First puzzle completed.

[jpedersm]

First puzzle done.  When cutting it I was using fd ultra reverse size 3 in 3/4 popular.  Compared to my other items I had to crank the speed up used to be cutting around a quarter inch stuff.  Also I am not sure if I should be using an ultra reverse blade here or not.  The pieces fit nice together but when moving there is a little slop between the pieces or are all puzzles this way?

[Rockytime]

Your pug looks great. Nice cutting. I really appreciate your dialogue on how you did it and what you used. I wish more people would do that. The information may be useful to others. 

[Scrappile]

Look like very nice cutting. 

[Tomanydogs]

Well done. Pugs are so cute. 

[Paladin]

Nice job.  You picked a pattern that is a little more involved for your first one - lots of veining in the face.  there is always going to be some play between the pieces on these puzzles due to the kerf of the blade.  I wouldn't suggest going to a smaller blade than #3 - if you try to fit the pieces together tighter you run the risk of them not moving freely enough to assemble/disassemble the puzzle smoothly.

[jpedersm]

Thank you guys for your comments.  I printed 3 more of these out and want to start a collection of puzzles hopefully for one day to sell.  This one is for my friends daughter.  She has been asking her parents for a pug for Christmas, well she is getting her pug.  Other then that when I brought it in the house to show my wife my daughter said she wanted a horse done and son a firetruck.  I guess there are my next patterns. 

[daveww1]

nice job

[ike]

I have clut lots of puzzles. to use a #3 blade dthe sawhas to be almost perfect alined or they will be too hard for a yung child to assemble . I square up the blade with a square but I useally use a #5 for the above reason I run my delta at a #6 speed I useally sell 10 to 15 puzzlesat a sale most sales are repete sales. the adverage cutting time is 20 dto 25 minuts each puzzle. luseing 3/4 popular. the actual size is .875 dthickness.

IKE

Edited December 16, 2019 by ike

[jpedersm]

Putting the puzzle together was really easy there was one piece a little tight the rest fine.  I think this might have took me an hour to cut most likely because first one ever done.   I’m not sure on how high I went with speed I just new I started and nothing was happening.  So I cranked it up a little.  When cutting this thing the feet scared me I thought they would break off on a board slap but never did.

[Sycamore67]

I use a FD Polar #3 or 5 which is a skip tooth blade and removed the sawdust better than the reverse type.  You might try a Polar #3 next time for comparison..

Yes the pieces will be a little loose but may tighten up a bit after finishing.

As mentioned check blade to be perpendicular before cutting.

[Denny Knappen]

What Sycamore said is true.  After finishing, the pieces maybe tight.  I use FD Polar #5 and now Pegas MGT #5.

[Iguanadon]

Nice cutting Justin.  First of all, thanks for purchasing the patterns from my site, Harvey Byler appreciates it.  As far as blade, I use #3 Pegas Modified Geometry.  Before that, I used #3 Olson Mach Speed.  I always cut 3/4" poplar.  Yes, speed needs to be cranked up.  I keep mine around 7 1/2 out of 8 on my DeWalt.  If you find the puzzle pieces aren't sliding in and out smoothly from both sides, adjust the tilt of your table making test cuts until you find the "sweet spot".  Don't count on using the tilt gauge or a 90 degree angle on your blade, it's best to just tweak things til you find it.  Keep up the good work and have fun with them.  Let me know if you have any questions.  If you haven't already watched my videos, I have a couple where I cut a sea turtle and another cutting a dragon, just search You Tube for my name Scott Seifer

[Sycamore67]

I use a small precision square to align my blades from both sides of the blade.

[ike]

after you do a f couple or so you will be doing in a 1/2 dor less excedpt for the real londg name odr dwones with a lot of hair like the yorkie or shih-tzu. the customers thinkd they are complicated  but let them tlhink that if lthey knew how simple they are they would want to pay less fdor them.

IKE