Finally making sawdust!

[Joe W.]

Two months ago, I got my father-in-law’s 30 year old Delta scroll saw and immediately got hooked on the activity.  Being that old, it requires a tool to change the blade.  Which got me to here – the Village!
The past two months have been filled gaining experience:  bought and returned two scroll saws, bought a used DW788, took it apart twice (once to  grease it – once to replace the connecting rod), built a wood stand for it, and F I N A L L Y started making dust with it today, cutting out the first three exercises contained in John Nelson’s Scroll Saw Workbook.  And having a great time!  Used the blades I initially bought from the box store with scrap wood I had in the garage and now ready to try out the Pegas starter pack of blades I have. 

So I’m a happy camper at last.
Now, about wood - - - Walking through a box store, I see “Whitewood”  in various sizes and would like to get anyone’s opinions on how it is for cutting compared to pine. 

[jollyred]

White wood is pine.  Just mostly light colored.  Look for pieces with the least contrast between the color of the late wood (darker) and early wood (lighter) .  This indicates a difference in the hardness of the wood, with the darker grain being harder.  Cutting through these can cause the blade to deflect when going from one to the other.  

Tom

[Rockytime]

Congratulations! Making sawdust feels so fine. Love the feel of the blades chewing through the wood.

[WayneMahler]

Sounds like you  have been on quite the journey to get to the point of cutting. Glad to hear you got things worked out. Patience is a great thing to have while learning. White wood is Pine, it is soft wood and easy to cut. When yiour looking at or for wood. Check your local Craigslist. You can find some free stuff up there. Best of luck on this leg of your journey. Welcome to the addiction. 

[Norm Fengstad]

Welcome to your new addiction plenty of support here 

[TAIrving]

Welcome to the Village and congratulations on getting into the hobby.  I got hooked last summer and am just a few months further into it than are you and am having fun learning.  This forum is a great place to get information about the hobby.

Your scroll saw will do you well.  Next you will learn about types of wood and sources for your wood.  The big box lumber stores will have low end wood and you likely will soon move on from that.  Posts here on the Village forum talk a lot about sources of wood from dumpster diving for wood to pallet wood and so on up to exotic woods.  

Next you will get into dust (sawdust) removal and control.  Again, lots of information here in the Village forum.

Read, read, read.  And enjoy this great hobby!

[Sparkey]

Welcome to the addiction. Glad you got the saw running.

[Ken Lotts]

Woohoo!  Good times.  Happy scrolling!