce them to 5" to 6". I cut for my pleasure and rarely sell anything. I gift a lot and store many pieces. I live in an age restricted housing development and I think I may begin to donate pieces to the community for the activities they have. Whittle down the pile and maybe avoid me being labeled a hoarder requiring an intervention like the tv show.

I'm curious, do you use glass when framing your projects? I'm torn. I live in the desert and using glass has the advantage of preventing another dust magnet, although I feel the glass takes away from the overall look of the piece.

I love this lady's' work. I feel the simplicity really celebrates the wood. And I like the way she uses the knots to simulate the sun or moon. Really peaceful feeling.

Cracks me up to see the 500 plus cut outs next to the ??? cut outs. Lots of drilling there. Another master of the dreaded spiral blades. lol Really like his large cat patterns.

Charles Dearing was going to stop selling his patterns but, he nearly lost everything after a house fire last winter. Bear Woods Supply company sells many of his patterns online. I hope he continues to make his patterns available. Truly a master of spiral blades. He tried flat blades and was abysmal at it. He has a video blog on you tube and jokes about trying to use flat blades.

I'm often confused as to who ultimately owns some patterns. For instance there is a very popular leopard pattern that I see all the time. It obviously started as a photograph and I have seen it on photography sites. I've also seen it converted to a scroll saw pattern, a wood burning pattern, a cross stitch pattern and is even reduced and used for tattoos. I have never seen any of the pattern makers give credit to the photographer for the original. Perhaps credit was given and permission obtained and it simply was not noted in the pattern. I do agree that taking credit for someone else's work is unacceptable in any circumstance.

I may go big box store cedar or oak and glue up thicker material. I'm not looking for cost effective material because the sign is a gift to someone I have not met yet. I live in an adult community and every day I past by a home on the way to the dog park that celebrates every holiday imaginable in a big way. They go all out on Halloween, Cinco de Mayo, St. Pats day etc. as well as the major winter holidays. It always puts a smile on my face when I pass by. I was told they have no other hobbies, no family etc. and rent several storage units to house their decorations. I decided I'd like to gift them the sign that says "Witch Parking Only! All Others Will Be Toad". I always liked that pattern but, I have no use for it myself. Thought it would be a nice ice breaker. I rarely sell anything I cut. I prefer to gift things. That allows me to cut the things I like instead of what I think will sell. I was widowed a year ago and needed something to keep me occupied so I bought a DW788 and have gotten back into scrolling. Great for the soul!

Any suggestions for a sign that will be used outside? I intend to paint it and possibly cover it with Marine Spar Varnish. I think 1/4" to 1/2" thick and 20" square or less.

That's a really nice piece! I can imagine trying to join 4 sections perfectly would be extremely difficult. And cutting the ring in one piece was probably no picnic either. Did you breath a little easier after removing the pattern?

I got the joke. In fact, I have a t-shirt that has the hammer and says, "this is not a drill"...I have another that has the picture of a drill that says, "Relax folks, this is just a drill"

Crikey!

Very nice piece. What are the dimensions?

Nice picking. Played well on VLC player. Makes me think of sitting in front of a fireplace. Merry Christmas!

very nice. Love the renovated antique look to it.

Love it. I remember going to a classic motorcycle show in the 70's, coolest bike without a doubt was an Ariel Square Four.

I started out scrolling with spiral blades more than 20 years ago. I cut free standing tree puzzles out of 1 1/2 red oak with spirals. Many fret work patterns, Christmas sleighs, etc. I stopped scrolling for several years when I began doing stained glass projects. I was recently widowed and decided I needed to get back to scrolling. I bought a Dewalt and decided it was time to learn to use flat blades. I feel much like people who are learning to use spiral blades. I struggle to slow down with the flat blades and find I sometimes feel like a runaway car heading down hill at breakneck speed. The flats cut so much faster and require far less force to cut IMO. They do leave a much cleaner cut and sharper corners. They funny thing is, I watched a youtube video by Charles Dearing (sort of a hero of mine), and he also finds flat blades harder to control than spirals. I'm starting to enjoy the flat blades but, with the advent of new spirals and reverse spirals and flat end spirals, I can see the value of both styles. I use a small needle nose pliers to slightly flatten the ends of my spiral blades. I simply put the first 3/8 to 1/2 inch of the l blade into the pliers and squeeze them closed to straighten them a bit. I also pay attention to the feel of the clamps when tightening them to avoid turning the ends into "hockey sticks" (the annoying bend in the blade end that will increase the possibility for breakage.) I've found that over tightening will often bend the blade end.

The Steve Good site just posted a video on coin cutting. Looks far easier then I would have expected as far as the actual cutting part. Not sure about the skills needed to be successful Practice, practice...as with all things.

Growing up, my family did many road trips, I vividly remember the Berma Shave signs.

I likey! Should be mounted on a trailer, add a generator and off you go.

I would suggest trying aniline wood dye. You can mix it with water, keeping in mind it may raise the grain a bit. You can mix it with alcohol which shouldn't mess with the grain. I mix it with 70% water and 30% alcohol. Still raises the grain a bit, but not a big problem. You can mix any color you like and the dye goes into the wood instead of sitting on top and obscuring the wood. No clumping or brush strokes. You can go light or build up the intensity as you like. Needs a clear coat to finish. I use a paper bag or occasionally a coffee filter to knock down any nubs before the clear coat.

I have the pattern in The Best Of Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts "Wooden Puzzles" from Fox Chapel Publishing

Really nice. I remember seeing the movie in the late 60's with Mick Jagger playing the lead. Blast from the past!