Hello new to scrollsawing not new to woodworking

[Allen levine]

My daughter is a special Ed teacher

every year I give her bandsaw reindeer for her students to paint and decorate 

this time she asked me for 14 sets of the male female holding the heart to incorporate them into a sel lesson

im going to make a lot of the wooden people with animals etc to pta or student council for fundraising 

 

[Allen levine]

Ok so my son and dil are big dog lovers

they have two rescues and anything doggie I make for them and they luv it

yesterday she texted me a pic of this doggie puzzle

from the text I tried to print and cut it

as clear by this photo it was a failure

i will still sand it and paint on the eyes and noses that is just washable marker

now I will print out glue to one piece of wood and cut out all parts as one so even if shape is off it will match other piece

its a learning curve for me

i used walnut sapele poplar cherry and Spanish cedar

on a side note I got  stool yesterday and the seat height is perfect for hegner tall stand

its ok to make of this piece

I've made many of the bear families and elephant families for people with kids with my bandsaw

never this far off

 

 

[Allen levine]

Next shot all made of poplar and cut from one piece and of course it fits like a puzzle

All practice but I will put second coat of paint and paint eyes and noses

somone will want it

snother one reading a book

[Bill WIlson]

It can be difficult to get puzzles cut from one piece of wood to fit properly.  I can't imagine trying to do it with pieces cut from different boards.

One technique that can be used when trying to create more than one version from separate species is to stack cut them in layers.  In other words, if your scroll saw had the capacity, you could cut that puzzle from 4 or 5 different species, then mix the parts up in each of the resulting puzzles.  Theoretically all would fit, since they were cut at the same time, from the same pattern.  The problem is, there is no practical way to do that with a scroll saw, with stock that thick.  If your puzzles were 1/4" thick, it could work, but then they wouldn't stand up.

[BadBob]

Half-inch-thick pieces will stand on their own. You could stack three half-inch-thick woods of different species to get a three-color puzzle. You might be able to cut four, but be careful where you put your fingers. I have never been successful at cutting the pieces individually from separate boards and getting them to fit well.

[Allen levine]

I was so careful as to not force or rush any of the cuts and followed lines as best I could and it still came out wrong

tomorrow I will give it one more try with a better pattern 

otherwise I will make only one species or use paint

[Allen levine]

Pegas blades ordered experimenting with a few types all on reco s from here and familywoodworking

i always appreciate the advice

please never walk on egg shells regarding my work

im always looking for critism to help me improve

[Ctutor]

don't e afraid to cozy up to Dennie Kaplan this site.  Although he is a dealer he won't try to sell you anything unless providing suggestions is considered selling.  You can depend on what he says

[Allen levine]

Today I tried taping half inch together and got 2 colored puzzle

walnut and Spanish cedar

no gaps perfect fit

now I'll go and try taping 3 boards together and then I can move on with puzzle cutting I'll add poplar to the mix

i have 100 bf of sapele and about the same of hard maple but not sure if I can cut thru 1-1.5 inches easily enough

just getting a feel for feeding wood thru the blade 

the painted pieces were yesterdays poplar pieces

 

Edited September 24 by Allen levine

[Allen levine]

12 hours ago, Ctutor said:

don't e afraid to cozy up to Dennie Kaplan this site.  Although he is a dealer he won't try to sell you anything unless providing suggestions is considered selling.  You can depend on what he says

Not shy I've already ordered blades 

[Allen levine]

3 layers walnut Spanish cedar and poplar

slipped on one cut and a piece of Spanish cedar cracked so I got 2 sets 1.5 inches cut

might go for 4 layers

[Allen levine]

Way too addicting

i gave away several sets yesterday as well as all types of wooden figures

then this morning after my morning walk to get coffee( I kill two birds with one stone I believe is the expression)get my mile and a quarter walk in and get my coffee,I went thru any scrap pieces from the dog puzzles as I leave a drop extra to handle them comfortably I shrunk down the man dog figures and cut them out

no more waste

and no more room

i have 6 requests for doggie puzzles so I'll make a few more

i don't take Zelle or PayPal or cash or credit card

my payment is the joy these little things bring to friends and family

running out of room but will cut any scraps I have until I try my first intarsia

 

ive already bagged up figures for school

i stopped making bandsaw reindeer since I've prolly given out a few hundred over the years but whenever I'm asked for one I have them ready 

[Scrappile]

Al, you are doing great!  I will soon be asking you for help!

