Advice please

[Loskoppie]

This is a pattern from Steve good.  This is also a skill lesson for me.  I need advise.   I can work out what I need to do.  I need to get a guide on without to much help from machine work.  Just my scroll saw  and sandpaper.  How t get cut as accurate as possible and neatly to.  Is it just sanding work  

Barbara 

[ChelCass]

A lot depends on what wood you use and what blade you use.  Some wood such as cherry and hickory usually need very little sanding.  Pine on the other hand needs a lot of sanding as it gets little fuzzies.  The sharper the blade the cleaner the cut.  I use a FD Ultra reverse for most of my cutting.

[don in brooklin on]

I too love FD Ultra Reverse,  Not as aggressive as some other blades so easier to control and leaves a clean interior cut.

I use #1 on thin stock and then #3 on any thing up to 3/4

From the pattern it looks like a lot of circles.  I tell my 101 students that the 2 hardest cuts are straight lines and circles. It just takes practice.

Steve Good has good instructions at http://www.stevedgood.com/school/sss.html and lesson 7 is on circles.

 

[Loskoppie]

I have a problem in our part of the world.   This hobby is sadly not done that I know so I not sure if the blade is sold.  I will  ask.  Thanks for the help and advice.

[Loskoppie]

I remembered my husband has a ( I think) router I am going to try to use it as well.  To cut inner circle.  He he new skill as well.   The wood is not a good one but I am leaning to cut and fit as well.  Then get better wood.   This I might just paint if it works. Just trying a new skill altogether 

[Dak0ta52]

A lot of Steve's patterns are fitting wood into slots. I recently did a box from one of his patterns and whereas he typically uses 1/4-inch for his slots, the wood I was using was measured in millimeters. I had to modify my pattern to the thickness of the wood. I cut the slot a little tight and then sanded to fit. As far as the circles, if it were me, I would either cut them on the scroll saw just to the inside of the line and then sand to the line or use a forstner bit with a good, solid back to prevent tear out.

[OCtoolguy]

I would not use a router. They are much harder to control and if you aren't adept at using one can be very dangerous. Learn to use your scroll saw. Cutting circles is difficult but not impossible. Use up some scrap wood and practice. It's mostly just a bit of coordinating your cut speed and hand speed. That's why practice is important. Once you get the feel of it, you'll do fine. 

Regarding what is available to you where you are, is it possible for regular folks like us here in the U.S. to ship things to you without incurring a lot of import duty. Sort of like sending gifts at Christmas and birthdays might be. If we could be of help to get you the supplies that you need, I know we could get something set up here. Other than the actual cost of shipping and the cost of goods, maybe we could get you what you can't find where you are.

 

[Bill WIlson]

For cutting those holes, I would probably use a forstner bit.  The best tool for a scroll saw project isn't always a scroll saw.  

[Wichman]

Since this is a skill building exercise the scroll saw is enough. Match the blade to the size of the circle that you are trying to cut  I would start with ( this is a starting point, adjust to your preference and cutting style ) a # 3 blade on the small holes and a #5 on the outside.

[Loskoppie]

Thanks All

First I will have to speak to husband for if we can get supplies another way but will have to check out All options as theft is bad as well.   The wood is cheap not good plywood I am using it to  try to see if I can do it.  Will go and practice and cut it then use good wood.   The  slots and circles are not good with me so I will cut them as a learning exercise.  I will come back to all of you and let you know how I did.  The truth and nothing but the truth.  Your help and advice is very much appreciated more than I can say. 

Thanks Barbara (you're South Africa freind)

[don watson]

13 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I would not use a router. They are much harder to control and if you aren't adept at using one can be very dangerous. Learn to use your scroll saw. Cutting circles is difficult but not impossible. Use up some scrap wood and practice. It's mostly just a bit of coordinating your cut speed and hand speed. That's why practice is important. Once you get the feel of it, you'll do fine. 

Regarding what is available to you where you are, is it possible for regular folks like us here in the U.S. to ship things to you without incurring a lot of import duty. Sort of like sending gifts at Christmas and birthdays might be. If we could be of help to get you the supplies that you need, I know we could get something set up here. Other than the actual cost of shipping and the cost of goods, maybe we could get you what you can't find where you are.

 

I was wondering if we in the UK could possibly send you blades without the import duty etc. that would be involved, much like a birthday gift or something like that. I could try here and see if anything can be set up if you wish. Will need to find out how the system works so Ray may be able to help me.

EDIT Is Amazon an option ??

Edited April 20, 2023 by don watson

[Loskoppie]

To Don and octoolguy 

Thanks for the help I will find out if it is safe.   Business even find it hard to receive stock as it is stolen.

