Compound Cutting

[Rockytime]

I have cut a couple of Steve Good's compound patterns. He recommended 1-1/2 X 1-1/2 pine stock from HD which is perfectly square. Jim Ern created a compound pattern for me and I am having trouble cutting it. Don't know why as I cut that stock before. I don't remember what blade I used but I'm having trouble now.I started with Pegas MG #7 and 9, Olson Skip Tooth #7 and 9, Penguin Silver Reverse #7 and 9, finally FD 2 Way #7. All of the blades will cut (sort of). I tried slow scrolling and fast scrolling. I'm open to blade or other suggestions. Perhaps I just need to change wood. The square pine is handy though. I need to make about six of these patterns.

[teachnlearn]

I've read some and watch videos on compound cuts. I seem to remember wrapping the wood with blue tape or contact shelf paper, then put the pattern. It seems to keep everything together and keeps the parts from moving as the blade is cutting. You may already have done that, just a thought. RJF

[WayneMahler]

I wrap mine with packing tape.And once cut one one side re-wrap it again with packing tape. Seems to work with for me. Speed is pretty critical doing these types of cuts. As well as making sure your blade in 90 decrees to the table

[JimErn]

Cutting already?  wow.

I've tried pine and select pine and had so so luck, bass wood cuts nice.  I find it at a hobby store but you can find it on amazon too.  search for basswood carving blocks

I do use a smaller blade, PMG 5 and almost max speed with a slow feed rate

[Sycamore67]

I use a skip tooth blade such as the FD Polar.

[Paladin]

I too only use the FD Polar for my compound cuts.  Either a #5 or #3 depending on the pattern.

[kmmcrafts]

I've found that sometimes actually going to a smaller blade will cut through better than a larger blade.. That said you have to watch for the blade bowing so be careful not to push through too hard..  I do not have any experience cutting compound cuts so not a lot of offer.. other than the blade size sometimes works... 

 

[Bill WIlson]

I'm wondering if the pine maybe has a high pitch content and the sawdust is clogging the kerf a bit?  Pine is soft, but it isn't necessarily as easy to scroll as one might think. 

[redwine]

I have cut a lot of compound designs, every thing from 3/4 inch to 1 inch and half  and using different woods from basswood, pine, red oak, and laminated hardwoods and using different blades such as the Pegus mg 7 & 9, fd polar 5 & 7. Taping the wood helps and the use of a adjustable clamp  to hold the project together and make it easier to cut is a must. Steve has a simple pattern to do this. The one thing about pine is the grain and the way it will resist the direction the blade is cutting. You might try poplar as it is available at Lowe's in that size. For me poplar is easier to cut and will finish much better.

Erv

[Rockytime]

Thank you for all the responses and suggestions. I decided to scrap the pine. I have ordered Basswood 1-3/4 X 1-3/4 X 10". Takes the fight out of things since I need to make several. I made the Steve Good clamp but is too small for this pattern. I'll just use tape. Again, thanks.

[spirithorse]

Hi, Rockytime,
I have cut a few compound patterns in pine and just use a #5 blade. Preferably a skip tooth to help remove the sawdust but,
my main go-to blades are always a #5 Ultra Reverse. The packing tape also helps a lot.
I slow the blade speed slightly and feed the block very slowly.
Maybe you can still try at least one pine with a smaller blade while you wait to get your basswood.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[Tomanydogs]

Hi Les. I didn’t make the clamp from Steve Good but this is what I use. Two survey sticks with two clamps. You can make the sticks as long or as short as you like. I have a variety of lengths. I also use a spiral blade. 

[OCtoolguy]

7 hours ago, Tomanydogs said:

Hi Les. I didn’t make the clamp from Steve Good but this is what I use. Two survey sticks with two clamps. You can make the sticks as long or as short as you like. I have a variety of lengths. I also use a spiral blade. 

Great idea. No need for another tool to take up space. I am curious though, what are "survey sticks"?

[Tomanydogs]

36 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

Great idea. No need for another tool to take up space. I am curious though, what are "survey sticks"?

They might be called lath stakes. 1 1/2” wide, just under 1/2” thick and 48” long. I buy them from Home Depot in bundles of about 50. I use them for lots of projects.  They use them when they mark underground lines before you dig. 

[OCtoolguy]

44 minutes ago, Tomanydogs said:

They might be called lath stakes. 1 1/2” wide, just under 1/2” thick and 48” long. I buy them from Home Depot in bundles of about 50. I use them for lots of projects.  They use them when they mark underground lines before you dig. 

Are they pointed on one end for driving into the ground? If so, I think I know what you are referring to.

 

[Tomanydogs]

1 minute ago, octoolguy said:

Are they pointed on one end for driving into the ground? If so, I think I know what you are referring to.

 

I don’t buy them with the point. But yes you can buy them that way. 

[Jim McDonald]

Les, 

Just did a couple of compounds in 1.5 inch poplar. Used #5UR and went slow on the cuts. Taped the pieces back in as I went and they turned out good. A couple of places I wish I had used a smaller blade for detail. 

I did try other blades, like Pegas MG and some Olson Mach, but kept going back to the Dutchman. 

[Rockytime]

I just went to Home Depot this afternoon. I did see what I believe was 1-1/2 X 1-1/2" Poplar in short lengths. I did not have a tape measure and the item was not marked as to size.

[rod143]

Home Depot, at least ours in NE PA, has poplar and oak in 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" in 3' or 4' lengths.

[teachnlearn]

1 hour ago, Rockytime said:

I just went to Home Depot this afternoon. I did see what I believe was 1-1/2 X 1-1/2" Poplar in short lengths. I did not have a tape measure and the item was not marked as to size.

A typical credit card measures about a bit under 3.5 inches wide by 2 inches long.

A U.S bill note measures 6 inches wide by 2.5 inches long

A U.S quarter dollar (new or old) measures about 1 inch in diameter

An Iphone 5S measures 2.3 inches wide and 4.9 inches long

RJF

[Rockytime]

Thanks, but that's more than this old man can remember.

[JimErn]

7 hours ago, Rockytime said:

Thanks, but that's more than this old man can remember.

https://ruler.mobi/

[teachnlearn]

5 hours ago, JimErn said:

https://ruler.mobi/

That's great now all I have to do is buy a smartphone to use a ruler app. What a deal! RJF

[JimErn]

1 hour ago, teachnlearn said:

That's great now all I have to do is buy a smartphone to use a ruler app. What a deal! RJF

ROFLMAO