starting over

[heppnerguy]

I have decided to learn to use a spiral blade this coming year. It is not that I am going to adopt it as my new blade of preference although, who knows. it is just that I think it has it's place and if I can get to a point of being able to use it well, then how can I go wrong ? That would make one more blade that can help me in becoming a better scroller, perhaps. So today I grabbed this pattern and cut it. or at least, attempted to cut it. It is like starting all over again. I am back in scrolling kindergarten, but it was not all that long ago I started cutting my first pattern and now hundreds later, I am starting again. You can all see that it is easy to realize, I have a long way to go, but I learned something from this second attempt at using the spiral and I hope and believe that I will be learning as I go along, because if I ever reach a point that I think I now know all there is to know about scrolling, it would be because I have fallen and landed on my  head. 

I will keep trying and hopefully, I will steadily get a little better as I do. 

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[Phantom Scroller]

Seduced by the dark side you have been!      Roly

[Fab4]

Hi Dick:

I expected to see something a lot worse than that.

You are actually going to go through with this aren't you.

 

Just think, in a few month from now, you'll be telling us

how easy these spiral blades are to use and then want

us to convert........Don't say  "I don't think so"

I know you better than that.......lol

Well done.

Fab4

[amazingkevin]

I have decided to learn to use a spiral blade this coming year. It is not that I am going to adopt it as my new blade of preference although, who knows. it is just that I think it has it's place and if I can get to a point of being able to use it well, then how can I go wrong ? That would make one more blade that can help me in becoming a better scroller, perhaps. So today I grabbed this pattern and cut it. or at least, attempted to cut it. It is like starting all over again. I am back in scrolling kindergarten, but it was not all that long ago I started cutting my first pattern and now hundreds later, I am starting again. You can all see that it is easy to realize, I have a long way to go, but I learned something from this second attempt at using the spiral and I hope and believe that I will be learning as I go along, because if I ever reach a point that I think I now know all there is to know about scrolling, it would be because I have fallen and landed on my  head. 

I will keep trying and hopefully, I will steadily get a little better as I do. 

 

Dick

heppnerguy

Good for you,Spirals are a completely different stoke to scrolling.You actually become a lot m,ore of the scrolling process.No time to blink now,No unnecessary moves ,it's all deep concentration ,That's actually fun.Not only will you be getting lots more isometric exercises moving muscles you haven't used but you'll be proud of your accomplishments doing so.Now and then i forget I'm using a spiral and make a boo boo,but you catch on fast enough that you can sail around it and do a quick patch up.Circles are the hardest so practice them lots.In fact every project i do is my practice project.

[DWSUDEKUM]

Dick spirals take practice and you look like you are greeting a good bit of it.  Thanks for sharing this with us.

 

 

DW

[Scrolling Steve]

Spiral blades are a great addition to your tool chest Dick!......Keep up the good work and you will soon wonder why it took you so long to try!

[bobscroll]

I think you did alright there Dick, You will be a pro in no time! LOL,

Bob           

[JustLarry]

I see four steps in learning something new:

Step 1 Make decision to do it - You did that

Step 2 Start it  - You have done this

Step 3 Practice - First cut was this step

Step 4 Continue with step 3 - Second cut put you here forever.

 

I starter scrolling with the spiral, then flats, now both.

 

Larry

[heppnerguy]

well gang,  we will see what the spiral blade does for me, or to me. I have found times when I wish I had that ability and spirals would make the job a little or maybe a lot easier.. We shall see....

 

Roly,   maybe you are right....

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[penquin]

Good luck, have only tried them once and created a mess.  Want to try again but not sure when I will take a shot at it.  Glad to hear of your efforts.

jim

penquin

[Scrappile]

Guess I am weird but I found spirals easier to use and more natural to me than flat blades.  Now using a flat blade is like starting over for me. 

 

Dick somethings to try/think about with when using them.

 

FIRST, relax, breath normal and do not force them.

 

I concentrate on watching the side of the blade when cutting, i.e., keep the side of the blade at the line.

 

You can still turn the board.  I do not try to only move the board forward and back and side to side, I will turn the the board also.  I find I have the most control when I am pushing the wood away from me, so I sort of try to go that direction.  I do not turn the board all the time to follow a line but if it is a long cut, I will turn the piece so I am doing mostly a push cut.  Hard for me to explain, hope it makes some sense. 

 

Tension is important, if the blade is wondering somewhat, not going exactly as you want, try a little more tension.

 

Experiment with speed.   Personally I usually run at max speed.  Others like slower speed.  Find what works best for you.

 

I have the most control (again this is me, may be different for others) when cutting approximately 1/2" thick material.   Baltic Birch I always like to stack two 1/4" pieces.  My preference is to cut solid wood though but it is more expensive and each piece is one on, so if you are selling or something, may not be feasible.

 

My absolute favorite blade is the 3/0 New Spiral Flying Dutchman.  But be prepared, to buy them by the gross.  I break a lot of blades.  Now I am trying to cut the bigger areas with a 2/0  New Spiral and using the smaller 3/0 for the small delicate cuts.  It is saving me blades, but I still like the 3/0 best.

 

That is all I can think of right now.  Glad to see you give them a try.  I really think you will like them for portrait work. 

Edited December 31, 2015 by Scrappile

[Dan]

I agree that spirals have their place. I admire those that use a spiral almost exclusively. I just feel more comfortable in controlling flat blades. Large projects and those that I feel don't require perfection from me get the spirals.

[LarryEA]

Nope,   

[Sparkey]

I have to agree with Paul. I started with spirals and the learning curve seemed short. I would really hate to see something if I had to cut it with flat blades.

[wombatie]

I agree they have their place and usage and I would probably be a lot better with them IF I could get them in the saw properly.  They seem to break a lot for me.  I take my hat off to you Dick, great start.

 

Marg

[Young_Scroller]

Im afraid to try them out, your first piece looks pretty good Im sure within a few months you will have them mastered

[Kepy]

Another one slips to the dark side.  I have some spirals that are probably rusting away in the drawer.  I used them several years ago when doing a large frame and hated every minute of it.  Guess I am too old to learn new tricks.