Bethom30 Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Hello All. I'm glad to find a site that has so many experienced scrollers to seek advice from. I just finished building a shed this past winter that most of the contents from my garage went into. After relocating the clutter, I now have a pretty little decent workshop in my garage that I can go to. I came across two scroll saws that I had picked up at auctions and had forgotten that I owned. I now have the space and some time to put them to work. My wife and I have owned several cocker spaniels over the years, so my first pattern I'm going to try and tackle is the one below. Question #1...This would be my first attempt at scrolling. I'm a fairly handy person, but need to work on my patience a bit. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest, how hard will this pattern be for me? Question #2...When I cut, will I be keeping the white part of the pattern or the black part? Thanks for your help. I am a very good listener and very coachable. I look forward to learning. OCtoolguy and amazingkevin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meflick Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) Welcome to the Village. Glad to have you join us. I have had a cocker spaniel many years ago, was a good dog, cute pattern. I don’t do a lot of fret work like this so someone else can probably answer your question on ease of pattern better then me, but I would think thst this would not try your patience too much. There are a few thin areas where you will need to be careful. Like the eyes. Just use in expensive wood and give it a try. When you go to cut it, you would be cutting out the black and keeping the white. Edited January 2, 2019 by meflick OCtoolguy and Falcon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 IMHO this will be a ten. The small curlicue that forms the eye will be tricky to keep from breaking. In this pattern it appears that you will be keeping the white (removing all the black areas). My advise for all newcomers to scrolling is to practice, practice, practice. Practice cutting with the blades you intend to use in small waste pieces of the material that you want to use. The first practice cut is a straight cut about an inch long, spin the piece 180 degrees and cut straight back out the kerf you just cut. You should be able to slide the piece right back out with no additional cutting. This exercise will train you to not put side pressure on the blade, puting side pressure on the blade will cause the cut to not be 90 degrees from the table and will weaken those tiny, fragile pieces holding the "eyes". more later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 I can not disagree with what has been stated, only I would make it more of an 8. It is a very doable pattern, however there are some delicate spots as mentioned. Before you start, if it were me, I would practice on some scrap wood, just making sharp turns and such. The pupil of the eyes would require great care. But if you really take you time, I think you could do it. There is a thread on here where people posted their first scroll saw projects. If you can find it, it might give you an idea of where people started. AND, Welcome to the Village. Jronn65 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bethom30 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Thanks for the warm replies. I will be taking all of your advice and start by practicing on some scrap. I planned on using 1/4" soft wood so it wouldn't be as difficult to navigate the pattern. I will post something when I have completed my first project. Happy New Year and looking forward to tinkering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Just now, Bethom30 said: Thanks for the warm replies. I will be taking all of your advice and start by practicing on some scrap. I planned on using 1/4" soft wood so it wouldn't be as difficult to navigate the pattern. I will post something when I have completed my first project. Happy New Year and looking forward to tinkering. Careful using that soft wood, it tends to splinter easier than a tight grained hardwood (ya I know the hardwood is harder to find and somewhat more expensive). and by splinter I mean have small pieces break off for no apparent reason (guess how I know ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Hi Thom, welcome to the Village! For a first project, I would call it a 10. As has been advised, practice on scrap wood first. You need to feel out different blade sizes and types and woods. My advice to you would be to spend a few days trying out different techniques, learning how the blade cuts and how to make sharp turns and such. This will be a very nice first project after you get familiar with the saw and blades. And don’t hesitate to come on and ask questions! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 The second practice is to tilt the table to a 20 degree angle. As before cut a straight line then spin the piece 180 degrees and come back out the same kerf. You will get a small cone from the bottom of the piece you are cutting. You are after a perfect cone. Third: with the table at 90 degrees to the blade cut an S shape, then spin the piece and cut back out the kerf. When you draw the lines, use the smallest pencil you can, try to cut with pencil marks showing on both sides of the blade. If you use these practice cut you will be training your brain and muscles how to react to the way your machine handles. After 30+ years of cutting, I still use these practice cuts when I try new blades or if I switch materials I either haven't used before or haven't used in a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Welcome to the Village, Tom !.....Glad to have you join the family ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrye Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 (edited) Welcome to the village! I'm the newest idiot, and have been accepted with open arms, proving these are good folk. Jump on in! As a newbie myself, I find that for more intricate patterns Baltic Birch ply works well. The finer sections are far less likely to fracture using BB. You can normally find thinner and smaller pieces of BB at Joann and Michael's, places I frequent often as my wife is crafty... A primer on BB, very informative and helpful. Edited January 2, 2019 by jerrye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveww1 Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 welcome to the village Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 14 hours ago, Bethom30 said: Hello All. I'm glad to find a site that has so many experienced scrollers to seek advice from. I just finished building a shed this past winter that most of the contents from my garage went into. After relocating the clutter, I now have a pretty little decent workshop in my garage that I can go to. I came across two scroll saws that I had picked up at auctions and had forgotten that I owned. I now have the space and some time to put them to work. My wife and I have owned several cocker spaniels over the years, so my first pattern I'm going to try and tackle is the one below. Question #1...This would be my first attempt at scrolling. I'm a fairly handy person, but need to work on my patience a bit. