Getting rid of burn marks

[John B]

At last month's markets, I had my goodies on my Daughters Stall. She informed me of a customer (Browser) saying to her how much patience I must have to sand all the burn marks of the edges left by the laser cutter.   lol
I do have patience for some things but nowhere near enough to do that job.

[lawson56]

I know how ya feel.I have had customers tell me about my patience in sanding my work,they say it must take hrs to get rid of all those spurs and splinters.

[NC Scroller]

Most people won't accept and don't really appreciate the effort we put into our work.

[John B]

49 minutes ago, NC Scroller said:

Most people won't accept and don't really appreciate the effort we put into our work.

That is a sad fact Scott

[ike]

I don't usually have burn marks unless i try to get more time out of my blades. I don't know why I try @ $0.25 each blade.

IKE

[SCROLLSAW703]

I hear ya on the burn Mark's! I ain't able to tell ya how many folks have repeatedly asked if my work is laser cut, or cut with a "computer machine." I've had several folks ask how I can cut get cherry & maple cut without burnin' it, especially in the turns. I simply say back to them a truck driver's response, "I've had lots of practice. " And leave it at that. 

Several of the pieces I do are perty intricate, & and have several tight corners to make. The Native American pieces with feathers, wolves, cattle, combines & tractors, etc. And I cut my own feathers for the dream catcher's we make. Everyone has their own take on how they get thru each project they take on. It's a matter of experience, learnin' the capabilities of your machine, blade speed, blade type, & wood type & thickness.

No two projects are goin to cut the same, no matter how hard ya try to make it work, it won't fly. And for whatever reason, don't let anyone tell ya wood is wood! Because it's not! You can cut two separate pieces out of the same length of board for projects, and they will cut differently & react differently to the blades you're usin. Just my two pennies worth. 

Sawdust703 (Brad)

[Scrappile]

I agree Brad.  When I start cutting a project, I may have to try several different blades to get the one I am most comfortable with for that day, that wood, that saw, my mood and how my body is working at that time.  Then I may have to change blades during a cut to do something specific in a certain area.  Just my way of scrolling.

[kmmcrafts]

I burn cherry almost every time when using the DeWalt.. not sure what it is about that particular saw.. even slowing the speed etc etc.. but I've never burned the wood using the Hawk and Excalibur.. not sure why that is..

Something that I recently started doing a little of is video myself cutting.. then you can review what you're doing.. even watching in slow motion really shows what's going on..    

[tgiro]

A man & wife are looking at my intarsia at the craft show.

Wife: "How do you cut the pieces, so they fit so tightly together?"

Man: "He does that with a computer."

Me: "No, Sir, I cut them with a scroll saw."

Man: "That's impossible! No human can cut that precisely!"

Me: "Ok"

Sigh . . . .

[John B]

12 hours ago, tgiro said:

A man & wife are looking at my intarsia at the craft show.

Wife: "How do you cut the pieces, so they fit so tightly together?"

Man: "He does that with a computer."

Me: "No, Sir, I cut them with a scroll saw."

Man: "That's impossible! No human can cut that precisely!"

Me: "Ok"

Sigh . . . .

If I had a few bob for every time a woman has said to her husband "look at that" or "Isn't that Nice" and the reply is "I can make that", I'd be a rich man. This was common when I used to make my wooden toys.

 

[bcdennis]

21 hours ago, tgiro said:

A man & wife are looking at my intarsia at the craft show.

Wife: "How do you cut the pieces, so they fit so tightly together?"

Man: "He does that with a computer."

Me: "No, Sir, I cut them with a scroll saw."

Man: "That's impossible! No human can cut that precisely!"

Me: "Ok"

Sigh . . . .

This conversation is had at my booth numerous times.  Even when you tell some of the people it is done by a Scroll Saw the roll their eyes and say sure it is. 

 

[kmmcrafts]

Then you have people that don't know the other side of the coin...

My older brother went to a show and he's not up on the woodworking stuff.. he knows scroll saw stuff but that's about the extent of it.. He was telling me some guy had all kinds of nice stuff but the edges was all burnt.. then he laughed and was talking about how the guy must be running his saw way too fast trying to make all of that stuff.. he was like every piece he had was burnt edges.. 

Then I had to educate him about lasers, LOL

A properly set up laser.. these days can cut and only slightly darken the edges.. they are getting these things tuned in so good that they are starting to be hard to tell if it's laser cut or scrolled.. I haven't even fired my laser yet but I've been following a guy that worked with lasers most his career.. retired now and has a cheap laser to toy around with.. his videos are so informational.. 

Hoping to fire it and my CNC up late spring early summer..Since I haven't even unboxed these two machines yet.. but did unbox and set up my Hawk scroll saw... you can see where my interest really is.. I'm only toying around with these two machines to just learn them.. that is... if I ever open the boxes, LOL 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Boy I heard all these stories about lasers many times. I also heard the I can make that many times too and have offered to send them the patterns if they want to try. But no responses after that. I wish I had a nickle for every time a person touched the fruit baskets I make and tell me how different and nice they are but walk on. That was always a running gag in my booth. I even got the vendor next to me keeping score at one time too. Then I get the people telling the person next to them they collapse and I would have to explain they do not and are cut from individual pieces. You become immune to these things after awhile. People have no idea at what they are looking at most of the time. I do not explain anything unless asked these days. Waste your breathe. There are people and usually guys who will strike up a conversation about woodworking. People look at prices and at times I hear the too high quote especially when looking at my pens. I have to remind them all is hand made. Today with lasers and 3D printers it is testing the boundries of hand made items for sure.  

[bazzz]

I know I am guilty of the "I can make that" comment to my wife when walking around different shows. Getting ready to retire soon so I won't have the "I don't have time" excuse. I never thought about the seller's or their reaction to that comment. As one of "those" I would like to apologize to all and am ready to start making my own.

[Roq]

I know this is an old post. You guys doing shows need to buy a jewelers saw (preferably used and showing some age) and a portable vise. Prep some smallish blanks with patterns and drill any necessary holes and bring them to the show.  When people are around, sit there and make some cuts. Yes sir (or ma'am), this is how I make everything. Don't forget to raise your prices.

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, Roq said:

I know this is an old post. You guys doing shows need to buy a jewelers saw (preferably used and showing some age) and a portable vise. Prep some smallish blanks with patterns and drill any necessary holes and bring them to the show.  When people are around, sit there and make some cuts. Yes sir (or ma'am), this is how I make everything. Don't forget to raise your prices.

Heck bring the drill too

[NC Scroller]

2 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Heck bring the drill too

Double heck.....when doing demos last weekend I had someone tell be he does not drill holes.  He hammers a brad nail in then pulls it out with some pliers.  "Where's your sign?"