How’s my technique?

[Toothpick]

I took 2 videos with my tablet while in the shed. Cutting out a letter B ornament. I’m looking for some critique on my scrolling. I’m having trouble making tight corners. Turning on a dime just isn’t working like it should I think. 

WARNING SHAKY VIDEO. I had my tablet on a bucket on top of my work bench to get a good angle. Had no idea it shook so much until after I was done. I’ll take no offense if you don’t want to or can’t watch it. I don’t blame you! I guess that goes to show how much the scroll saw is vibrating. 

 

 

 

[Toothpick]

Outside around the ornament. 

 

 

[OCtoolguy]

It takes practice to do those tight turns. It doesn't come at once. I am still fighting with it. The whole secret for me so far is to stop where I want to make the turn and apply pressure to the back side of the blade, spin or turn in place and then proceed. There are many videos on youtube regarding this. If you haven't watched them, I recommend that you do so. I think it's probably the toughest thing to learn. It is a "muscle memory" thing I think. You have to become one with your saw.

 

[Scrappile]

First practice on some scrap wood.  You don't even need a pattern.  Do as Ray describes but I would add, at the end of the turn before you proceed pause to allow the blade to "catch up" with your turn.  You will see or feel it complete the turn.  I talking a fraction of a second pause.  After some practice it becomes natural.

[fredfret]

The blade you are using likes way to large for fine detail my guess the wood is 1/8th or 1/4 thick for that I would use a #3 or #1. On the spot turns taka a while to master. I use my index finger to hold the wood down and the other hand to turn it. That is index finger acts as a pivot point. After doing it for 20 years I don't even think about it anymore. Get some scrap wood and practice then practice . Your work looks very good just keep at it.

Fredfret

[Toothpick]

It’s a Bosch blade from Lowe’s. 20 TPI. All I could find in town. I have 1, 3, and 5 Flying Dutchman Scroll Reverse on order. I scrolled 15 initial ornaments with that blade. Went through about 4 of them, a few broke. 

Is there any way to tell when your blade is dull or is that just a feeling thing? 

[fredfret]

When you have to start pushing on the wood instead of guiding it.

[Toothpick]

Just now, fredfret said:

When you have to start pushing on the wood instead of guiding it.

Ahhh! Then my blade is really dull  Also started to sound different, I suppose that’s an indication. 

[tomsteve]

you should notice a difference with the FD blades. i can get pretty tight turned with the 1's and 3's.

[Roberta Moreton]

I tell my students, First, pause to let the wood catch up to the blade. Back up just enough so the teeth are going to be in the proper position. Now lean on the side and go.

[jerry1939]

I normally cut to the corner, back up a little and widen the kerf slightly (it doesn't take much) & now there is a wide cut to rotate the blade.  Do it so automatically that I'm often not even aware of it.

jerry

[OCtoolguy]

Hey Toothpick, where's your dust mask? 

 

[Scrappile]

8 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

Hey Toothpick, where's your dust mask? 

 

You didn't notice that bushy mustache under his nose... That makes a good dust collector.

[Toothpick]

Yeah the broom under my nose filters it ha! I gotta get a respirator. The dusk mask I have fogs my glasses. Eventually I’m going to get the 3M respirator that takes the P100 filters. 

I’ve been doing to widen the kerf trick now. It’s working OK but I’m sure I’ll run in to a situation where that’s not an option. 

[SCROLLSAW703]

Howdy,

In watchin' your video, it appears you're usin' a fair sized blade for your cut.

First off, with that sort of detail, or size that of project, your cutting wood looks to be about 1/4''. So, I would use a #1 or at best, a #3 blade. And for that type of cutting, I prefer a skip tooth blade, or a polar blade, which is even better in thin material. 

When I make sharp turns like you're doin', I cut all the way out to the end of the corner and place my index finger behind the blade, spin it in the waste part of the project. That way when you start in cuttin' again, your blade marks and turn marks are all in the waste part of your project. 

As aforementioned, use up some scrap wood practicin' your turnin'. What I do for my students when I teach, I draw straight lines on a piece of 1/4" material, and have them cut the lines, and when they get to end of their line, spin it around and cut back along the very same cut line. This not only sharpens their ability to follow a line, but, teaches them to make sharp turns in limited space before they start a project. It has really helped a lot with my younger students. 

