125 CSL

My first saw came from a pawn shop. An old rusty red master craft that I paid $50, to much but it was an introduction into the craft. Used this saw for 3 or 4 months. Started to look for an upgrade. Limited budget so choices were a General from Harbor Freight, Ryobi from Home Depot or the Porter Cable from Lowes. Nothing worth looking at was showing up on Craiglist. So I started to look for reviews from people who were still using the saw 3+ years after the buy. It soon became clear that over time the PC was the winner. One other thing, after I bought the saw I started to look on you tube for tips and ideas and noticed a lot of people use this saw, or at least use this saw and post on you tube. Like everyone else that drop in plastic insert was a problem, but easy to fix with a few pieces of packing tape. Next to my old master craft, changing blades is a breeze. No problem with vibration. Also think once I add in the foot pedal I will like it even more. After I have use the saw for a year or more will come back and write a follow up. edit-(year of use follow up. While the saw was a massive improvement over the one I had, I would not recommend this as a starter saw. The top reason for me is the table. brushed aluminum which nothing slides, I also think if it was steel the added weight would cure other problems with the saw like vibration. Oh and that drop inset around the blade, grrrr. One of these next days going to replace this one with a better unit)

Setting aside time to make a fair or craft show is almost out of the question for me. So it comes down to traffic flow on web sites,...which is ebay and esty. I try to be as fair all around as possible, but people send me msg about the cost of shipping. I suspect I lost sales due to shipping. With % of sales charge, I am going to try a risk and increase prices and drop the shipping charge.

It is just to hot to work except for very late. I sometimes get up early and do a little.

Lot of my car guy friends got hit with that, most it was the only source used. Now unless each wants to pay the photos are more or less being held hostage.

I finally stated to clean often. Cut a little, clean a lot. Takes me 3 or 4 times the amount of time to make anything, but in the end dust control makes it worth the effort.(this is still using my vac while cutting)

Just interested in what everyone else is using as backing board. Right now I am using a 3 ply hardwood plywood. Light weight and strong, but I always end up with some chip out.

I have been thinking about getting it for a while now, mostly because I really do not like gimp. Steve Good gives a review on youtube.. A few others, but not really enough so you get a great idea about how it will really preform once you buy the software.

A few years back I went to a Tartan festival. Some guy was making these little shields. Do not think it would be hard to make and the kids might get a kick out of one or two

Another tip I use, Sanding is always an issue for me, even though I have two different size belt sanders. I saw a video where this group of guys has sandpaper covering a table. Thought, brilliant but I don't need a table full of different grades. I use kryon easy tack to hold patterns on wood, it also works great to hold a sheet of sanding paper to my work surface. I normally only use 150 or higher for finishing sanding. Next I am going to find a metal tube and do the same thing for sanding curves. Beats the heck out of holding a bit of sandpaper in your hand to finish sanding. Hope you all find this handy.

Living through a cardiac event is worth bragging about. Good to hear you are better.

Hate getting sawdust in my coffee. Work hard to keep it under control for that reason. Kind of looks like the shop vac I have(6 gallon). Good to hear the company will replace a burned out motor.

Or go outside the normal box, turquoise inlay. it also adds in an extra layer of value to your work. Then just a nice stain as contrast. Or some other kind of semi precious stone. Strings of beads are not to expensive.

Scrolling time only a little more then a year. Started as a stress reliever. Cheaper then wrenching on cars. On top of that bending over a motor for hours on end is a young guys game,....my back can no longer take doing it for more then half an hour or so. Golfing is also out, bad shoulder from years of lifting other humans. Not sure I look at scrolling as a hobby. It is also not a job. I am only happy with what I do if it is appealing to me. Which is good enough that other people also like and I sell some things from time to time. I still spend more time sanding then I would like to be doing. That all may change with more time cutting. If I look at the time i put into an item I sure as heck do not make any money at scrolling. As odd as it may seem, this forum and in a round about way talking with and reading about others works has an influence on keeping going and mastering the craft. How can one not be inspired by that dome clock build done by tomsteve? Bpardue's intarsia might have one thinking I really need to put my saw on craigslist, but sooner or later, time and practice everyone can reach that level. I will tell you it grips me that I have not mastered it to the level I want after a year+. A better shop space and better saw(I need to go back and do an update on that porter cable) Would also have an effect on my scrolling.

I have notice some of my FD blades are noisy, good to hear I have a choice.

wow just wow. Doctorate level scrolling.

ya' know, this might work as a center for a dream catcher.

I don't know, but for some reason I feel like I need to hunt down a beer.

I have a porter cable, had to add extra weight to keep the vibration down.

like Rob said, looks great. However, Steve Good has an option.

welcome back

Found myself thinking about your project. It would make for an interesting intarsia. However a much less complex idea would also work. Something like what Mr. French shows in this video. https://youtu.be/mjuAXW_vyKQ

Welcome, and hello from North Louisiana.

Nice work on the plaque. Thank-you to all my fellow Vets, 12 years USN here.