newbie questions about getting started

[desn4in]

Hello everyone, 
I have just bought a DW788 from grizzly.com and so far it is fantastic, I have freehanded a few letters and numbers. I am interested in scrolling out a few desktop name pieces, a few club logos for my ham radio friends and want to take a few photos and create a relief/fret work pieces. I would love to use an old photo of our beloved irish setter that is no longer with us, as a memento. 

 

What kind of wood blank work best? 1/4 inch plywood, 1/4 inch oak fretwork blanks, or what about 1/2 inch poplar that can be found at home centers

 

Thanks,

David

[ike]

I use 1/4 ply, popular and any thing I can find free, If you are going to get your skills up to par I would use 1/4 launder lay met. to practice on  4X8 sheet will cost about $12. If they are where you want them use a good piece of Oak or maple plywood.

[LarryEA]

You David, are ready to go. Pick one and go for it. Make it a challenge and learn from it.

[crupiea]

It can be a bit of a learning curve when you forst start scrolling.

 

the main thing is having to learn that there is an actual difference between a bunch of plywoods.

 

The easiest, most affordable one to use is baltic birch.  its sort of the industry standard scroll saw wood.

 

not birch, Baltic Birch.  there is a difference.

 

it has to do with the pieces in between.  Look at a cross section of regualr plywood you have and you will see alot of filler type stuff in the middle layers.

 

Baltic birch doesnt have as much filler material so it will support fines cuts without crumbling apart.

 

 

[Scrolling Steve]

I started out on Baltic Birch and still use a lot of it.......poplar and pine and a little red oak also work for me !......Good luck!

[amazingkevin]

3/4" plywood slows down the cutting speed and far easier to not make mistakes that way while learning.Very thin woods learning you'll need to back down a lot in the speed control.Things get out of hand quick with thin wood while your learning to

do turns or straight line cuts.http://www.wood-data...s-and-toxicity/

What Blade Should I Use

[desn4in]

Thanks everyone I'll pickup some blanks tomorrow and get started this weekend.

[Phantom Scroller]

Get yourself an old pallet plane and sand save yourself some money. Roly

Edited November 27, 2015 by Phantom Scroller

[Vector01]

Having limited space (for larger tools) and being lazy, I get the ready to go plywood from Sloane's Wood-shop on line. For simple cuts, like the eagle, I use 1/8 Baltic birch ply. For more detailed cuts, like the Indian chief, I use 1/4 Baltic birch ply. The 1/4 inch gives more support for those fine fret cuts.

[MrsN]

For fretwork types of projects I like 1/8 or 1/4 baltic birch ply, but I stack 2 or 3 pieces. Kevin mentioned that thin pieces can be hard to control.

 

The best advise that I have for newbies is to find a pattern that you really love, and cut it. Cutting something that you like is so much easier than cutting something you feel like you have to make. Enjoy the process.

Also, go easy on your self when you make "mistakes". Once you take the pattern off, most of the time only you will  be able to tell. 

[NC Scroller]

Pace your self. One of the biggest mistakes many beginners make is tackling a difficult project before their skills are ready. Take your time getting the feel and enjoy your self.

[Sparkey]

The floor underlayment is pretty good and cheap. It has all of the lines on one side but the other side is very good. I buy my 1/4" plywood at Lowe's and have them cut it into 1 foot by 4 foot pieces so it will fit in my car. I also just found out the Lowe's near me has 3 or 4 different hardwoods in 1/4" and 3/8" thick pieces.

[ike]

There is several little things to remember Get some past auto wax and wax the table. Do not think that the way to cut is with the machine at full . i use at about 1/2 speed. I use an awl on the holes to guide the blade into the hold. do the easy patterns and work your way up to the advance level patterns. TAKE YOUR TIME. 

[ubgoofy2003]

David, you have to take into consideration, the kind of wood that you will use for what project. If you are cutting a name for desk-top, I would use a thicker piece of solid wood & not plywood. I always used 1 in. oak so it would stand by itself. Other projects are good with plywood, but, be careful of using the box store plywood. I have had problems with Lowes & Home Depot plywood. The laminate splinters as you cut it & is not a smooth cut. Leaves a rough finish. I do agree with others here about the 1/4 in. or 1/8 in. cutting very quickly, so you have to be very careful & try to cut slower. Just practice, practice, practice.

 Happy Scrolling

[JohnR48]

Welcome David.  

You are starting with a great saw.

I made a posting a few months ago with the different speeds for the dial on the 788.  If you can't find it, message me and I can forward it to you.

I use a lot of Baltic Birch because it's 5 ply and can stand fine cuts very well.

Enjoy the Village and all that can can be learned here

[Jim Finn]

There are many things to do with a scroll saw beyond fretwork.  I suggest you look into some of them.  Consider:....

............ compound cutting, segmentation , intarsia, toy making, puzzles, double bevel inlay, bowl making, basket making, lettering and sign making, etc.  All done using a scroll saw.

[desn4in]

First fretwork attempt.

[desn4in]

John I will check that out, and thanks for the tip.

David

[desn4in]

Jim, Sparkey, MrsN, Ike, Kevin, NC scroller, and everyone else thanks for the advice. I appreciate your help. I bought some 1/4" birch plywood at Lowes yesterday and also a piece of underlayment I will be practicing with over the next few days trying to decide what's next. I have a Christmas ornament book I plan to cut out a few also. Will start with the underlayment first. 

 

Thanks again for the great suggestions.