meflick

I didn't "mark" one or the other. As a newbie - I confess that I am still trying to decide which way I prefer. Since I have been primarily doing Intarsia work - I haven't had a lot of need to be "Feeding" the blade in and out from the top or the bottom. Just put the new blade in and cut the lines. I have recently done a few small pieces where I had to drill the holes and feed the blade and have tried both ways. Not sure I have figured it out yet if I have a preference. I think I am leaning toward the top feeding. With the saws I have, I can go feed from the top or the bottom. Maybe it has to do with my being left-handed which has made me more "ambidextrous" then the average gal. What I have figured out is that if I am doing work where I need to be feeding the blade in and out of drilled holes more than a couple of times, I much prefer to do it on the Excalibur over the Dewalt since the Dewalt I have to keep manually putting a board or something in to hold up the arm of the Dewalt.

Very nice Job on the Cuts Ralph. Russell gave you some great visuals to try and help you decide. Like you, I'm not sure which way I would go and it would have to "gel" for a while before I decided. Like several suggested, try one painted like you "think" and one left natural and see. You can always put one at the front door (the one you like best) and one at the back door (second choice.) (or if your house is like mine - reverse it since most people don't come to my front door! )

Sometimes making heads and tails of the acronyms people use can be daunting. I marked other - I am presently "trying" out different blades. Since I am doing primarily Intarsia work, and started with a Class with JGR and she is close to "local" for me - I have been primarily using the blades she sells. They are Platinum Plus and Tough Little Blades. I have recently purchased some FD and Olsens to give those a try as well since everyone here seems to really like those two brands.

Looks good for the Cub Fans out there Dave. While I am neither a Cub or Indians fan in particular I confess that I was cheering for the Cubbies to end that 108 year old drought and completely be done with the "curse". I didn't watch all the games - did watch most of the last 3 - watched all of last nights. Great games! Sorry either had to lose. Hope your saw is back to you soon! Thanks for sharing.

Thank Russell for checking. I will look for that Image Moderation button. I must have missed it. Thanks for your kind words on my creations as well.

Thanks to this forum, and all the work that you all share and show here - even though my interest in the saw was to do Intarsia - I have found myself drawn to try some other things with it besides Intarsia. There are lots in my "to try one day" pile but these are some that I thought I could maybe get decently cut outs on. However, I have been too busy, too lazy, or too something to (a) take photos and (b) get them to the computer and share them here. Instead of posting multiple different threads with each project, I thought I would just put all these beginner pieces together in one thread. This one has just the ones that I consider "basic scroll sawing work". I also created a separate one in the Intarsia section for my more recent Intarsia pieces. I don't think it belongs in bragging - lots of work for me to feel comfortable in doing that but figured this was the best place to put them. I did start a User Gallery that I have posted them to. But some I wanted to share here to make sure that you all saw (pun intended?) the beginner you have inspired and accepted here. Thanks to all of you. (Sorry that some appear to be posting sideways - not sure why - they show right side up on my computer.) This first pattern is a lighthouse pattern that came from an older version of the Scrollsaw Woodworking and Crafting magazine. I bought the 4 CDs of the back issues so I will have to check and see which Issue it was from if anyone is interested in finding it. There is no "finish" on the wood yet. Trying to decide if I want to leave it light or go with a darker stain. Then the card I created to go with the gift. To create the card, I took the file into a software program I have and sent it to "cut" on my electronic die cut machine along with the text of "Happy Birthday" that I added to the card front. I then layered the card stock to create the card as you see it. I did this as a birthday gift for my husband to thank him for being the guiding light in my life for more than 33 years (when you include the 2 we dated.) While not done on my saw - I wanted you all to see how I matched the card to the gift and note that many "paper crafting" patterns can be converted to the saw (and vice versa.) Then these were ornaments that I cut out after Denny showed some of them and I got the pattern from Dirk's wife. They are a little more fragile then what Denny said his were. I assume it was due to the wood used. I also cut the double heart but I gave it to my niece for a wedding gift along with a trivet I cut out so I need to get photos of those. Looks like I didn't before I gave them to her: Then, when several people were sharing about Trivets - I wanted to try some of those. I have several more I want to do but haven't gotten around to. My plan is to give some as Christmas gifts this year. The one I gave my niece that I don't have a photo of was the rose one shared. This one is a football pattern that I created and added the Tennessee Power T to since I love my Vols. I already had the football I had previously created to use with my electronic die cutting machine and it converted easily to a scroll saw pattern. If anyone is interested in it let me know. (Its on another computer so I can't add right now easily.) This small cat was from the Introduction to Scrollsaw book - great for learning to turn. Have seen many who have cut him. Finally, this last one is a Turkey that I cut out last year before I really got a renewed interest in the saw and Intarsia work. I am pretty sure it was a Steve Good plan. I cut them last year but then couldn't decide if I wanted to paint them or stain them. So they have set on my counter in my workroom waiting for me to decide. So you see Marg, I do think its okay to paint from time to time. I just couldn't decide if I wanted them that way or not! There have been other projects and things I have tried. Some I seem not to have photos of and have given away already. Some didn't work out. Some are partially cut and I need to get back to. Most are just beginner projects and don't have a lot of detail but they are great ways for me to continue to work on my "cutting" skills - something that I need to get better fitting Intarsia work so its all good. Thanks for looking and most importantly for sharing your work to inspire me!