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest, how hard will this pattern be for me? On a relative scale, I'd estimate this as about a 3, maybe a 4. That doesn't mean it's easy, just that there are a lot harder ones out there. Question #2...When I cut, will I be keeping the white part of the pattern or the black part? You could cut it either way, but the conventional way would be to keep the white. Think of the paper that the pattern is on as a single piece of wood. All the white areas are connected. In scrolling, you typically want everything to end up as one piece. However, if you wanted to keep the black, it would end up as 7 individual pieces. You could glue those pieces to a backer board to replicate the look. Thanks for your help. I am a very good listener and very coachable. I look forward to learning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Welcome to the village! Lots of help available here.I agree with the suggestions voiced here. I started cutting puzzles in plain old 1" pone. It gave lots of practice cutting around curves and at the same time I actually created something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bethom30 Posted January 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Thanks for the replies all. It's January 2nd and reality has set back in. Had to work all day and have spent zero time in the garage. Looking forward to getting started this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTCowpoke22 Posted January 2, 2019 Report Share Posted January 2, 2019 Welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted January 3, 2019 Report Share Posted January 3, 2019 (edited) Welcome to the Village Thom. May I suggest that you look up Steve Goods blog site and go into his patterns I think you will find he's got a practice sheet that may be of some help to you. Marg I have just checked out Steve's site and I can't find it, sorry for that. Edited January 3, 2019 by wombatie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meflick Posted January 3, 2019 Report Share Posted January 3, 2019 Here is link to Steve Good’s blog: http://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/ And here is his online pattern catalog: https://www.stevedgood.com/catalog/index.php wombatie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomanydogs Posted January 3, 2019 Report Share Posted January 3, 2019 Welcome Thom. I’m glad you decluttered your garage and found your forgotten scroll saws. And I’m especially glad you found us. I can’t wait to see the puppy when it’s done. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotsdad Posted January 4, 2019 Report Share Posted January 4, 2019 Welcome to the Village. The best place to be (besides the workshop). If you practice a little first, then take your time that pattern is doable. Just remember "have Fun" Dick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirithorse Posted January 4, 2019 Report Share Posted January 4, 2019 Welcome, Thom, Good advice already given. I do think the advice about using Baltic Birch is sound advice and less likely to break and another suggestion I'd like to contribute is the order of the cuts. You want to leave as much wood to support the surrounding areas as possible as you cut. I've been scrolling for quite a while now and I would still cut this pattern, removing the black, by starting on the bottom left, then counter-clockwise to the area with the nose, then the right bottom, then the top of the head, then the left eye as you are looking at the pattern, and finally the right eye. It would not hurt at all to make those small circular areas that make the eyes a little bit larger. Just remove a little less of the black and leave a little more the wood. Can't wait to see your finished project. Don't forget to date and photograph your early attempts so you can watch your own progress! God Bless! Spirithorse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran L Posted January 5, 2019 Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 Welcome to The Village. I've only been here a few months myself and feel very at home. Learned a lot from my own questions and even more from other scroller's questions that get answered here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted January 5, 2019 Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 wELCOME FRIEND!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bethom30 Posted January 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2019 Hello All. Thanks for the warm welcoming. I feel I have a lot of people cheering me on. Very supportive. I've been practicing in the garage and it's slowly coming to me. I'll keep practicing until I feel comfortable. In the meantime, I'd like to ask a favor. My oldest daughter just got engaged Saturday night to a great guy. I'd like to make something epic for them as a keepsake to celebrate their wedding day. Any ideas? Any pics? Inlay? I would like this to be very special and I would certainly take my time on it. Your input would be welcomed. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfold Posted January 14, 2019 Report Share Posted January 14, 2019 On 1/2/2019 at 3:38 AM, Wichman said: The second practice is to tilt the table to a 20 degree angle. As before cut a straight line then spin the piece 180 degrees and come back out the same kerf. You will get a small cone from the bottom of the piece you are cutting. You are after a perfect cone. Third: with the table at 90 degrees to the blade cut an S shape, then spin the piece and cut back out the kerf. When you draw the lines, use the smallest pencil you can, try to cut with pencil marks showing on both sides of the blade. If you use these practice cut you will be training your brain and muscles how to react to the way your machine handles. After 30+ years of cutting, I still use these practice cuts when I try new blades or if I switch materials I either haven't used before or haven't used in a long time. Oooh, Ecky Thump. I've been scrolling for about 6/8 months and I've ''Never'' tried to tilt the table on my saw !!! I've found it hard enough learning how to cut on a 'level' table. It addles my brain even considering it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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