jbrowning Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 I have been working on a name plaque to go up on the wall for the last couple of months. Wow, I have burnt up at least a couple dozen 8x10 pieces of plywood and solid wood. So hats off to the scrollers who have this mastered. Jim amazingkevin and Phantom Scroller 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsN Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Letters are really hard to scroll. Because we see them all the time our eyes really notice slight bumps or thick/thin spots. In many other types of scrolling little errors like that are not noticeable to the average person. I am very impressed by those who can scroll word-art well. jbrowning 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) Maybe I'm blessed. Cutting word art easier than detailed fret work. Thank you. Edited March 10, 2016 by LarryEA jbrowning and danny 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranMike Harley Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Maybe I'm blessed. I fine cutting word art easier than detailed fret work. Thank you. I haven't tried fretwork yet myself but after admiring some of the fret "work", I'll stick to trying word art jbrowning 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrampaJim Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) You will find some fonts are easier than others. There is one called "Word Art" that is a good one to start doing. Ones like New Times Roman are the hardest I think. Also, don't be too critical of your work. Errors that you think are bad, others may not even notice. Jim Edited March 9, 2016 by GrampaJim jbrowning 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 I really enjoy both fret and word art, We display a sign at our booth stating custom orders welcomed. Beware though you get some really strange requests for work jbrowning 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 I haven't tried fretwork yet myself but after admiring some of the fret "work", I'll stick to trying word art Word art of fret cutting, No matter how difficult it may look on the surface or ho many holes there are in the pattern, remember, it is only a 'one hole at a time' thing. and when you get to the last holw you have a nice new piece to enjoy. So, no fret (pun intended). take your time and enjoy the journey. Dick heppnerguy Dave Monk, jbrowning and FranMike Harley 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Finn Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 I find doing cursive letter cutting a lot more forgiving than cutting block lettering so that is what I mostly use. jbrowning and GrampaJim 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 The trick is to practice "splitting" the line. That is cutting the center of the line, not to the right of the line, not to the left of the line but the center. Start with a piece of scrap wood. Draw several straight lines. Practice splitting the line with the blade. Now draw some curved lines and practice splitting the lines. Once you have that down, draw some shapes like circles, squares, stars and hearts, again trying to split the line. This is how I start my students off. Once you get the hang of it, you should be able to cut any type of scroll work! Jim McDonald, danny and jbrowning 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 I find that another big thing that helps a lot with word art is really knowing your saw. Marg jbrowning and danny 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) Jim don't give up you will master it the trick is to keep moving and use the pattern as a guide don't try and follow it on the line or you will keep halting pivot around the curves and keep moving for a smooth finish. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. I'm sure Kevin will have some tips as well. Roly Edited March 10, 2016 by Phantom Scroller GrampaJim, jbrowning and Birchbark 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 JUST WANT TO CHIME IN ON THIS SUBJECT. LONG AGO DURING MY SCROLL BEGINNINGS I ALSO WAS ABOUT TO GIVE IT UP. FOUND FOLLOWING THAT ....LINE.... JUST TO HARD TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW. IN AND OUT. NOT A GOOD LOOK. BUT LIKE DAN SAID AND THINK IT WAS HIM THAT GAVE ME CONFIDENCE WITH HIS WAY OF ....PRACTICING A LOT.... DID JUST THAT FOR MANY HOURS AND AS EACH HOUR WENT BY ....BY GEORGE.... I STARTED TO BE ABLE TO ....SPLIT THAT LINE.... TODAY....APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS LATER I AM ABLE TO FOLLOW ANY SHAPE LINE TO NEAR PERFECTION. ITS A CONFIDENCE THING WITH ME. Thanks to my Scrolling Family for Teaching me so many Scrolling things. Danny :+} jbrowning, Fab4 and dgman 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 What a help it is to have a magnifying light on your saw , and i you get outside the line it helps if you have a set of files of different shapes to smooth out the humps and nobody will notices the difference. GrampaJim, jbrowning and amazingkevin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Jim don't give up you will master it the trick is to keep moving and us the pattern as a guide don't try and follow it on the line or you will keep halting pivot around the curves and keep moving for a smooth finish. