Muzz

I just did a few quick calculations for my scrollsaw, a Ex-21 re-brand here in Australia and with the Scrollsaw + Stand + postage came to $1,368 or in current US dollars over $1,000.

If you want to try cutting a few gears, try this free gear template creator. http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html

I had the same problem with my old Delta Q3 before I upgraded. I never figured out the problem, but I thought it was sawdust and junk getting into the speed control pot or power switch. The Q3 had some very strange design ideas like the back of the power switch being open and subject to any sawdust getting in, meaning you had to get the switch out and clean the contacts every so often when it wouldn't switch on.

I voted Olsen. Not much choice - Australia being such a small market, Olsen seem to be the only brand, other than cheap generic blades, that you can get here.

I am partial to Danish oil. Basically it is Linseed oil with varnish and probably some other things added so that it gives a nice oil type finish but still protects the item better than straight oil. Wipes on easy with just a clean rag.

I know it sounds obvious, but have you checked the time and date on your camera?

Atheism doesnt mean survival of the fittest, it means as a society we get to work out what is right and what is wrong, instead of relying on a 2000 year old book. Remember there is slavery, wife beating, killing rebellious children etc in the bible. Do you still follow those to? As for Atheism being a religion. By your definition not collecting stamps is a hobby.

I always detention the blade also, the manufacturer of both my old scrollsaw (Delta Q3) and new (Excalibur) recommend this. I also cover my scrollsaw with a very large garbage bag, meant for wheelie bins.

If you make the hummingbird exactly to plans, a small hand cranked wheel is all that powers it. Of course in the video a small geared motor is used, and would be preferred by most people, but the plans don't show what need to be done for motor power. That needs to be designed by the builder, but would be quite simple, once you worked out a suitable low speed/reasonable torque small motor.

Before I acquired my new Excallibur Scrollsaw I had a Delta Q-3 which is a C-Arm and very rough on blades, breaking them constantly If I wasn't careful with them. My new scrollsaw is so much better at making my blades last. Anyway, if you are doing some "general" cutting, not too fine work, get some Olsen PGT #5 blades. They cut wood like butter and last forever. I cut my Valkyrie, which is over 1m long (3feet) and consists of over 300 pieces from a single blade! Thats not a typo!

You should bookmark Derek Hugger's own site where he sells the plans for the hummingbird and other things he has designed. The plans are not cheap, but the finished product would be amazing. You can even download sample pdf files which shows what parts are needed, assembly guide etc to work out if it something you could make. http://www.derekhugger.com/

I use tape as well. Double sided carpet tape is reasonably thin and the pieces are always well bonded together.

A snowman?

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and comments.

As the topic suggests, something completely different. This is a Valkyrie from the Anime Macross, renamed Robotech in the USA. Something I loved to watch in my childhood that I couldn't pass up when I saw the pattern. The finished product is over 1 metre long (3 feet) and consists of over 300 pieces, pretty much all pieces had to be redesigned for this project, since it wasn't meant for a wooden project, or enlarging to such a degree. It was mean to be a filler project until the weather warmed up and I could start painting my Dalek, but it took much longer that I thought.