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This was my first ship in the Navy.

I buy the cheap plastic gates all the time. Tennis balls work OK for the smaller diameter hoses, but my dust collector works on 5" and 4" piping to the major tools. The scroll saw, drill press and a couple of smaller sanders get the 2.5" hoses. To keep your gates from clogging, cut the ends of the gates. That way the gate pushes the sawdust right out the end of the gate and never blocks the gate. If the gate is getting a little sticky, some dry silicone spray does the trick.

Posted my rough idea for a napkin holder for my daughter-in-laws baby shower a couple months ago. Of course it got crazy and I never got to it. Shower was today so finally got on the ball and got it done. Used 1/2 inch oak and happily was able to get a tight fit so the base and napkin holders didn’t need glue. Wanted it so it could be taken apart then used as a chain/necklace holder when she gets older. I’m hoping to be able to venture into boxes by the time she’s older to make a base with a drawer for rings and earrings.

Not much of a back story with this one, but this was something I did when I started scrolling - the pattern just made me laugh, so I had to do it.

At age 84 I can no longer do art and craft shows so I bar hop to get donations for my fundraiser. Here are 2 cuttings that sell very well. both are patterns from Steve Good. I get $20 donaton for each. John Old Dust

First one is a modified Keith Fenton pattern, it is their new free one. The other two were signs I saw on Pinterest and @Dave Monk was kind enough to do up the patterns. Thanks again Dave. All made out of more of my reclaimed laminated maple. Jeff

I use those gates and at one time was suppose to change to metal ones but never did. What happens is dirt and debris get caught in the corners causing them to not close all the way. You need to clean them out with a thin piece of wire now and then. As far as not sliding well use some dry silicon lubricant and they will close easily. Same stuff you put on tablesaw mechanics. Not the most efficient set-up on the run of that system for sure. Alot of suction power lost.

If you want a clear coat finish Go to Sherwin Williams and ask for a gallon of clear base. This is the base finish paint WITHOUT the color added. It looks milky before it dries but it will dry clear and last a long time outdoors. Try it you might really like it for your project.

I see both sides of the spectrum on the hobby / business topic.. I've been on both sides of that coin few times.. I love taking an old crappy looking car and restore it.. done many cars in my days.. turned it into a business for a few years and the work involved took the fun out of it.. The EPA and all the regulations in place for paint fumes and exhaust filtration systems regulations for excess paints disposal and fees etc.. turn the work into a nightmare.. Many shops around that do "low key " activities that skip a lot of the real legal way of doing business.. I'm not one to do wrong things and look the other way... just not how I was raised or who I am.. I shut down the business after about years of headache.. not worth it.. to me anyway.. was good money though.. Doing my scroll work as a hobby and turning it into business isn't going to get me rich in money... but I'm much more happy running this gig than any other business's I've started and run.. this stuff has very low overhead.. no real expensive equipment really needed.. There is something to be said to be your own boss and work your own schedule.. But the real deal for me is happiness.. I can't have the flexible schedule and make the money I make doing something I enjoy at any "Job "... All "Jobs " are almost always a headache.. in some way shape or form. The business side also has headaches.. But I'm in control of how bad that headache is.. It's not always smiles and happy times.. but 95% of it is.. and I've never had a job that was anywhere near made me 95% happy all the time..

This was a special request for a friend.

You need to find another line of work to make money. Then again it depends what you consider making money.

Mine did the same thing, as said dirt gets trapped in the corners. What I did was cut the back edge off this way the dust won’t have a place to build up. Haven’t had any problem since doing this 5 years ago.

I had plastic gates they don't work after you use them for awhile. I switched to metal gates that have switches to activate the dust collector. I like the system so far.

My mom would have love the "Thou shall not try me" "mom 24:7!! She raised 3 boys, all but one was ornery.... love the signs,,,, great cutting.

Dang, some really neat stuff here. I don't have much in the line of critters. I have made my grandson a couple wood trucks, not critters. I did make him this dragon, he likes dragons. It is called the Time Keeper or something and was suppose to hold a clock, but for some reason I pictured him holding a crystal ball.