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. I'm sure Kevin will have some tips as well. Roly LOL, Roly !You spoke no truer words. You need to trust your judgement and know your every move is controlled by holding down on your project as you cut .The saw only can cut what you let it, Having a fish handshake,loose and uncontrolled hold of the wood is asking for mistakes cutting.Trying to stay on the line completely and make time is very nerve racking and tedious.When i cut fast ,I'm not always on the line but no more than a pencil width's away from it.If i wander i feather it back to the line as i go. Every word letter i do is full of wanderings .Yes you can tell ,but only with a microscope.who ever looks at my work will never know i made lots of mistakes.And when i finish i knew where i made wanderings and mistakes but cannot even pin point them out to my self.Don't worry about details ,Only on facial expressions is where i worry about details and even then not that much.Straight lines and corners are the easiest to do . Circles are the hardest and 11 years of doing them i have to go slow to do the best i can.the worst thing you can do is try to stay on the line .I will hinder your scrolling time,frustrate you and not produce that much better a product than not .The eye is not that discriminate from a distance to find flaws,I use all my finger in sync with my eyes and brain to where it's second nature cutting letters .I wish i could stop to watch my fingers all move when cutting as it amazes me the brain can control them all in a mili second .I really think i have no control of it all somehow. As i cant walk and chew bubble gum at the same time .I think it's a gift from above! Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 I have been working on a name plaque to go up on the wall for the last couple of months. Wow, I have burnt up at least a couple dozen 8x10 pieces of plywood and solid wood. So hats off to the scrollers who have this mastered. Jim LOL, Roly !You spoke no truer words. You need to trust your judgement and know your every move is controlled by holding down on your project as you cut .The saw only can cut what you let it, Having a fish handshake,loose and uncontrolled hold of the wood is asking for mistakes cutting.Trying to stay on the line completely and make time is very nerve racking and tedious.When i cut fast ,I'm not always on the line but no more than a pencil width's away from it.If i wander i feather it back to the line as i go. Every word letter i do is full of wanderings .Yes you can tell ,but only with a microscope.who ever looks at my work will never know i made lots of mistakes.And when i finish i knew where i made wanderings and mistakes but cannot even pin point them out to my self.Don't worry about details ,Only on facial expressions is where i worry about details and even then not that much.Straight lines and corners are the easiest to do . Circles are the hardest and 11 years of doing them i have to go slow to do the best i can.the worst thing you can do is try to stay on the line .I will hinder your scrolling time,frustrate you and not produce that much better a product than not .The eye is not that discriminate from a distance to find flaws,I use all my finger in sync with my eyes and brain to where it's second nature cutting letters .I wish i could stop to watch my fingers all move when cutting as it amazes me the brain can control them all in a mili second .I really think i have no control of it all somehow. As i cant walk and chew bubble gum at the same time .I think it's a gift from above! jbrowning 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrowning Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Thanks everyone for their suggestions. This isn't going to beat me, I'm going to get this to work. I will be getting 2 or 3 pallets from work tomorrow so I can tear them apart and practice one. I might even try to resaw them in half to make it easier on the Scroll Saw. Thanks Jim Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Thanks everyone for their suggestions. This isn't going to beat me, I'm going to get this to work. I will be getting 2 or 3 pallets from work tomorrow so I can tear them apart and practice one. I might even try to resaw them in half to make it easier on the Scroll Saw. Thanks Jim I'd practice on softer wood rather than pallet oak myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrowning Posted March 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thanks Kevin, fortunately I can get pallets for free. I understand it is a harder wood. That is why I'm going to try and resaw these in half. So it will be easier on the saw. Hope that makes sense. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky2 Posted March 11, 2016 Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Jim, when I'm cutting words and letters, I find it helps if you slow down. Don't try to cut at the same pace as you normally do, slow down! Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim McDonald Posted March 11, 2016 Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Like everything else in this hobby, practice builds confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney Posted March 11, 2016 Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 I would just add don't forget to check the spelling of the pattern. Sometime ago I made up a pattern for the Lords Prayer. While typing I misspelled the word kingdom. I typed an N instead of an M. As you may know the word kingdom appears almost at the end of the prayer. I don't know where my mind was but I cut the word just as I had misspelled it. BUMMER! Phantom Scroller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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