NO PILOT HOLES REQUIRED

[DickMira]

i have just joined the Scrollsaw Village and while scanning the site, I noticed that the January Challenge was about your first scrolled projects.  From a historical perspective, I would like to tell you a story.  I was in an antique marketplace and as I was leaving, I spotted a nice oak picture frame lying on the floor against the wall.  I picked it up and asked the owner, "How much?" and he said, "I guess it's such an odd size, people don't have a picture to fit it, I'll sell it to you for $5.00"  So I took it.  When I got it home, on examination it was a professionally made oak frame with a liner and had never been used.  I knew I had gotten a real bargain.

A few days later, I started an all day class in scroll sawing with my saw.  The course and the instructor were excellent.  Along with many learning activities, we spent some time cutting lines and zig-zags on practice patterns.  This was as exciting as tracing letters in elementary school.  I had to find another activity to learn how to scroll.

I decided to try a project for my new frame, a bit large for a beginning piece.  I cut a plywood board to fit the frame.  It was 24" x 21",  pretty large for an initial project.  I found some scroll saw patterns for sale on a machinery website that stated "NO PILOT HOLES REQUIRED" and thought this was a great idea.  Because of the size of the frame, I bought  two  layered patterns to fill the frame.  After cutting miles of kerfs in light, thin plywood, my scroll sawing skills had a huge improvement.  Layering and gluing the pieces was the easy part.  We still have this project hanging in our home.

I have cut many scroll saw patterns since that time and have never seen another pattern that stated  "NO PILOT HOLES REQUIRED".   Are these types of patterns still available today?

Regards, Dick

[meflick]

Beautiful work and why I was drawn to Intarsia, no pilot holes required.

[ben2008]

1 hour ago, meflick said:

Beautiful work and why I was drawn to Intarsia, no pilot holes required.

I 2nd that. 

[spirithorse]

Hi, Dick,
I didn't find man really good examples but, you can still find LAYERED scroll saw patterns that require no pilot holes and some with few interior cuts.

https://woodenteddybear.com/search?type=product&q=layered

I used to like these type of patterns but, it seems I was in the minority. I think the attached pic was from a project in about 2005.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[wombatie]

It is certainly a beautiful piece.

Marg