When using hardwood - which do you prefer and which do you avoid

[Davevand]

How the wood was cut at the mill also makes a big difference on how the scroll saw will cut it. A piece of flat sawn red oak will cut better than a piece of rift or quarter sawn red oak. With rift or quarter sawn the blade will be much more likely to wander or follow the grain since the grain is in the same direction as the cut verses flat sawn that the grain is perpendicular to the blade.

[Blaughn]

2 hours ago, Davevand said:

How the wood was cut at the mill also makes a big difference on how the scroll saw will cut it. A piece of flat sawn red oak will cut better than a piece of rift or quarter sawn red oak. With rift or quarter sawn the blade will be much more likely to wander or follow the grain since the grain is in the same direction as the cut verses flat sawn that the grain is perpendicular to the blade.

That makes sense.  I have cut both quarter sawn and flat sawn cherry.  I have not had any problems nor noted any real differences in preventing dropouts nor grain following. I have encountered problems with quarter sawn walnut.   I wonder it the open grain of oak and walnut has something to do with it.  

[Woodmaster1]

Curly maple, curly cherry, gummie cherry and poplar for puzzles.

[Scrolling along with Susan]

My big three other than baltic birch are Cherry, Walnut and Maple.  

[Blaughn]

9 hours ago, Woodmaster1 said:

Curly maple, curly cherry, gummie cherry and poplar for puzzles.

Gummie cherry - George, I thought you were pulling my leg.  I have never heard of gummie cherry.  Ya learn something new every day.