How long do you sit/stand at the scroll saw?

[Dan]

I just completed about 1 hour of scrolling. I generally only do about 30 - 40 minutes at a time. It got me thinking...how long do you normally sit or stand at the scroll saw and what is the longest that you can remember?

[Phantom Scroller]

About 45min and that's my lot, I have to get up and walk off the cramp.

 

Roly

[Wilson's Woodworking]

After about 30 to 40 minutes I have to get up and stretch out my back and legs for 10 to 15 minutes

 

Not to mention give my eyes a break. They aren’t as good as they use to be. Lol

 

[LarryEA]

Dan, I've never timed it but I suspect I stand and scroll for about 45 minutes at a time.

Longer than that and I am prone to making mistakes. I usually then do prep work on

another project, drill, sand, saw another board. Then I'll go back and scroll a little more.

 

Larry

[Doug]

I have never timed it but I cannot imagine I ever go more than 20 to 30 minutes without a short break of a few minutes - I need to rest my eyes and then go back with a clear focus.  Just stopping to change blades in generally not enough as I need to do some focusing on more distant objects than the table top or a blade going into a line.

[ike]

I usually saw for 50to 60 minutes and then go to the house for a coffee break then  start over I usually do this for 3  hours. That is if the weather is good in the winner in the summer it last longer than that..

[danny]

Dan this is a Great Topic....  Used to be a Stand Up Scroller and back then (younger) seemed like I kept a making saw dust for I would guess a hour, but a few years ago I set my saw up on a table and started sitting down.  Very Comfortable lean back chair with thick cushons.  Now it seems like I only continue to cut for maybe 30 mins. or so.  Like I read above.  Give the ole eye balls a rest.  And always feels good to stand up for a spell.  And that my Friends  is my 13 cents worth.  Danny  :+}

[DonR]

I sit while scrolling on a really nice padded, swivel drafting chair with a back rest and arms and I usually will drill 25 to 30 starter holes then cut them, then drill 25 or 30 more and so on. I usually keep at it like that for up to 3 hours or so then take a break. In between times I take a smoke break occasionally. After 3 hours or so I am usually ready for a coffee.

Don R

[sullyscroller]

I will sit and cut for as much as 3 hours and then take a coffee break then back to cutting for a couple more before another coffee break. If i'm on a couple of great patterns i may cut for 6-8 hours. If i'm planing boards down i've worked for 10 hours in the shop. Seems like a lot but i truly love my shop and just makin dust.

 

sully

[Bendita]

I don't feel so strange after all Thanks Sully I will cut for 4 hours straight standing up as I feel sitting down I'm not as attentive as I am standing up,May I ad that I'm in very good shape for an old guy I walk pretty well everywhere I go or ride a bicycle so standing up doesn't bother me. I also feel I have better control of my foot pedal when I stand. My current project I've been putting in 4 hours each morning and 3 hours in the afternoon (1 hour siesta)

[Sparkey]

I usually cut for 3 to 4 hours standing.

[heppnerguy]

I do my cutting sitting on a backless bar stool and I am often in my shop for 4 hours to 8 hours and sometimes more. I prefer that to watching tv or anything else in the house. I do tell my wife that I can quit any time that shehas something she would like to do, like going to play cards with neighbors. I bought her an Ipad last Valentines day so she keeps herself busy with cards on line and Words with Friends.

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[wombatie]

I guess it would be about 30 minutes. Then a quick walk around the garden or I pop inside to get a cup of coffee. Have to keep my coffee intake up.

 

Marg

[keefie]

Well you all beat me lol, I can just about manage 20 mins before I have to get up and walk about, but thats mainly down to my knee and back problems.

[Jim Finn]

I work in my shop 4-5 hours at a time, once or twice a day.  I do inlay work not fretwork so I line up about ten inlay projects and sit for about an hour or so and scroll saw them all.  After that I am up and about the shop making the rest of the boxes. 

[Forester]

Usually 5-6 hours a day 6 days a week.

[KurtP]

I usually work in the shop after I get home from work and eat so I don't have a lot of time at night so I scroll for about an hour then take a break and scroll for another hour. On the weekend I can scroll for 3 to 4 hours after I get my "Honey do list" done. LOL

[RichieB]

Hi Dan to keep up with orders I usually spend about 2.5 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon three days a week.I must admit I do sit down for some of the time.

Richie

[browders]

I sit and will work steadily for a half hour or so then go do something like stoke the wood stove or glue something. Usually a break of 10 minutes or so.

[captlucky]

i set at my saw at lest 6 hr a day beats tv    Ron

[Proxprof]

Depends on the time I have and the project I'm doing.

When I do have the time I sometimes scroll for 1- 1 1/2 hour, but most of the time it's shorter.

It also depends on the details; when the project has a lot of small details, you need a lot af concentration.

Then I prefer more breaks, so that I don't make mistakes.

 

I always scroll standing, because I don't have a chair or something that would work.

I also think that I can handle the larger projects better when I'm standing.

[Dan]

Great feedback. I hope to make some changes to see if I can go for an hour or more at a time. Since I started exercising regularly, I feel like I can go longer. Maybe I'll sit down Tuesday after the wife goes to work and just start cutting until I feel I've had enough. I love sitting behind the saw, but my back gets fatigued and I usually take a 20 minute break then start again. 

[sullyscroller]

Great feedback. I hope to make some changes to see if I can go for an hour or more at a time. Since I started exercising regularly, I feel like I can go longer. Maybe I'll sit down Tuesday after the wife goes to work and just start cutting until I feel I've had enough. I love sitting behind the saw, but my back gets fatigued and I usually take a 20 minute break then start again. 

Dan do you have your saw tilted forward ?

 

sully

[amazingkevin]

i have my saw up high so i have a good postuer when scrolling ,better in the long run .I tilt the saw 12" in the rear for better birds eye veiw of where the blades going .56 hours a week when i find the time and did so for years when out of work for 5 years fro  the recession.Lucky i can get away from the land load  with all the work load she gets outta me.

[Dan]

Kevin, for a minute I thought you were going to say 56 hours a day.  Still, 56 hours hits the WOW factor. 

 

Sully, I do have the saw tilted forward, but it is only raised about 4" in the back. I may try raising it more and see if that improves my stamina.