Keep crankin' out the sawdust! Practice, practice, practice!:):)

Sawdust703(brad)

[OCtoolguy]

15 hours ago, SCROLLSAW703 said:

Howdy,

In watchin' your video, it appears you're usin' a fair sized blade for your cut.

First off, with that sort of detail, or size that of project, your cutting wood looks to be about 1/4''. So, I would use a #1 or at best, a #3 blade. And for that type of cutting, I prefer a skip tooth blade, or a polar blade, which is even better in thin material. 

When I make sharp turns like you're doin', I cut all the way out to the end of the corner and place my index finger behind the blade, spin it in the waste part of the project. That way when you start in cuttin' again, your blade marks and turn marks are all in the waste part of your project. 

As aforementioned, use up some scrap wood practicin' your turnin'. What I do for my students when I teach, I draw straight lines on a piece of 1/4" material, and have them cut the lines, and when they get to end of their line, spin it around and cut back along the very same cut line. This not only sharpens their ability to follow a line, but, teaches them to make sharp turns in limited space before they start a project. It has really helped a lot with my younger students. 

Keep crankin' out the sawdust! Practice, practice, practice!:):)

Sawdust703(brad)

Great advice Brad. I had no idea you taught. You never cease to amaze me.

 

[SCROLLSAW703]

Howdy, 

I don't teach as often as I'd like to, Mr. Ray. I enjoy woodworking at it's best, Sir, but I have several limitations that have caused me to lose the interest I once had. I try to do what I can to keep moving towards the goal of getting back in the shop full time.

We have a beautiful granddaughter & great grandkids that have recently moved in with us, and she has a serious interest in woodworking. She keeps telling me "Grandpa, we need to get your wood shop cranked up again!" So, I guess I'm going to have to get things in order and get her in the shop and start teachin' her the deal.;)

What most folks don't know about this granddaughter is that she is my baby girl. She started ridin' in the truck with me when she was 11 months old, and rode with me til she was 5, and was ready for school. She was not in the least bit happy about givin' up truckin' for school! 

Miss Des has always come to me with her life issues, problems, marriage problems, whatever. She would call here at the house and Mary Ann would answer the phone, Miss Des would tell her she wanted to talk to Grandpa. Mary Ann would tell her I was on the road. She'd hang up on Mary Ann, and turn around and call me in the truck. She was just a little gal then, but she'd tell me her Ma was treatin' her bad, and she wanted Blanche and I to come get her right then and there! She named my Peterbilt Blanche, and then turned around and told her Grandma I had a girlfriend!

To explain to a 5  year old that I'm 800 miles away from her and it's an impossibility to pull out from under whatever load I was loadin' at the time, and get right there to look after her "emergency", and take her with me. She seemed to think that ol' truck was hers!Her patience level was not very high! When she spoke, she thought I was supposed to do the dance!

When we were servicin' trucks, doin' tire work, replacin' brakes and wheel bearings, U joints, runnin' overheads, whatever it was, if it had anything to do with those trucks, she HAD to be the boss! We had a lot of awesome times in the trucking business!;) One of my boss' called her "Miss Daisy," and the other brother called her "Shorty" because she could walk right under the truck frames and not hit anything! 

It's goin' to be great to get some of our projects posted on here to see what you fine folks think of my teachin' and our work.

Sawdust703(brad)

 

[Tomanydogs]

@SCROLLSAW703 Sounds like you and your grand daughter are very close. Can’t wait to see what you guys create. 

[SCROLLSAW703]

2 hours ago, Tomanydogs said:

@SCROLLSAW703 Sounds like you and your grand daughter are very close. Can’t wait to see what you guys create. 

You hit the nail on the head, Tomanydogs! We are very close! Miss Des is very creative, can draw, and has a serious interest in my woodworking. Her and her little ones have been thru so much in the last year and a half, as far as living conditions, survival, etc. it has been been tough on the kids and her. But she has always called me for answers and advice. 

She is very excited about getting things going in the wood shop. We just got an order for an Urn to create. Her creative mind is running wild with ideas! Trust Me! We will post pictures of it. Thank you for your concerns and compliments, Ma'am.

Sawdust703(brad)

[heppnerguy]

The index finger used for holding down your piece to the table and while using it as a pivot point will help a lot . I see that you use too much freedom for the wood in the way you are feeding it to the blade. Like others above have mentioned, you can also use your index finger to put some back pressure on your blade when you are pivoting it. Remember the blade can not cut unless you are applying pressure upon it. 

Dick

heppneruguy