OzarkSawdust

WOW! I would love to cut like that Kevin. What blade are you using? I'm going to get some spiral blades and try it. It's just a piece of wood...make designer firewood! I started on a NASCAR ornament last night after I finished the hummingbird, and I moved the "foot" up slightly. This still held the piece down, mostly, and made it easier to turn. I had been putting it firmly on the wood and it had some resistance to being moved in any direction. What is the best, read easiest to use, spiral blade to start out on? I'm guessing a #2/0 or #3/0. I just watched the video of you cutting the medical helicopter !!! Amazing!! Some questions and observations: What blade are you using? It turns the tight corners so effortlessly...and cuts a straight line. You don't use the hold down foot. And you don't look like you're using any pressure to keep the piece from bouncing. Cutting 1/2", 4ea. 1/8" pieces stacked? You're running high speed on the saw. I have only cut as slow as it goes. Vibrates way to much to cut when I turn it up. I'm hoping when I build a bench and bolt it down that will tame if not stop. Right now it's just sitting on my Fly and Crappie jig tying bench, although I might look for a thin foam pad to put under it. What machine are you using? If I continue to progress this winter I'll be looking for a good saw in the spring. I like several things about it. The top arm lifts up out of the way to change holes, the blade screw is a hand knob (I am using a Allen screw now may look for one like yours), The lever to add and remove tension is on the front instead of reaching to the back of the arm like mine. Are you using a foot switch? Is it more convenient? What is all taped up on top of the arm? Sorry if I'm driving you crazy. You are very organized and have a nice smooth cadence to your work. That is what I'm aspiring towards. Thanks

Finished the Steve Good Hummingbird pattern I've been working on for the past 3 or 4 days. This one was a booger for me! I encountered a bunch of new things...and problems. With a lot of advise from the forum...Thanks Everyone!! ...and a little ingenuity on my part it's done. I was going to sell this piece, but my wife claimed it...so I guess I'll be doing it again in the near future.

Good idea with the labels! I saw your clocks on Etsy, nice work! Do you sell many of them? How about the ornaments?

I made a keychain last year and used this to put granddaughter's name on it. Are you talking about using the pointed one and putting my name in it?

I've noticed that when I'm making a cut, be it straight or a gentle curve, the blade wants to wander off to the right as ( I'm looking at it ) and I have to turn the piece a lot to get it back on track. Is it something I'm doing? An adjustment to the WEN? Just a screwball blade? It's a struggle to keep it going on the line.

Who signs, stamps, brands, etc. their finished work? Maybe a photo of it? What is your preferred method? Sharpie, rubber stamp, branding iron, burning pen or ???? I'm thinking if I make stuff good enough to sell I should put my name, or make a logo, on it to remind folks to get another of my pieces!

Sorry for your wife's loss. That is a beautiful cross...sorry there is a need for it at this time. If Scrappile is taking care of wives...is he paying for their shopping trips too??

Found a mini bungee on the workbench last night and tried it. Worked great! The toilet seat lid didn't fall down all night...lol. Thanks!

I've been trying just what you said. It does help! Last night I started cutting across the scrap to the next line...then coming back from another direction to clean up the corner. Scrappile brought that up to me. That works much better also. I don't know why I had it in my head to always follow the lines and take the scrap out in one piece...??? It's starting to take shape now...lots of work left. I was scrolling along...doing better...when the line I was cutting looked like it was moving! After a few seconds I thought "man...I've got to take a break, have a beer, relax, and try it later!! Then I leaned back away from the magnifier light...and noticed it was a tiny bug on the underneath side of the glass! He just happened to be following the same path as the line I was cutting!!! Contrary to what some people think...I'm not really losing my mind!

Just how tight? I set it about E on a guitar...the smallest open string if you don't play. I've tried to learn guitar off and on for several yrs. but am really, really bad...lol

Thanks Scrappile! That would probably be easier than trying to follow the lines! That pattern has a few small circles...flower centers, hummingbird eye...do most people cut it as the rest or use a drill of that size?

I'm trying one of the Steve Good hummingbird patterns hummer2019.pdfhummer2019.pdf I was using a FD UR #1 and when I make a 90deg. or the small tight turns the cut looks like a semi making a right turn! It kind of bows out then returns to the line. I tried changing to a FD UR #2/0, didn't make any difference. With the mag/light I can see the blade continuing flat, then "pops" to the direction..? What's up with that ? So how do I get a real tight curve or a 90 degree turn and stay on the line?

I got a light/magnifier at Harbor Freight today. I put it on the bench and wow! Much easier to see the lines, and better light too! Thanks again to Scrappile for letting me know about it. I called the store in Joplin to make sure they had one before driving an hour...lol. Now I just need to do something...maybe a rubber band...to keep the "toilet seat lid" open while I'm using it. Les, Thanks...I might get some of those also. They look more portable. Do they have a light? Just started on a Steve Good hummingbird pattern. More of a challenge that anything I've done yet. Several tight spots and points. I take it when a line just goes into a keeper part and stops you are to follow the line...stop at the end...and back out.

I'll go in and try that...thanks! I took one of their images and put text on the page with the letter stencil maker and printed. Haven't tried with my own picture yet. It's a neat program and I'm sure I'll love it...when I use ut some and find my way around. Thanks again!

How do you get the lines to change color? I found a spot that said black, and I changed it to red...but it still printed black!

None of them are worth the price of tickets! That's why I go to baseball and NASCAR. you can still get good seats without having to mortgage your house.

Is it just me...or does anyone else have trouble seeing the little lines to cut on? I wore glasses most of my life. About 15 years ago I got my eyes lasered and only need +1.5 reading glasses if the light is not real good. But...I'm having a heck of a time trying to see all those little lines to cut. After I stare at it for a while with the small #1 blade going up & down, and the little light on the saw kind of shines on one side leaving a little shadow on the other...they get kind of fuzzy lol. What do the rest of you do? Am I the only one having a problem?

Beautiful work!

Broncos...I'm sorry...I didn't know they still had a teem up there...lol Couldn't resist...the devil made me do it...

Thank you! I now have good plywood, DF #1 blades, and the knowledge of what to avoid and how to cut this. The next one of these should be easier! I hear you did a thread a while back on a table saw sled for making picture frames. I didn't get it to com up a while ago, do you have a link or remember the title to search for? I need to start making frames and could never get one to come out right in the past...lol.

I always ( well most of the time ) use Minwax Pre-Stain. Then I used Minwax Puritan Pine stain lightly. I'll let it dry overnight and glue it all together in the morning. I may finish it up with a Minwax Polyurethane gloss or satin. I just set it together to see what it will look like. Had a little problem with the E on this one. Next time I think I'll make the CHIEFS a little larger. That and the real B/BB plywood I got today should make it a lot easier.

Very nice!

Just set it on the floor on your wife's side of the bed when she gets back...... But I didn't give you the idea!

I got real B/BB plywood in a few min. ago! This will be better...I can see layers like standard plywood, not like that stuff I got at Lowe's. That stuff would probably be really good for backer boards, or open type patterns with no tight spots. I'm thinking about experimenting with a light stain like Honey Maple or Golden Oak. What do you folks think?

Well...it's coming along. cut out the K & C this morning, made a backer and painted where the arrowhead outline will be black. Thought I had some red paint...must be out. I'll run up and get some after lunch. If all goes well I might have another picture this evening. Then I have to learn how to make frames, as I am starting to accumulate things that need to be framed. May have to cheat and make square corners till I learn to make 45 Deg. corners tight.