Home Alone!!

[Scrappile]

Home alone for almost a week!!! :razz: :D

 

Wife is gone, I've been scrolling.  Actually I have been working on this picture for over a week and have not hit the halfway point yet.  But I'm enjoying it, I'm enjoying it, I'm enjoying it.....

 

 

I learn three thing that are a help to me over the last couple days and thought I would share them just in case they may be of interest and a help to someone else.  Nothing earth shattering but here goes. 

1. I am a bottom feeder most of the time.  Because of the small holes I have to feed the small blade through (3/0 spiral), it is just easier for me to bottom feed.  I know, I know, I have tried top feeding many times and with larger stiffer blades, bigger holes I can do it but not with these blades.  A lot of times when I get the blade started up through the hole and start lowering the wood, I and not directly over the table hole.  This causes me to crimp the blade, some times which mean it is going to break within the next few times of use.  I found this helped me.  I took a thin felt pen and made intersecting lines on the table to,  judge where the hole is, sorta like "cross hairs" .  This has really helped me orientate them board to the proper place as I lower it.  I think I have saved many blades with this simple crutch.

2.  To start the blade into those tiny holes closer to the middle of the picture is very difficult with the low angle the board has to be.   Doing it with my arthritic hands is especially difficult.  Today I tried holding the blade with hemostats to get it started in the hole.  What a difference.  Much easier.  I do not lock the hemostat on the blade, that would crimp the blade, but use the hemostat like a light weight long pair of needle nose pliers.  This is a BIG help for me.

3.  The pin.  In a pattern this detailed, the drilled holes sometimes get lost among all the holes on the back side.  I have been using this little pin to stick through from the front, pattern side, to show me where that &*%^ little hole is on the back side.

 

 

There you have it.  I can finish this little highball ( Seagram's VO, and go back to work)  Forgive me if I tarnished my image

Seriously I hope this is helpful to someone.

Edited February 26, 2015 by Scrappile

[rjweb]

When My wife left me to visit her sister, she left me with projects to be completed, painting rooms, cutting lawn, planting bushes, etc

You lucky dog...

[Scrappile]

Oh, I am sure she left instructions, I ahhh have not found them yet!

[jerry1939]

Hi Scrappile,

 

I also feed from the bottom.  Two things I do and like:

 

1.  Only drill about 10 or so holes at a time.  This gives you a smaller target to be looking in.  It also forces me to get off of my b____ frequently and straighten out the old legs.

 

2.  After each "drilling", take an awl and enlarge the holes from the back side.  This creates a funnel shape for the blade to enter.

 

jerry

[LarryEA]

I like your comments, I like your picture representation.

You are doing an amazing job cutting.

[Scrappile]

Hi Scrappile,

 

I also feed from the bottom.  Two things I do and like:

 

1.  Only drill about 10 or so holes at a time.  This gives you a smaller target to be looking in.  It also forces me to get off of my b____ frequently and straighten out the old legs.

 

2.  After each "drilling", take an awl and enlarge the holes from the back side.  This creates a funnel shape for the blade to enter.

 

jerry

 

Thanks Jerry, I also do only a few holes at a time for the reasons you stated and because you or someone suggested this here before.  I have a tool for #2 although not an awl.  This kind of info helped me, that is why I posted what I did.  Hopefully I can help someone a little also.

[JustLarry]

I bottom feed also.  Have a pair of small needle nose pliers nearby so I can use them to grab the blade when I poke it through.  I then hold tension on the blade so wood slides down to table. Helps to keep me from crimping the blade.  The hemostat could be used for this also.  Like the pin.  Using it, if you cannot see it you should be able to feel it - at least I would.  I also only do 10-12 holes at a time so I can get up and move around to loosen up.

 

Noticed you left the 4. off of "finish the highball".

[Multifasited]

What do you use for a side lite ? Is that you table extension on the right ? That is going to be a very beautiful pc.!!

[Scrappile]

What do you use for a side lite ? Is that you table extension on the right ? That is going to be a very beautiful pc.!!

 

I have not done the extension on the table top yet.  and thank you, I hope the picture holds together.

[heppnerguy]

Paul,

   If you get lonely, come down to Heppner fro a couple of days.. We would love to spend some time with you.

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[amazingkevin]

I highly impressed at the Grand Canyon type of look your project is showing so far.I can't wait to see the outcome.Your doing great!

[wombatie]

I also bottom feed and I always have an old blade near me to stick through the hole I next want to work on, the old blade removes any sawdust in the hole, it also makes it a tad larger so that it is easier to see.

 

Marg

[Steve Curtis]

   I too love the scrolling your doing, and I also like your scrolling station!! Very nicely done.

      Steve

[Dan]

Awesome piece Paul. I call my wife boomerang. Everytime she leaves she keeps coming back.

[tvman44]

 

Scrappile is that a new model EX saw you use with the dust collection, or did you drill the holes around yje blade hole?

