Don't look too close at my work yet...

[jimmyG]

Being new to woodworking, especially with less than three weeks experience with scroll sawing my projects look okay if you don't examine too closely.

I liked using my band saw to make things but even though it cut smooth it lacked the ability to make tight curves. 

Using the scroll saw makes the tight turns but my straight lines aren't straight and my curves are choppy. I end up spending a lot of time sanding things to fix the flaws. I'm sure over time (if I live that long) I will improve.

Was in Hobby lobby last week and saw some small intricate cut items priced at less than two bucks that would have taken me forever to make.  Not to mention a home laser is darn near perfect.

To the seasoned scrollers:  Do your projects pass the close up look test or am I expecting too much? 

[Gene Howe]

I've only been scrolling about 6 months but I've learned a few things. First, this site is a treasure trove of good information.  On here, I learned different blades from different manufacturers have different cutting characteristics. Some folks can cut a straight line with even a spiral blade. Not me. I mostly use a #5 or # 7 flat blades. I haven't even tried to cut intricate patterns that might require much smaller ones. 

As to cutting straight lines, I cut really slow, use a head mounted 2.5 power magnifier and plenty of light. Lately, most of my material is 3/4 poplar. I find that thinner material requires more attention and a steadier feed rate. 

Don't try to compare your scrolling to the CNC work you see in places like Hobby Lobby. That's an excersize in frustration.

Patience, practice and, more practice is what it takes. Especially if you're a novice like me. And, remember, sanding is an integral part of the process. 

[jimmyG]

5 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

I've only been scrolling about 6 months but I've learned a few things. First, this site is a treasure trove of good information.  On here, I learned different blades from different manufacturers have different cutting characteristics. Some folks can cut a straight line with even a spiral blade. Not me. I mostly use a #5 or # 7 flat blades. I haven't even tried to cut intricate patterns that might require much smaller ones. 

As to cutting straight lines, I cut really slow, use a head mounted 2.5 power magnifier and plenty of light. Lately, most of my material is 3/4 poplar. I find that thinner material requires more attention and a steadier feed rate. 

Don't try to compare your scrolling to the CNC work you see in places like Hobby Lobby. That's an excersize in frustration.

Patience, practice and, more practice is what it takes. Especially if you're a novice like me. And, remember, sanding is an integral part of the process. 

I've been mostly working with 1/4 Baltic birch plywood. I use good lighting and use a magnifer. Drilling entry holes, not using any blades past 3 or 4 and moving at a snail's pace. I understand it takes time but that's why my question was geared to the long time scrollers with many years of practice to answer if their current work, close up has flaws.

I don't see close up shots of intricate work posted often.

[Gene Howe]

@jimmyG, if that's your work, you're certainly not a beginner. That's some excellent cutting. 

[barb.j.enders]

There are no flaws in our work - it is all just design choices.

[ChelCass]

Good Morning Jimmy, I have been scrolling for about 14-15 years now.  Started with a yard sale Craftsman and used it up till last December when I bought the new Wen 21. I also have a Hegner but don't care for it.  Over the years I have learned a lot but still have more I can learn.  I have my first piece and looking at my latest piece I see a vast improvement.  I have done silhouettes, portraits, a fair amount of fret pieces.  Like Gene I am a slow as you go cutter.  My go to blade is the #5 reverse or ultra reverse.  Since I did stained glass before Scrolling I had somewhat of advantage with using a saw (I have a glass cutting saw) and fitting pieces together.  Some people are natural scrollers and others have to work hard at it.  A lot also depends on the type of wood you use.  I generally use 1/4 inch anything thinner I have issues with. Hickory, birch, and cedar are my favorite woods to work with.  Oak is harder but I still use it.  Some woods seem to cut cleaner than others so less sanding.  The little fuzzies are the ones that drive me crazy.  As for the items you see in Hobby Lobby and other big box store they are machine cut and done by automation.  They don't have the character a nice scrolled piece has.  Remember we are all our own worse critic, we see the flaws that others don't see.  Give yourself time and practice and you will continue get improve.  Don't beat yourself up you are doing fine work and will keep improving.  Take pictures of each of you cuttings and date them, then you can look back and see have you have improved.

