Be_O_Be Posted June 28, 2016 Report Posted June 28, 2016 Man, time to show my age. My 8th grade shop teacher had us cut a corner shelf with a coping saw for a class grade. My Mom enjoyed the finished project for many years. I played with that process on and off for a few years and then came across a man at a Shaker woods festival that was making beautiful pieces on a homemade scroll saw that used an old Singer sewing machine treadle for power. Talking with him I found that most of his patterns were Patrick Spielman's. A couple of trips to the library & a trip to a Hartville tool show and I have enjoyed it ever since. For me it has turned into a great stress relief tool. I use it often when I'm working on another project if I need some "thinking time" or waiting for a glue-up to dry. The internet is a great source for research but web sites like this one have tons of ideas and knowledge in one place. Quote
bronx Posted June 28, 2016 Report Posted June 28, 2016 I had spinal cord surgery in Dec 2015 and was not able to be mobile. A friend gave me an old Delta scroll saw. Before that I never even heard the word scroll saw. After a little research I was up and at it cutting away and letting my mind travel with the subject I was sawing. Six months later here I am at Scroll Saw Village learning from the best. IMO....All the rehab in the world can't compete with my scroll sawing. I have much to learn. The only wood I have cut on is baltic birch plywood and looking into getting to know what woods are what. Stains and finishes are a whole story unto itself. But this I do know. Let boiled linseed oil dry out in the basement before bring it up to display the piece...lol Quote
CharleyL Posted June 28, 2016 Report Posted June 28, 2016 I started doing scroll type cutting in high school shop with a coping saw and liked it. Then I was given a Dunlap jig saw (cheaper Sears line of tools). It was major frustration and broke more blades than I can count, but I managed to make some nice projects with it. However most were simple scroll work parts of cabinets and furniture. I did scroll work like this for many years and went through two more used no-name jig saws. Then I got to try a true scroll saw (don't remember the brand) sometime back about 1980, and I just had to have one. I bought an imported Woodtek scroll saw from Woodworkers Supply, and went through 4 of them in a span of about 4 weeks because each one had a major construction flaw, but each was also a different kind of flaw, (maybe the rejects and last shipped of a production run?). When they ran out of the stock of these saws I got my money back, then later in the mid 1990's I bought a Delta Q3 saw when they first came out. I've had to rebuild it several times due to my heavy use, but I'm still using it as my back-up saw. A few years later I bought a DeWalt 788 after trying one at a woodworking show. I've rebuilt my DeWalt a couple of times, putting in new tighter tolerance bearings, and lubricating it several other times. It only recently broke down on me when I was trying to cut 1 7/8 black walnut, but it was relatively simple to repair it. One of the linkage pieces broke and the new replacement was easy to install. I won't try cutting hard wood that thick any more. My DeWalt saw is getting old but has served me very well, and it's about time that I bought a new one. I'm now seriously considering an Excalibur saw and setting money aside to buy one. The Jet is interesting, but I don't like the table slot. For now, I'm staying with my plans to get the Excalibur. Charley Quote
Ron Johnson Posted June 28, 2016 Report Posted June 28, 2016 Been scrolling for approximately 20 years. I guess what got me interested in scroll sawing was seeing some scroll saw art on display at a trade show. Woodworking has always been one of my passions throughout most of my life. Taught myself by reading all I could and of course a lot of trial and error. I'm still on a learning curve and believe I always will be. That's what makes this hobby so fascinating and interesting. Quote
Jim Finn Posted June 30, 2016 Report Posted June 30, 2016 Twelve years ago I bought a HF POS. It died so I sent it back. They sent me another and the speed controller went out. Trashed it. Few years later friends talked my into a DeWalt. That cut great but also died after 20 months. I then found the most expensive scroll saw I could find, a Hegner Polymax-3. (2008) I still have that saw plus other used saws. Hegner saved me from quitting scrolling altogether. I use my scroll saw almost every day. I spend about 35 hours a week in my shop. Life is good! Quote
woodchux Posted July 1, 2016 Author Report Posted July 1, 2016 Absolutely appreciate al the input, comments, and adventure stories given to my post! You guys & gals are very helpful and encouraging in adding to my scroll saw knowledge. Again "Many Thanks". Be safe. Jim Finn 1 Quote
heppnerguy Posted July 7, 2016 Report Posted July 7, 2016 I saw a gal with a booth filled with intarsia dogs and I could not believe how beautiful they were and wished I could do something like that. A little over ten years ago I moved and all I had was a 16 X 16 foot shop and thought about that booth of dogs so many years ago. I got on my computer and found a sight that sold intarsia patterns. I then proceeded to look at videos on YouTube. After sort of getting the idea, I drew myself a simple pattern and used my bandsaw to cut it out. After a lot of sanding I discovered to my surprise,that I could do it. After a few years of making intarsia pieces, I saw a little wooden basket that looked like it was woven and could not believe that it was cut on a scroll saw. I down loaded the pattern fron Steve Goods sight and fell in love with scrolling. That is my story Welcome the The village. Truly a fun place to be Dick heppnerguy Quote
heppnerguy Posted July 7, 2016 Report Posted July 7, 2016 I saw a gal with a booth filled with intarsia dogs and I could not believe how beautiful they were and wished I could do something like that. A little over ten years ago I moved and all I had was a 16 X 16 foot shop and thought about that booth of dogs so many years ago. I got on my computer and found a sight that sold intarsia patterns. I then proceeded to look at videos on YouTube. After sort of getting the idea, I drew myself a simple pattern and used my bandsaw to cut it out. After a lot of sanding I discovered to my surprise,that I could do it. After a few years of making intarsia pieces, I saw a little wooden basket that looked like it was woven and could not believe that it was cut on a scroll saw. I down loaded the pattern fron Steve Goods sight and fell in love with scrolling. That is my story Welcome the The village. Truly a fun place to be Dick heppnerguy Quote
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