Tips And Tricks

here is my list of tips/topics for a future seminar I am presenting:

1. small engineer's square for getting the 90 degree angle which is critical for puzzles

2. packaging tape for blade lubrication.

3. paste wax for the table

4. band aids for those inevitable nicks on the fingers.

5. Magnifying light.

6. Good quality blades

7. Dust mask or central vac system with good pick-up.

8. Adjustable height chair with back support (drafting stool)

9. Subscription to "ScrollSaw Workshop and crafts"

10 3M sanding wheels (for use with drill, drill press, or lathe)

11 3M "77" adhesive spray for permanent bond or Elmer's spray adhesive for temporary bond.

Hi Orangeman,

Re: Your # 1;  I cut into a scrap.  Stop the saw, spin the wood around to the back of the blade.  If the blade goes into the cut, you're good.  Low tech, but accurate. 

For projects due to be repeated; I use a thin stable materiel (hardboard-- plastic etc.) and cut the template to re-use along with the  original cuts!

I also use an additional blade lube of old WHITE preferred candles ran right into the blade-- even between cuts. I have fantastic blade life.

I like having an air compressor with spray nozzle to blow all of the dust off my work when its finished.

I always spray a clear coat over fretwork before I frame it to keep any stray sawdust off the inside of the plexiglass.

I can't  count how many times I have replaced the bellows in my saw.  For whatever reason they tend to rip very easily.

Finely enough was enough.  I went and purchased an aquarium air pump and hooked it to the saw.  Problem solved.

Been in place for over two years, no problems.  Very powerful, and no more problems with saw dust on the project.  

Jamminjack

Thanks Travis,No telling how many tips and tricks got swept under the rug all these years of SSV !

Make your own foot switch:

http://www.scrollsawvillage.com/topic/15942-my-new-command-control-center/?hl=command

Use a sacrificial board under your piece with the pattern when drilling holes to avoid push out and after drilling sand the back with 220 grit so the surface on the saw table is smooth

Hi Doug,

For really intricate cutting (especially 1/8"), I usually put a sacrifice luan ply above and below the piece.  Saw all 3 pieces the same size and wrap with blue tape.  Often put a dab of glue in the 4 corners also. 

jerry

Tips have been added to the list.  Anybody else got any tricks they'd like to share?

Use the largest bit that will fit into the cutting area and getting the blade up from the bottom will be easier. 

Larry

For Inkscape pattern designers: Save some basic parts of a pattern that you will be using again some day.

1. An example of the perimeter for Word Art. Change dimensions as desired.

2. Any example of a starting place for a round trivet.

jerry

Perimeter.svg

Round Trivet.svg

1.  When trying out a finish for the first time always try it out on a scrap piece of wood of the type you want to put the finish on, that way if you muck it up or dislike it you have not ruined the work that you have just finished.

2.  When working on a large piece, DO NOT drill all the holes at once, because if it breaks and is unfixable you have still the rest of the wood to make something else, whereas if you have drilled all the holes all you have is fire wood.

Marg

Hi Doug,

 

For really intricate cutting (especially 1/8"), I usually put a sacrifice luan ply above and below the piece.  Saw all 3 pieces the same size and wrap with blue tape.  Often put a dab of glue in the 4 corners also. 

 

jerry

Jerry, why not just cut three copies of the pattern? Essentially, that's what your already doing, it's just that your cutting one good copy, and two copies to waste. If you don't want to be bothered sanding the bottom copy, sure cut it out of waste wood. But, there's no reason your two top copies couldn't be kept.

Len

Lucky2,

Your point is well taken, however, I NEVER feel I want or have a need for multiple copies of the same piece. One of my many hang ups is that I don't ever want any 2 of my pieces to be the same. Never sold any of my work.

Thanks for the comment Friend,

jerry

When doing signs or word art in the past, I sprayed the entire oversized backer. Glued on the cut piece as usual and cut the perimeter last.  This would often show a thin black line between the 2 boards.

Now I mask the backer before painting and only paint the area that will show, but don't paint near the perimeter.  The finished piece looks more professional.

jerry

Hot glue a magnet to a small 3'  (three feet) wooden stick.

Use it to pick up that saw blade you dropped on the floor.

Larry,

You dropped a blade on the floor? Never heard of or experienced that happening. Learn something new everyday here.

jerry

For bottom feeding detailed picture scrolling I use a hemostat to help feed the #3/0 blade into the tiny #65 hole and to pull it through from the top.

My hemostats become magnetized often.  I put heat shrink tubing over the jaws to prevent the magnetism from grabbing the blade where I did want to grab it.  Worked great.