[Allen levine]

My sister lives in florida and loves her golden retriever more th en life itself

so I made this for her 

opened up pictures of goldens and just traced it off computer screen then drew female

[Allen levine]

i used two boards of hardwood both 3/4 inch this morning. made large puzzles, still for practice....today I had my new pegas blades, so I first tried a number 5 and within a minute it snapped. could be my fault, maybe it didnt sit well, then switched to a number 7 blade and finished the cutting. not sure if it was better then the dutchman blade, but it was aggresive, and seemed to let me cut faster. not sure why, Im guessing it has something to do with the pegas scroll saw but the ends of the blade are notched, loaded into my saw fine, just didnt understand why they were notched. Ill keep practicing with different blades. I think between the pegas, dutchman and the ones that came with the saw I can make an easily enough decision in the future which is my go to for hardwoods etc.....

Im going to buy my first intarsia plans, something as easy peasy as I can find, give it go in a couple of weeks when I get home. 

[Scrappile]

@Allen levine, usually, the largest blade I have used is a #5.  That was for thick wood, 3D cutting.  I normally use a #2 or less skip pegas.   But I rarely scroll more than 3/8" thick stacked.  For 3D cutting, I use a double skip with fewer teeth than a skip.  Anxious to see how you like intarsia.  I have done a little of it.  I Want to do more.  To me, that is really where the artist of scroll sawing starts. Selection of woods and shaping.  The only thing, in my opinion, above that is double bevel marquetry.  Do not get upset, people this is my opinion.  But marquetry is the real scroll saw art to me. I only wish I had the talent to do it.  But time is not over for me. Went to to the Doctor yesterday, he thought I was doing very well for my advanced age (advanced age, excuse me!).  I to him, he is 42, just a child yet, I hope he is as happy at my age as I am (80),  That damn whippersnapper!  

[Allen levine]

I know I should stop but I'm just having too much fun

this one is a boy taking his baby T. rex out for a walk

[Allen levine]

Here's the same boy walking his pet baby T. rex and introduced his pet to the local playground bully

[Allen levine]

Same boy flying a kite

[BadBob]

My Pegas blades are notched on one end. I'm not sure why. Maybe @Denny Knappen will know.

[Wichman]

On blades that are hard to tell the top or bottom, some manufacturers will put a notch or other device at the top of the blade.

[BadBob]

10 hours ago, Wichman said:

On blades that are hard to tell the top or bottom, some manufacturers will put a notch or other device at the top of the blade.

I have heard that, but my blades vary in which end the notch is on from batch to batch. I have mounted blades upside down, using the notch as a guide. I feel the teeth to see which way they go.

[Mike Crosa]

Watching your grand daughters first steps reminded me of my own grand daughters first steps.  Being a grand pa is great isn't it?

Edited September 28 by Mike Crosa
correct spelling

[Allen levine]

well, i took a look at the members gallery here and alot of the work done. Ive come to the conclusion that at just about 70 years old, not in the greatest shape, I will run out of time before I come close to the skill needed to get something relatively close to what I saw on members posts. 

Im not discouraged, Im just being realistic. 

whether it be fret scrolling work or intarsia, maybe I should have taken up golf or pickleball instead.

[Wichman]

Allen,

Don't stop. The only person you need to compare yourself to is you. I've been scrolling for nigh unto 40 years and I can't hold a candle to some of our members. As long as you like your projects and progress, that's all that matters.