Millwab

I recently received requests for 2 of my Teaching Banks. In the past I’ve made the "plugs" to remove the coins out of layered BB. I’m considering using either a rubber or plastic plug this time. Have any of you used one or the other and have a preference?

This Nite Light has been my go to gift for new mothers for 3 generations now. Started making them when our peers were having babies, then those kids started having babies, and now the babies are having babies! The Nite Lite is designed with a fretwork panel that slides in front of the light and screens the light from the inside. A hidden chamber in the back can store additional panels.

Morn’n Barb. I buy boxes of Christmas card assortments from Leaning Tree. Then I glue the front of the card to one side of the ply blank and the sentiment from the inside of the card on the other (creates a two-sided puzzle). For these I just cut a simple "standard" puzzle cut of 35 pieces. I’m thinking of cutting my "figure 8" cut for next year. Here’s a pic of the back of one of the cards …

Thanx Paul. My best sellers were my puzzles and military plaques. Came away with 6 orders for customized plaques (I laser personalized info on them e.g. names, rank, years of service, unit or ship ID - anything they want to put on it)in addition to the 'generic' ones I sold there. Only had 12 misc puzzles with me and sold them all. Sold about half of the 40 Christmas card puzzles I had. I have no desire to turn this into a job, so it’ll be easy to keep it fun.

Paul, here is the setup I had …

My thoughts exactly John. But I not only got a bit of an education on what I could be charging but also what people were interested in for next year.

Last year I was invited to participate at our county fair with a collection of artisans demonstrating crafts from the 1800s. I went in with my c.1890 treadle scrollsaw and a display of a variety of things you could make with a scrollsaw (strictly an educational venture for me). The others there were either showing their primary business or their side hustle and were selling what they make. I wasn’t there to sell anything, although I did get some requests after the fair was over. A few friends that I knew there encouraged me to come back this year with some things to sell so I worked on a small inventory of things that people showed interest in last year. After a somewhat grueling 6 days @ 10hrs/day (they added an extra day this year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the fair) I sold out of most everything I took to sell and came home with 15 more orders for customized things or things I ran out of. Despite being chastised for underpricing my work (I’ve never ventured into the make-to-sell world and have trouble trying to set prices) I came home with enough cash to keep me in blades and wood for years to come. I’m already invited to return next year and hopefully have learned something to take forward.

Chris, if you do a search for "steve good inkscape" you’ll find a number of videos he’s done explaining creating text for patterns.

Wooden doubloons! If you have or have access to a laser you could engrave something that represents the event. If not, then maybe cut something in the center that would go along with the theme.

John, if the upper blade guide height is adjusted to the thickness of the wood wouldn’t that effectively act as a blade guard?

John, are Radiata Pine and Jarrah native to Australia or another name for something available elsewhere?

Thanx to all for your encouragement. I love cutting puzzles and Peanuts is my #1 cartoon. Still have about 18 more calendar pages waiting, so more to come (eventually).

Latest puzzle … 11.25” diameter, 173 pieces

Ray, I could see where that type of bowl would be a pretty straight forward finish. I was thinking more along the line of a "basket weave" type pattern.

I thought I’d give basket making a try. For those of you who cut them, how do you finish them? Do you pre finish the rings before gluing them up or apply your finish after it’s together? Appreciate your input.

Would this one work better for you? Looks to be not as heavy as your current one. 1C902B96-BC58-4EA9-8A17-500295D3DB4D.webp

Chris, does the saw have that much vibration that you need that heavy of a stand for it?

Normally I use 3M77 to glue down patterns but I have a need to be able to fine tune the pattern position (the 77 tends to act like contact cement in that once it’s down it’s down). But then I need it to stay put once it’s in place. Has anyone used a "repositionable" spray adhesive? Will this work for what I need?

Ray, the woodburner I have is from Walnut Hollow and the custom tip with my logo is from Wall Lenk. They were able to make it for me because the thread size for the WH and their own brand are the same (8-32). Due to the size of the head the logo cannot exceed .75” x .75” The cost of the head with the logo is $74.20 + shipping USPS. If you only want your initials (up to 3) the cost is 27.49 + shipping USPS. The person I contacted at Wall Lenk is Chris Eastman ([email protected] Hope this helps

Ray, when I decided to get a custom brand for my logo I found a place that would make one that screws onto my woodburner (just as a different tip would). I already had the woodburner and using it is no trouble at all.

That’s why I asked. Most of the stamps made today (that I’m aware of) come with the ink pad integral to the stamp. Not sure if you’d have a choice of ink.

My setup is similar to Kevin's. I have a box fan with filter sitting next to the saw and the dust blower on the saw blowing across the blade toward the fan. Like Chris the noise from a vacuum is way more than I want to listen to. This setup keeps the airborne dust to a minimum.

Would you have to stamp it before a finish is applied or after?

I believe it was a #1

Kevin, when I’m engraving multiples I use a "L" shaped piece weighted down so I doesn’t move to line things up. I set the inside corner of the "L" as my home position and then do a perimeter scan to make sure the engraving is going where I want it to. Once set you simply carefully slide the blanks into corner of the "L" and repeat your burn.