Fixing Puzzles

[Maryjo Hill]

Hi, I am new to scroll sawing and am trying to find out some information on a few things. First, I made some puzzles that I think they turned out alright.  But, I have a little to much space around the puzzle between the frame. I used a #3 spiral blade and the puzzle moves a little in the frame.  Any Ideas?  Also, if you stain something to dark how do you lighten it? I made this for my Vet. but, the stain just looks so dark now that it dried. Just asking! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.   Thanks so very much!

Trollmomjo

[LarryEA]

Puzzle Q's , I'll leave for the puzzle pros...

As for staining too dark, you can try 'wood bleach'   

USING WOOD BLEACH - Antique Restorers

 

I've never had much success. 

My rule is, " Don't Stain "      ... Unless you have studied wood and stain for years.

[Maryjo Hill]

Yeah, I was trying out these little packages you can buy at the store. They worked so nice on my first picture I though they would look great on the next one. Funny, thing is different wood. lol Well, lesson learned! Thanks!

Edited August 13, 2016 by trollmomjo

[dgman]

Hi Mary. There is an old saying in woodworking: "I cut it three times, and it's still to short". Meaning once you have cut it to small, you can't fix it. A spiral blade leaves too wide of a kurf.

For any puzzle, weather it's a zig saw puzzle or a stand up puzzle, you must use a flat blade. It makes a much thinner kurf. For jigsaw puzzles, you want to use a 2/0 or smaller blade. Flying Dutchman sells a puzzle blade that is a 3/0 skip tooth blade.

My advice is to recut the puzzle with a more appropriate blade.

[amazingkevin]

Hi Mary. There is an old saying in woodworking: "I cut it three times, and it's still to short". Meaning once you have cut it to small, you can't fix it. A spiral blade leaves too wide of a kurf.

For any puzzle, weather it's a zig saw puzzle or a stand up puzzle, you must use a flat blade. It makes a much thinner kurf. For jigsaw puzzles, you want to use a 2/0 or smaller blade. Flying Dutchman sells a puzzle blade that is a 3/0 skip tooth blade.

My advice is to recut the puzzle with a more appropriate blade.

thanks for the tips and trick DGman.

[bbofpp]

I can't tell the thickness of the wood you are using. If you are using 1/4" thick wood then the Flying Dutchman puzzle blade is the best blade I have found.

 

If you are using 3/4" thick hardwoods such as cherry, walnut, and maple, the best blade I have found is the Pegas Modified Geometry #3,5,and 7. I have tried em all and switched to Pegas some time ago.

 

bb

[wombatie]

Hi Mary, welcome to the Village.  I'm Marg from Australia

 

Marg

[Denny Knappen]

Welcome to the forum from TN.  I hope you got your answers.

[hawkeye10]

Mary I am new to scrolling so I can't answer you question. As to staining always test on a like piece of wood tell you get it right. It's really not that hard if you test first.

 

Welcome 

[kywoodmaster]

Welcome to the village. Hard to lighten stain once it is done. Where did you get the pattern for the wolf if you don't mind me asking? I would love to cut that.

[Birchbark]

You can use a palm sander to lighten the stain, if you've only stained it, and not finished it yet.  That will take the dark top off and leave the stain in the pores.  It's worth a try.

Welcome to the forum Trollmomjo

 

Russell

[Maryjo Hill]

Thanks, everyone for being so nice. I am working on making the picture lighter. And, I am going to redo the puzzles with a flat blade. But, thank you everyone for all your help and tips! Keep Scrolling!