Iguanadon

Oh JT, apparently you've blocked from your memory the entire ordeal I went through with the Hawk. LOL Seriously, once I FINALLY got the Hawk running properly after getting the replacement arm that was defective, it was a fine saw, but I simply didn't like it and I just donated it last month to a local non-profit organization that works with underprivelaged kids teaching them woodworking. After all that fiasco, I'm simply sticking to the DeWalt's. Paying $450 for a new saw every year is no big deal, it's just a cost of doing business.

My current saw was starting to make the usual noises of wearing out and today it got worse, so it was time to assemble the new saw I ordered from Grizzly a coupld of weeks ago... Say hello to DeWalt #4 for Iggy. Swapping out various attachments and should be up and running shortly.

I needed some more shelf liner that I use to glue my patterns to. Price online had gone up from $5.64 to $8.64 at Walmart so I decided to swing by the local store and see if they had it on hand and what it's priced. Bingo, $5.64 a roll but only had 4 rolls on hand. That's OK, I saved $12... Or did I? Checkout total $59... the $17 of candy wasn't on my shopping list, so did I really save any money? LOL I think I'll order it online from now on.

UPDATE: 2 Down, 3 To Go and I have a new lucky number... Week 1 - 42 sold Week 2 - 42 sold Week 3 - Coming up, weather looks iffy but the forecast will change over the next 7 days. Last year at this event I sold 60 so that's the target

Technically I have 4 scroll saws... 1 dead 1 near dead 1 emergency backup 1 brand new in box ready for near dead one to die

For me, I have my primary saw, but I have an emergency back-up (both DeWalt's). I cut enough that I can't really afford to be out of commission for long, so having the back-up is a must. As soon as I hear my primary saw begin making the telltale sounds of wearing out, I order a new one and have it at the ready.

Beautiful work Ike, thanks for showing us your display.

Very nice work and great variety. Well done!

I'll let you come do one of the 25-30 shows I do each year.

2018 Salesperson Of The Year goes to... Thank you Melanie, I appreciate you providing the info while I was busy yesterday. And thank you for remembering that $2 out of the $3 I charge goes to Harvey, which is more than he gets from Wooden Teddy Bear who sells them for $4 each. The $1 I get helps to cover the website fees, Shopify fees, credit card/PayPal fees, etc.

All 5 remaining events are outdoors... fingers crossed for good weather all 5.

The race to the finish line... Today was Mythical Day. Five Saturday events in a row coming up starting tomorrow. The weather forecast looks great for tomorrow and next Saturday, just need 3 more good weather days after that and end the season/year on a good note.

Yes, I cut all of my puzzles from poplar.

I've been getting increased requests for cats lately so I'm going to broaden my offerings. Including this new one which I have a feeling is going to be rather popular. Harvey's attention to detail still blows me away sometimes.

Five events in a row coming up starting next Saturday... cutting like crazy. Especially since I had a record breaking event 2 weeks ago and my inventory was depleted.

I've never had so much trouble giving away a $1400 saw. LOL I had heard about this local organization and reached out to them about donating the saw and it was finally picked up today after a couple months of back and forth and hurricanes, etc. http://kidsmakingit.org/ Now... is anyone interested in two completely worn out, 1 year old DeWalt's? I have one right now and my current one is starting to make the telltale noises of being on it's last leg. Anyone that already rebuilds them or are interested in trying... they're yours for free. You just have to come to the beach to pick one or both of them up. The second one may not be ready for a couple more weeks as I want to be sure it truly is wearing out.

Not sure what you mean Dick... If you copy a link, you simply paste it in here... https://www.woodcraftbyscott.com/ Let me know what I'm not understanding.

I have the most helpful friends ever out here!!! It's so nice of you guys wanting to help me out with this saw. LOL Kevin, they're kids books, but some time when you're bored you should look into a series of books called "The Great Brain". Absolutely my all time favorites from when I was a kid. Written from the perspective of the younger brother telling stories about his scam artist older brother. Absolutely fabulous. And yes, I think you and I may be twins separated at birth.

Yes, still have the Hawk. I had a local non-profit organization that said they'd like to have it, I was going to donate it, but now I can't get them to respond to my emails about arranging for them to pick it up... Can't even give away a $1400 saw. LOL

Just received my new DW... Apparently I ordered it just in time, it's now back to $499.95

Thanks RJ. So, last year I sold 1,013 puzzles and I set a very lofty goal of 1600 for this year based on the events I was planning on signing up for. I certainly didn't account for a very rainy summer and of course Hurricane Florence forcing me to miss most of my weekly farmer market dates (Only did 7 out of my usual 16) and while I'm at 978 so far this year and will easily surpass last years number and I estimate I'll end up around 1300 based on the final 5 events I have lined up thru December 10th. (assuming none of them get rained out).

Cutting puzzles is my off-hours hobby, instead of going out singing karaoke, the day job doesn't care. I better not get tired of cutting them... I sold 178 of them this weekend and I am so depleted on inventory now I'll be very busy the next 3 weeks before my stretch of 5 straight holiday events begins. If I'd been better prepared for this event, I could have sold another 30-40 but had simply run out of so many things. Can't wait for next year.

Last year: Craft vendor friend #1 - Scott, you really need to do the Topsail Autumn show, it's amazing. Craft vendor friend #2 - Scott, the Topsail Autumn show is fantastic, my best show every year, you need to do it next year... Scott - Yeah, ok, sure, I'll give it a try... Today: HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I barely have enough inventory to even do day 2... Blew my record away for 1 day sales... 121 puzzles. Previous record was 96. Absolutely mind blowing. Not nearly the crowd size of my usual top event, but folks were buying like crazy, I thought about just packing up and not doing tomorrow, but this is my first time doing the event and don't want to piss off the organizers by ditching the 2nd day. I made 3 special items that say TOPSAIL ISLAND... they sold out. I kept 1 of each for display so I can take orders but that rarely works since my items are purely an impulse buy. This really helps out my overall sales for the year since I missed several events due to rain and the hurricane. I was already a bit low on inventory, now I'm really in deep trouble with 5 holiday events coming up in November/December. I'm gonna be a busy cutter the next few weeks. Then I'll be ready for a break. Signed, Exhausted Iggy

I couldn't help myself... Just placed an order while it was on sale. It'll be ready when I need it.

Thanks Ray. Here's my "concern"... I have no way of knowing if the EX will last longer for me than a DeWalt since I'm so hard on my saws. The EX costs double what a DW costs... so I'd need it to last at least 2 years. If it lasts 2 years or less, I'm no better off and I'm very comfortable with the DW and simply accept the fact that I have to buy a new one every 12-15 months.