WE SCROLLERS GET NO RESPECT!

[Scrappile]

The other day I sold a young man a Incra table saw fence I had.  It was just too complicated for this old man.  Anyway I got to talking to the young man and discussing woodworking.  He was so enthused, which made happy he bought the fence.  He knew about them and knew it was a good deal.  Anyway he liked to build desk organizers and boxes and other things.  He had not been at it a long time, but it was so refreshing to see such excitement about wood working from a young person.  He asked what I liked to build, and I told him of past projects but now I was into the scroll saw.  Humm, what do you do with a scroll saw?  So it came to me.  I have built many other things, used many tools, was into the lathe thing for several years, built a house, boats, furniture, cabinets, etc.,  but the scroll saw in my opinion was probably the most versatile craft tool I had ever worked with.  On the lathe, no matter what you make, no matter how complex, it was still round.  He knew all about lathes.  But, I told him, with a scroll saw, you can make boxes, vases, bottle stoppers all kinds of things and you can make them round, square, rectangle ,  any shape.  You can make beautiful pictures, portraits, puzzles, clocks, boxes, statues, wood robots, model cars, planes the list could go on and on.... He was surprised and I think somewhat amazed.  Yet I always feel like other wood workers kinda look down on the scroller.  Well let them, been there done that and I love the scroll saw.  I hold my head high.  Most my other friends are lathe people, they just do not understand what they are missing.... They act like scrolling must take no skill.  But I say, how many round bowls, vases, hollow forum, pens, bottle stoppers can you make that are just really a variation of the last one you made.  Okay now I am in real trouble.......

 

Edited May 23, 2017 by Scrappile

[JimErn]

There is a saying in the Harley community

If I have to explain you wouldn't understand

seems to apply in that situation  too.

[MTCowpoke22]

What I find perplexing is that a lot of people think this is done with a CNC or some sort of magical laser cutter. At the few shows I've done, I've had a few people ask me how I do it, but I hear people whispering to each other that "He uses one of those laser machines" or "he bought one of those CNC things". I abhor CNC machines because they take the craftsmanship out of woodworking, and I've never seen a laser machine that'll cut wood. If it wasn't such a hassle to haul and I could keep the saw dust under control, I'd like set up my saw at a show so people can see how it's done.  

[MrsN]

One of the things I love most about the scroll saw, just as you mentioned, is how versatile it can be. 

A table saw, on its own, doesn't make nearly as many cool things. Sure you can make boxes galore, but you are pretty much stuck with straight edges. And if you want to make a toy, or puzzle you are out of luck.

I could live happily with a scroll saw, sander and drill press and make dozens of different projects. All sorts of shapes and sizes. 

I agree that sometimes the scroll saw is looked down on for being crafty and not enough of a woodworking tool, but I just ignore them and don't give them any cool stuff.

[RangerJay]

The scroll saw - at least in my view - is about the slickest thing ever invented for a wood worker -  and for a variety of reasons - among those reasons (and in no particular order):

- the rhythm of the saw is about as therapeutic as it gets.

- in its consumption of wood the comparison to the gas mileage of a smart car comes to mind - a small amount of wood goes a real long way - in fact, when other projects make wood waste for the campfire the scroll saw always finds a use for it.

- you can work with kindergarten kids next door - easily encourage them to use the saw without fear - and when they actually make something the pride in their face when they deliver it to Mom just doesn't get any better - or - when working for your own enjoyment you can make a genuine and complex piece of art that is pretty much out of this world.

- the "WOW" factor in a well finished piece of complex fretwork is about as good as it gets.

- a TV, the scrollsaw and the SportsNetwork go hand-in-hand - meaning you can sit and cut at the scrollsaw through an entire hockey game - actually get something accomplished - and still follow the entire play ..... what else is there?

- as far as dust and mess is concerned - the scrollsaw is pretty hard to beat - an afternoon at the table saw sends me into the house dusty, gritty and spitting sawdust ..... an afternoon at the scrollsaw? - well - sends me in for a Martini .....

I know I can easily come up with more scrollsaw benefits - but my Martini is waiting ......

 

Jay

 

Edited May 23, 2017 by RangerJay

[Scrappile]

Ahhh, I feeling better already!  Shall I show my happy dance again,,,, I won't I promise.

[GrampaJim]

Since I discovered scrolling I tell people that although my sons and grandsons seem to be really impressed with my work. they actually laugh at my attempts at building things like cabinets and shelves.  I never took the time to learn that part of woodworking and don't have any of the tools.  Plus I can't measure and cut a straight line to save my life. 

Their attempts at scrolling, have been less than successful.  Willingness to put in time and effort are not there.