Chels.

 

[redwine]

I don't post here to often and I really should, but for a beginner you have started on the right track and you can only improve with time! The projects you have posted  are  well done!  I do have a tip for you and all of the scrollers that use spiral blades and try to cut stright lines. Instead of "pushing" the wood into the blade as you would with stright blades, try "pulling" the wood toward you. You will find that you will cut a much better looking stright line doing it this way or at least it does for myself!

Erv

[jimmyG]

Never tried a spiral blade before.  I just cut some pine to make this people/animal thingy and the wood was a bear to cut through and it was the first time I tried a #7 10TPI 7R and it got the job done chopping through pine but it ended up still being smooth.  Three weeks into this hobby and I guess I'm too critical of what I do.

[danny]

Been into Our Hobby for Decades.  Your ability to Scroll at this point is Way, Way

above any Beginner.  Keep Improving and tackle some Harder projects.  Danny  :+}

[Randyw81]

I have been scrolling for several years.  I agree that we are our own worst critics.  Most of the time when I show someone my projects, they rave about how nice they are and I am busy looking at the mistakes that most people don't see.  Enjoy what you are doing and you will get better with experience.  Your pieces are extremely well done for even an intermediate experienced scroller.  I will say that the two most difficult things to cut are straight lines and clean, even circles. Practice makes better, but never perfect. The imperfections are what makes a project handcrafted instead of mass produced.  The  satisfaction of saying "I made that" far exceed the "Look how perfect it is". Keep up the good work!

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

I agree with what all have said here and yes we are the worst critics of our own works. You will get better with each project you do. Using a good saw is also key. That is why the professional saws cost so much. I have been cutting for over 50 years and started on a 2 speed Dremel 16" saw I believe it was with pin end blades. That made many of my projects on the less intricate side because of the starter holes needed to thread that clunker through. I have come a long way and have to say have become very good at it. You learn little tricks as you go. The biggest key a beginner needs to learn is use the right blade and let the saw do the cutting. Do not force the work or else the blade will slant on you and start burning your wood. I only cut hardwoods. On occassion I will cut some BB but hate it. Dulls blades to fast. I used that stuff for my money puzzles I shown in another thread and went through about 5 blades per dollar bill. Here is a project I designed myself and being I was in the electrical union I was able to sell a few of these. You asked to see work up close. I think you can zoom in my cuts. Perfect, not by any means but not bad either. As someone said that is what makes it hand made and not laser cut. 

 

 

[jimmyG]

4 hours ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I agree with what all have said here and yes we are the worst critics of our own works. You will get better with each project you do. Using a good saw is also key. That is why the professional saws cost so much. I have been cutting for over 50 years and started on a 2 speed Dremel 16" saw I believe it was with pin end blades. That made many of my projects on the less intricate side because of the starter holes needed to thread that clunker through. I have come a long way and have to say have become very good at it. You learn little tricks as you go. The biggest key a beginner needs to learn is use the right blade and let the saw do the cutting. Do not force the work or else the blade will slant on you and start burning your wood. I only cut hardwoods. On occassion I will cut some BB but hate it. Dulls blades to fast. I used that stuff for my money puzzles I shown in another thread and went through about 5 blades per dollar bill. Here is a project I designed myself and being I was in the electrical union I was able to sell a few of these. You asked to see work up close. I think you can zoom in my cuts. Perfect, not by any means but not bad either. As someone said that is what makes it hand made and not laser cut. 

 

 

Wow, that's perfect enough for me...  I guess being 70 and just learning I'm trying to accomplish too much, too fast.. While I'm still kicking

[Fish]

Yes, give yourself more credit you do nice work and it only gets better.

[Wichman]

Jimmy,

     I started scrolling in '85. My first saw was a Sears 13" "hobby saw" that used 3" pin end blades and there were only 3 types of blades. Since I have CDO (Compulsive Disorder, Obsessive) (it's sorta like OCD but the letters are in alphabetical order as they should be) I did nothing for the first three week but cut practice cuts, boring, yes, but the training was very helpful.

