Hello new to scrollsawing not new to woodworking

[rafairchild2]

So 

14 minutes ago, Wichman said:

.... As long as you like your projects and progress, that's all that matters.

So true!

Allen...

I am very slow and deliberate.  I make sure I split my lines when I cut them so I can cut various species of wood and they all fit together as if I cut it from a single piece.  You will see videos of some folk who scroll FAST... But when I look at their lines they are not good at all to my eye.

I always say "Practice does NOT make perfect... PERFECT practice makes perfect.  Be slow, be deliberate, and enjoy the process.

In regards to blades.  My Go-to is the #5 Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse.  I like the way the cuts finish, very smooth and no need to sand.

Pegas blades I will use for simple cuts of my toy cars as I have to mop sand the edges after I profile them with the router.  Pegas is VERY aggressive but lasts longer than the FD blades.

Check out my YT channel, I do live from the workshop every Sunday at 10 ET. Usually, I am talking through the cuts so you will hear about what and why I am doing a particular cut. I have some other 'help' type videos too.

[preprius]

I started here with lot of frustrations. Only 4yrs ago.  I ask lots of beginner questions.  Within just about a year, I was getting good enough for Me.

A few of the experts told me to use the pattern as a guide.  If a piece breaks off during cutting just make it look like it was cut and move on.  It,  the pattern, is only a suggested guide.  This was the biggest statement to overcome my own attitude toward my quality of work.

Another expert said to relax your shoulders and go slow and let the tiny little blades do the work.  After doing a couple of simple fretworks, I moved on to intarsia.  That was a whole nother level of frustration. Because I made my own butterfly pattern and it was a bit hard for beginners.  The gaps between pieces was my frustration.  But I shared it with the village and the said it was good enough.  People won't be taking it off the wall to examine the gaps.

Then I attempted with bowls. Simple shapes. I got expert advise to start with flat pieces top & bottom. It helped my gap issue. 

Bowls are another type of project that you can have fun with. It gave me the confidence that I can do ok with scrollsaw. 

Fretwork letters are really scary to try. And my attempts sucked. But the experts here also mentioned that fonts are many.  So my cuts may not be exactly like the letters but it who cares it might become your own font.  Yep even letters are just a guide. 

Part of wood work is surprises of both good and bad.  Surprises of the good kind come in cool patterns of grain.  Internal wood blemishes show up in bowls which is nice.  Bad surprises are a challenge of how to recover from mistakes or broken pieces. 

In most cases the villagers can help you recover from the bad surprises. 

Like my high school math teacher said, show your work.  We can help better with pictures.  If you don't want to share with everyone you can send private message to who ever you want. Then he can share with specific people if needed. 

One more note: search on this village helps a little bit. But if within 20 mins, you can't find good results just post a new question.  Search results can be a frustration issue also.

My comments from your work above. These are great. You have explored the people and pets and then created some new animals. Good stuff. 

I have seen lots of animals in town, at banks tellers, my Dr's office, at 2 different restaurants. These are not mine. I wanted to make something different,  so I made some micro drawers and give them to places I visit.  See my 2 How to articles. 

Can my stuff compare to Dave Monk or Frank EV ?   Nope.  But it is good enough for Me.

 

Me.

Mark Eason

 

Edited September 30 by preprius

[Bill WIlson]

17 hours ago, Allen levine said:

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.

Do what makes you happy, even if you don't achieve some desired level of mastery.  It's a hobby.  Life is too short to chase perfection, never to be satisfied.

[Denny Knappen]

On 9/27/2024 at 6:04 PM, BadBob said:

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

It is part of the manufacturer process.  Nothing to do with direction of the blade.

[Allen levine]

Still practicing

made a bunch of these Xmas tree with ornament 

can't stand working with oak but this is a good way to get rid of it

trying different blades and just having fun

Still need to oil the leaning tree but need to turn out a few more so I'll do all the staining at once

these might be a fundraiser for the school before Xmas

 

[Scrappile]

I'm glad to see you enjoying this so much.  You are really doing great.  Now, I won't feel so lonesome on the FW forum.  I hope I can keep up with you.

[Allen levine]

I'm all scrolled out right now

this weekend a lot of the pieces go out

[barb.j.enders]

On 10/1/2024 at 3:30 PM, Allen levine said:

Still practicing

made a bunch of these Xmas tree with ornament 

can't stand working with oak but this is a good way to get rid of it

trying different blades and just having fun

Still need to oil the leaning tree but need to turn out a few more so I'll do all the staining at once

these might be a fundraiser for the school before Xmas

 

All are looking great.  Whose pattern is the one with the snowman ornament?  I do a similar pattern, but much more jagged so it takes forever to cut.

[Allen levine]

 

the xmas trees that are bent over, just looked at pictures online and drew it freehand then copied it a few times. I did order an intarsia book, forgot the author, but this week I will start cutting even though the goldfish starter project doesnt seem like intarsia to me since its all one piece of the same wood, but Ill make it anyway. will post here when finished

 

as of today, Ive made approx 42 give or take one or two of the xmas trees. Ive given away almost 20 already but Im saving the rest for a school fundraiser, my daughter is a teacher and does small fundraisers for student council or pta. Ill give her a bunch of the doggie puzzles or person and dog figures, just so she can raise money, I make alot of those. 

 

i also figured out how much exactly it cost me to make thos small trees with the small ornaments.

i use 5/4 stock, 12 inches wide, slice the wood in half, so I can get 3 units on each 12 by 12 piece, cut into half inch thickness, I get six from both pieces.

ornaments are from dollar tree, the small ornaments are 1.25 for 15

the gold hooks are ten cents each from amazon.

figuring bf prices, I can make most of the species for under 1.60 per unit. stain I have so much of old stain that I wont use on furniture but it works fine for these small pieces. no top coat. seems they are a big hit as the ones I gifted out people want to purchase extras for family members and friends. I think 10 tp 12 dollars each is fair, I can cut and assemble 6  per hour, not including staining

 

 

Edited October 21 by Allen levine