I do not want to put you guys out off pocket (money)

[Loskoppie]

Hi Again

The best way to anything in or out is the private courier guys.  The government postal service is not working well.

thank you Don and Octoolguy

[don watson]

I know some of the private courier guys in the UK are totally useless and there has been a lot of rebranding of names recently but the service still sucks. That said there must be some regular courier who operates world wide that can deliver a parcel safely to an address in Pretoria, South Africa. !!? I will have a look at tool suppliers in this country and see what I can find.

 

[OCtoolguy]

6 hours ago, Loskoppie said:

Hi Again

The best way to anything in or out is the private courier guys.  The government postal service is not working well.

thank you, Don and Octoolguy

Well if you come up with a way that won't break either of our banks just let us know what you need. We can put blades in a birthday card or something like it. Other stuff might being more creative but we can getter done!

[don watson]

Ray, as far as I see this there is a problem with the mail in S.A. I think one solution would be  blades in a birthday card but their mail system is very suspect ??, of course she could have multiple birthdays if we do that. I don't know of the courier services in S.A. so we will wait and see if Loskoppie has any suggestions. I don't know if they have Amazon out there either as that could be an easier way to get things. ??

[Loskoppie]

To ALL my friends I have never met

Sadly this does not surprise me as my husband is in the trucking business and get parts is a job in its self.

Don't worry I will look and tell you guys if we came right.  Your kindness and help is truly great.

Barbara

[Rolf]

What tools do you have to work with? Scroll saw and a router, what else?

There are many solutions for making a perfect circle. I made this so that all of my gears on a clock were perfectly round and centered.

[barb.j.enders]

I find, when cutting circles, to cover (with my hand) part of the lines.  That way, I  am focused on what is right there and not looking too far ahead.  I hope this makes sense.

Barbara,  the other one!

[Loskoppie]

Hi Barb and Rolf

Both ideas I will try as i have not tried to focus but managed on what I have done.  This one is another story.  I am going to learn on this project some how.

Rolf please can you explain your method a bit if you can as it seems a answer some questions

Barbara 

[Rolf]

On 4/27/2023 at 6:29 AM, Loskoppie said:

Hi Barb and Rolf

Both ideas I will try as i have not tried to focus but managed on what I have done.  This one is another story.  I am going to learn on this project some how.

Rolf please can you explain your method a bit if you can as it seems a answer some questions

Barbara 

I made this jig when I was asked to do a wooden gear clock project for SSWWC magazine. All of the gears have to be precise. I cut the teeth leaving the tips of the teeth long and then set them on the disk sander. The distance from center to disk is adjustable and the slowly rotated the gear sanding off the tips..

This is only good if you can put a hole in the center of your circle. 

For just free handing a circle, it gets easier with practice, cut just outside the line and if you have a disk sander carefully sand to the line. 

Barbara also makes a good point, look just ahead of where your cutting, kind of like driving.  

Be aware, if you are cutting natural wood the blade likes to follow the grain as you transition from cross to strait grain.

[NC Scroller]

Barbara have you ever reached out to Sue Mey, another South African, to see where she gets her supplies and wood?  Sue is a very active designer.  She can be contacted through this link:

Contact Me (scrollsawartist.com)

[Loskoppie]

You all are so helpful with advise thank you ALL.  I will read this again to make sure i get all the details.

Barbara

[CharleyL]

For cutting circles on the scroll saw, locate the center of each circle. Then make a jig table for the scroll saw with a pin the same radius distance from the blade. With a small hole in the circle center to match the pin diameter, make a saw cut from the edge of the wood in to the edge of the circle. Then place the center hole of the workpiece over this pin. Begin cutting and rotating the work piece until the circle cut is complete. Repeat this process for each circle, using a different pin position to match the radius of the circle to blade distance. A small starter hole for the blade next to the circle line is another way to get started. 

The center pin will guide the blade cut so you only need to feed the work piece into it. You will have a perfectly round hole at completion. A router can be used in much the same way, but will require more experience. Consider looking into a Jasper Jig for this (they make several versions) if using a router.

Charley 

[BadBob]

I have made lots of wheels. My preferred method is to drill the center holes first, cut them out free hand with the scroll saw, and sand them with a belt sander and a jig. The jig is a dowel in a piece of wood clamped an appropriate distance from the sanding belt. It is fast and easy, and I can produce a hundred perfectly round and sanded smooth wheels. The jig is so simple that I never keep them.

I have made wheels from squares using a coarse 60-grit sanding belt. This works great, but if you think scroll saws make a lot of dust, you should try this.