My first cuts were not nearly the quality yours are, kudos.

Here is a closeup of a fancy fretwork welcome sign. As you can see, the cuts are not perfect, but if you look at the piece as a whole it's difficult to see any errors. Most peoples eyes see the whole item and they don't see the individual frets. In fact, IMHO, most people can't actually see the details, their eyes just can't do it. 

 

Here's the whole thing:

Edited September 18, 2023 by Wichman

[Wichman]

Speaking of that 13" saw with the 3" pin end blades; I made one of these with that saw, really had to learn how to cheat to get the fine cuts:

drill a series of holes to make a slot

pull the pin out of the top of the blade

thread the blade through the slot

reattach the pin (or use a safety pin)

Edited September 18, 2023 by Wichman

[jimmyG]

32 minutes ago, Wichman said:

Speaking of that 13" saw with the 3" pin end blades; I made one of these with that saw, really had to learn how to cheat to get the fine cuts:

drill a series of holes to make a slot

pull the pin out of the top of the blade

thread the blade through the slot

reattach the pin (or use a safety pin)

Very nice work...   At 70, I probably don't have that much time left to ever accomplish those items you posted.
I too have a few alphabet inflictions as well...  ADD  OCD, etc.  I have the attention span of a nat and most new things I undertake are usually given up on for the next new thing.  I'm hoping since I retired that woodworking can stand the test of time.  I've made more things in the three short weeks with a scroll saw than almost a year of any other woodworking projects.  I need to learn how to control the urge to hurry up and finish something...

[MarieC]

Jimmy, I think your work is really nice.  I love your choice of what you are cutting...great patterns.  I have been only scrolling with my saw for about 6 months and I agree with @barb.j.enders take advantage of making cuts that are "mistakes" as an artistic impression.  This form of artistic work is quite addicting.  Enjoy!

[Trka2002]

On 9/10/2023 at 3:16 AM, jimmyG said:

Being new to woodworking, especially with less than three weeks experience with scroll sawing my projects look okay if you don't examine too closely.

I liked using my band saw to make things but even though it cut smooth it lacked the ability to make tight curves. 

Using the scroll saw makes the tight turns but my straight lines aren't straight and my curves are choppy. I end up spending a lot of time sanding things to fix the flaws. I'm sure over time (if I live that long) I will improve.

Was in Hobby lobby last week and saw some small intricate cut items priced at less than two bucks that would have taken me forever to make.  Not to mention a home laser is darn near perfect.

To the seasoned scrollers:  Do your projects pass the close up look test or am I expecting too much? 

I’ve been scrolling for a few years, but if my work was closely examined, I still have flaws. 

[RabidAlien]

Any saw can cut master-level patterns, all it takes is a pilot hole small enough to get the blade in.  Then, its one-hole-one-cut.  Some patterns just have more holes. 

 

For a beginner....you're doing INSANELY well.  I look back at some of my first projects (been cutting for 8 years or so), and I can follow the blade around corners as I backed out, came in from another direction, and left little scuff marks all over the corners.  Do other people see those marks?  Or the flattened sides of curves where I lost direction?  Mostly....no, they don't.  But for those that do, that's what differentiates something hand-cut from something mass-produced.  They show heart, soul, and love poured in to the project.  Anyone can plug in a saw, hit "print", and then go watch TV while the computer does all the work, but you get the exact same thing as everybody else gets....the same soulless piece (and a little bit dumber from what's on TV these days).  Same thing with AI, anyone can tell an AI to write a song or poem or story or generate a picture.  But it takes skill, heart, soul, and love to create these yourself. 

 

If you're going to watch anything on TV, look for "The Craftsman" on Magnolia Network (on Discovery +, if you have that).  Guy's an all-around woodcrafter up in Eureka, CA.  He started off one episode answering the question about perfection.  "All you can do is the best that you can do with the knowledge and skills that you have at the time.  You learn a little bit more each time you create something, and add on to your skills.  Perfect?  The TREE was perfect.  All we can do is the best that we can." (paraphrasing)