 

[Scrolling Steve]

Paul is that a Dearing pattern?......It is going to be very nice!....One thing i do (bottom feeder as well) is use a #2 pencil and just roll the tip in each hole from the bottom....really helps me pick them up.....Thanks for the post !

[mikewix]

Paul

  Your moose is coming along nicely. Looks like the worst is done with all the grass out of the way. Can't wait to see it finished. Mike

[Scrappile]

Paul,

   If you get lonely, come down to Heppner fro a couple of days.. We would love to spend some time with you.

 

Dick

heppnerguy

 

That would be much fun, Dick, but I would have to bring a wild dog and 2 cats.  I am pet sitting.

 

Scrappile is that a new model EX saw you use with the dust collection, or did you drill the holes around yje blade hole?

 

It must be a new model, it came that way.  The dust collection was pretty much worthless.  It picked up a little dust, but made it harder to change blades, and cutout pieces were hanging up in it.   It was remove within two weeks after I got the saw.

 

Paul is that a Dearing pattern?......It is going to be very nice!....One thing i do (bottom feeder as well) is use a #2 pencil and just roll the tip in each hole from the bottom....really helps me pick them up.....Thanks for the post !

 

That is a Mike Williams pattern.  I have seven of his patterns now.  They are somewhat more detailed than most of Charles'.  Great patterns, but take a while for me to cut.  I am slow to begin with, and really slow with these.

[gator]

(I can finish this little highball ( Seagram's VO, and go back to work)  Forgive me if I tarnished my image )  with the weather and all the little holes its surly strickly for medicipal purposes. that is gonna bea wonderful picture.. hi tom cook and i am a bottom feeder, (HI TOM!)

[Phantom Scroller]

You know, you just never stop learning on here, well done Paul keep at it.  Roly

[oldhudson]

I thought your tips were great! I had a hemostat attached to my fishing vest but moved it to the shop after reading your post.

 

 

[Scrappile]

Okay, here is another related tip:  do NOT put your hemostats close to a magnet!  I have a magnet attached to my work station to hold things for me that I use often.  I thought it was a great place to put the hemostat.  The hemostat became madnetised and when I'd try to grab the tiny 3/0 blade, it would attach to the outside of the jaws of the hemostat.  Duh!! I finally grabbed another hemostat.  Lucky I have several of them,

[JustLarry]

Paul - Here's a trick that might help to demagnetize the hemostat:  To magnetize a screwdriver.  Hold screwdriver by handle and lay it on a magnet.  Pull the screwdriver across the magnet toward you.  Do this on as much of the blade as you can.  This makes the trons (don't remember if it is neutrons, protrons, or electrons) all point in the same direction, causing magnetism. To demagnetize the screwdriver.  Hold screwdriver by handle and lay it on a magnet and push it away from - opposite direction moved to make it sticky.  This is supposed to get the trons all mixed up magnetism is lost.  Might try this with the hemostat.  Just start in one direction check it and if still sticky try the opposite way.

 

You can lay a magnetized screwdriver blade on a vice and whack it with a hammer and this will stop the magnetism.  This would probably ruin the hemostat.

 

Course, the magnetized hemostat could come in handy to pick up the 3/0 blade that was just dropped to the floor.  (Course I may be the only one that does that)

 

Larry

[Scrappile]

Thanks Larry, might try that for fun.  I can always re-magnetize it if I decide I want on that is magnetized.  Like you say there could be uses far it.  I have 4 hemostats so I haven't worried about it.  I'll let you know if it works.

[heppnerguy]

Paul - Here's a trick that might help to demagnetize the hemostat:  To magnetize a screwdriver.  Hold screwdriver by handle and lay it on a magnet.  Pull the screwdriver across the magnet toward you.  Do this on as much of the blade as you can.  This makes the trons (don't remember if it is neutrons, protrons, or electrons) all point in the same direction, causing magnetism. To demagnetize the screwdriver.  Hold screwdriver by handle and lay it on a magnet and push it away from - opposite direction moved to make it sticky.  This is supposed to get the trons all mixed up magnetism is lost.  Might try this with the hemostat.  Just start in one direction check it and if still sticky try the opposite way.

 

You can lay a magnetized screwdriver blade on a vice and whack it with a hammer and this will stop the magnetism.  This would probably ruin the hemostat.

 

Course, the magnetized hemostat could come in handy to pick up the 3/0 blade that was just dropped to the floor.  (Course I may be the only one that does that)

 

Larry

 

 

yeh Larry, I bet no one else has ever dropped a scroll saw blade on the floor before.. I can't imagine anyone being that careless with their blades.. besides every time i drop my blades on the floor, I don't which one is the new blade and which one is the older blade. so to rectify that problem, I just buy a larger quantity of blades then I really need.       

 

Dick

heppnerguy