Okay, I had been lazy, or too busy, or just not willing to take the time and effort to share some of my more recent work I had cut and/or setup a User Gallery for myself. I know you all like photos but I just hadn't taken the time to make them. I finally started to rectify that yesterday when I took the time to get some pictures of some of the work I had done lately. Today, I was going to share here on the forum. I thought I would first create a User Gallery for myself and post the photos I had to date there. Managed to do that. Got several uploaded, renamed, turned right, labels added, pattern maker's name put in, etc. Then I added some more photos - these for whatever reason were "upside" down. I was working on fixing these and adding new titles to the images, adding labels, and pattern maker's name when suddenly it "saved" everything I had but hadn't finished rotating all of the images, adding image title, labels, pattern maker's name, etc. Once that happened, I was able how to figure out how to go ahead and rotate the images to fix them so none of them are upside down. However, I can't figure out how to go back and edit the title name of the image so that it is more descriptive then what might be there, add the labels, pattern maker's name, etc. Is there away to go back and do that? Edit that information? Also, is there a way to delete something that I add to my gallery if I decide that I don't want it there, for example if its a bad picture and want to remove it? I did check the Articles on the User Gallery but I didn't find the information on editing once it has been added and saved to the gallery. Also, in reading the articles I did find, it sounds like the photos shared in the gallery are deemed "public" and would show up in something like a google search even by someone not in the SSV is that also correct? Thanks for any help or insight anyone can provide. On a side note - I couldn't decide if I should just put my images up in the Gallery and let people look there or if I should add them separately in threads. Some I was just going to put in the gallery but a couple I had recently done I was thinking about adding a thread about but I don't want to add to the threads if not necessary. Thanks.

Great job on the pattern - great job on the cutting! Looks really good. Thanks for coming back and showing the cutting. As you can see, Russell is really happy to see his work brought to fruition in an actual cutting! Thanks for sharing.

Looks really great with the lighting helmut. Thanks for sharing your work.

Those look great Marg. You're right - I said we shouldn't mention if we were going to PAINT , as noted in your emoticons - you knew I was teasing - its all about that wood grain isn't it! But then, there are times that paint works - really its all about what the customer wants isn't it! So, feel free to mention Painting or not. I'm sure there are times that I will want to paint something.

Welcome Back Tim. I hope that your saw is fixed and you can find some comfort in me time in its use to bring you joy and happiness. Thank you for sharing a small bit of your walk and issues. You are right, mental health is a topic not discussed nearly enough. I had my mother pass away from Alzheimer's back in April. It was a long hard, difficult situation on her and myself and my sisters who were her caregivers. It is an ugly disease that takes its toll on everyone involved. I found the saw has helped me find a focus that I needed. I pray for you and your wife and your father in law and pray that you can deal with the issues at hand, day by day.

Nice work Frank. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, what a great first pattern! Can't wait to see what you do next. Beautiful work on the cutting and framing as well. Thanks for sharing.

thanks for sharing. Like others, I really like the nativity - simplistic but beautiful.

Great job cutting that pattern out. I just think that Steve Good's site is a treasure trove of things to work on. Thanks for showing this one completed.

What an absolutely beautiful and stunning piece of artwork. The time and love you have put into that piece is evident. Thanks for showing us.

I really like the "hot pad mitt" - true to form for its purpose. Thanks for sharing. Great work on the cutting.

Very cute Frank. Thanks for showing.

Very nice. thanks for sharing. I know some Louisville Card fans who would love that one. some UK Wildcats not so much. I have to confess that I didn't get the "L" until I read someone else's post above. First I thought it was for the anti- Louisville fans!

Beautiful piece of artwork you created from what looks like an excellent pattern. You gotta do what the customer wants so if they want no backer, so it goes. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing and showing your photos and your pattern you used. Hope they sell well for you. They are definitely cute!

Looks very nice Jerry. Thanks for sharing. I cut that out as a Trivet that I gave recently to my niece as part of her wedding shower present. (I have to see if I remembered to take a picture before i gave it away. I have been remise in sharing some of my project photos here.)

These look really nice. I have that Steve Good design for the ducks. Cut several out for gifts when i first started practicing to learn to cut on my saw. Need to put a finish on them and have them ready to give as actual gifts for Christmas perhaps! I really like your dolphin. If you want to share the pattern we could make up a set of dolphins and ducks! Then maybe we can come up with some other ideas to add to the collection!

Very nice. I downloaded those shell trivets from that site to try at some point. Good to see one cut out. Thanks for sharing.

Very nicely done Jerry. You are right, we can all do with an angel in our lives from time to time and I am sure the recipients who receive these will be honored and touch that you shared one with them. Thanks for sharing with us.