At the end of the day, I don't care.  I LIKE sitting at my saw, in my shop, listening to my music - and making the things I want.

 

[jerry1939]

My Sweet Wife and I just celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary.  I kid people that scrollin is good for the marriage.  The husband is in the workshop making noise and sawdust & the wife enjoys peace and quiet to read a book and drink coffee.

jerry

[amazingkevin]

37 minutes ago, jerry1939 said:

My Sweet Wife and I just celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary.  I kid people that scrollin is good for the marriage.  The husband is in the workshop making noise and sawdust & the wife enjoys peace and quiet to read a book and drink coffee.

jerry

Jerry i give you 5 likes,lol,That's a good one!

 

23 hours ago, Scrappile said:

The other day I sold a young man a Incra table saw fence I had.  It was just too complicated for this old man.  Anyway I got to talking to the young man and discussing woodworking.  He was so enthused, which made happy he bought the fence.  He knew about them and knew it was a good deal.  Anyway he liked to build desk organizers and boxes and other things.  He had not been at it a long time, but it was so refreshing to see such excitement about wood working from a young person.  He asked what I liked to build, and I told him of past projects but now I was into the scroll saw.  Humm, what do you do with a scroll saw?  So it came to me.  I have built many other things, used many tools, was into the lathe thing for several years, built a house, boats, furniture, cabinets, etc.,  but the scroll saw in my opinion was probably the most versatile craft tool I had ever worked with.  On the lathe, no matter what you make, no matter how complex, it was still round.  He knew all about lathes.  But, I told him, with a scroll saw, you can make boxes, vases, bottle stoppers all kinds of things and you can make them round, square, rectangle ,  any shape.  You can make beautiful pictures, portraits, puzzles, clocks, boxes, statues, wood robots, model cars, planes the list could go on and on.... He was surprised and I think somewhat amazed.  Yet I always feel like other wood workers kinda look down on the scroller.  Well let them, been there done that and I love the scroll saw.  I hold my head high.  Most my other friends are lathe people, they just do not understand what they are missing.... They act like scrolling must take no skill.  But I say, how many round bowls, vases, hollow forum, pens, bottle stoppers can you make that are just really a variation of the last one you made.  Okay now I am in real trouble.......

 

scrolling is the best thing that ever happened to me!And i owe all i know the SSV!

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Well I am reading alot of narrow mindedness here  only because that is all you do is scrollsaw work. Someone said all you can make with a tablesaw is straight line boxes. Farthest thing from the truth. Every woodworking tool has a function. A scrollsaw is limited also but is great for fret work and curve things. Bandsaws can make curves also but i am not going to go into what each tool can and can not do. But I suggest open your mind and try other tools and see what they can make. Man there are tons of cool items not made with a scrollsaw. As far as getting no respect is a matter of who you are listening to. Talk to people that are knowlegable with woodworking tools. Combine woodworking tools and the sky is the limit.  

[Scrappile]

Mr. John, I've been doing woodworking since I was a little kid trying to put wagon wheels on boards to make a cart. My father was a master carpenter and spent a lot of time teaching and working with me and my brothers.  I have built many thing like I said, used most wood hand tools and power tools and in most cases pretty well.  Of course you are correct.  Just making the point that the scroll saw is not as thought of as other "hobby" tools.  Only having fun here.

Edited May 24, 2017 by Scrappile

[jblock9907]

The scroll saw is probably thesafest power tool you can use. Don't get me wrong, you can still get hurt but you really have to work at it.

 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

4 hours ago, Scrappile said:

Mr. John, I've been doing woodworking since I was a little kid trying to put wagon wheels on boards to make a cart. My father was a master carpenter and spent a lot of time teaching and working with me and my brothers.  I have built many thing like I said, used most wood hand tools and power tools and in most cases pretty well.  Of course you are correct.  Just making the point that the scroll saw is not as thought of as other "hobby" tools.  Only having fun here.

Well I have never run into anyone who has not respected a power tool of any kind. People do get what we do mixed up with laser or cnc work but that has been going on since I can remember ever starting out over 25 years ago. Heck if you think scrollsawers get no respect than how about fret saw people. Those who do what we do but without the chord. Try that on some time. I think what you are seeing or people are seeing is people do not realize the amount of work that goes into projects. This happens with lathe work as well. Take some of the more complicated segmented work out there and turn it on a lathe and people have no idea what went into that. But this can be said for many crafts. Is it a hobby for all ages, yes it is just as is pen making and the use of a lathe to make them is. Does that make it easy to do, not necessarily.   Not more I can say. I do not see it the same way you do.