One more bowl, this time square bowl Birch plywood, 1/4 inch Bowl Pattern

I have three gates on my DC. They are plastic which I got from Woodcraft. They are terrible. The diaphragm is sticky. The do not close completely and jam. One gate does close completely but two do not requiring me to use desperate measures. I' just wondering what others use for gates. There is a tennis court in our back yard and we have a bucket full of tennis balls.

Ray, I think you nailed it. The screws in the clamps could definitely be adjusted to make micro movements to reduce the movement. It is so minor I think I will not bother.

Sherwin Williams has paint that will work with no issues (I used to work at a paint store). Just tell them your situation and they should have a recommendation. Base paint is fine - there are several base types so depending on the color you want, you must have the correct base. In addition, I recommend add the Moldicide to the paint - it really helps maintain the paint and provides fungicidal protection: https://www.homedepot.com/p/M-1-7-5-oz-Advanced-Mildewcide-AM7-5/100114931 Hope that helps

There is actually a paint made for Vinyl (I used to work in a paint store) - might want to go to Sherwin/'Williams and talk to them about it

I belonged for a year and did not renew. It takes a lot of dedicated people with lots of time to make it successful. Competing with the internet is nearly impossible. Travis is doing a remarkable job of providing forum which is interactive and interesting.

Maybe done with a sprayer and plastic backing. RJ

Kevin, I think the difference is in whether your "business" has to bring in enough to pay your bills and support itself. If you are lucky enough to have a primary income from another source, then the "hobby/business" has the breathing room to let you be flexible in operating it. Somehow, I think if you HAD to depend on what your "hobby/business" generates in order to live, it would all of a sudden become a "hobby/business/nightmare". What you are doing is the only way I would ever consider doing it. If I can sell some of the stuff I love making, then that's fine. I have a way to offset the expense of my hobby. But to have to make enough every month to pay for all of our bills? Well that would soon be no fun. Especially if the weather was against me. I'm a very "mild weather" person.

What are you talking about?? Every business starts as a hobby. I took scrolling and made it into a business at one time. I doubt that astute person. Have another discussion with them.

I joined the SAW about 8 or 9 yrs. ago for 1 year, that was to long!! Never had any thing worth reading, I always thought it was a complete flop

Great tip, thank you I just might swipe your idea!

My squadron was scheduled to deploy on Coral Sea in 1972 but were switched to Ranger. (Ranger had been disabled by a war protester (Patrick Chenowith) who threw a paint chipper and several bolts into her main reduction gears.) This reshuffled all the the deployment pairings. I did a carrier qualification session on Coral Sea but never deployed on her - which is to say I was on board long enough for 10 traps and 10 cat shots but never left the cockpit. That is a beautiful plaque! Bravo Zulu!!!

Though I follow on Facebook I am not a member of the organization and have never been. From what I have seen on FB this organization has a history of these meltdowns and mass confusion. In general I think these folks are and were well meaning but it is a massive undertaking and they do not have a time, energy and resources.

That organization never lived up to its potential and wishes. Never joined. Hype about nothing in my opinion.

Very easy to check. Lay a machinist square next to the blade and move the arm up and down and watch the space between. Also take a block of wood and draw a straight line on it and place behind the blade and again move the arm up and down and watch the blade. These are the basic checks for all saws. If they are out move the table or move the set screws. Most likely the table got bumped. Most tables pivot on a single point so easy to move out of alignment.

Three great signs Jeff,love the Mom one also.

This is the London house of a Kenyan poet left to the National Trust after his death and now a museum. No detail on the fretwork but impressive nonetheless. Click here for the video. Rob

If he did all that with a hand scroll saw, he must never have slept. Or eaten. Or anything else.

Your a cut above,Jeff!!!Good ones!!!

I did not like the plastic gates or metal gates that you can buy. I built my own gates both 4" and 6" ones. I will see if I can find pictures.

STOP IT! You are making me exhausted zzzzzzzzzzz

Your a busy man Kevin, RJ

Great signs!! Great mottos!!

Awesome!!

Great signs, made me smile.

I was actually thinking about trying it on my new Hawk for the bigger things I make.. since I have to take the arm off if I want to remove it completely.. I've never even tried to use the thing.. so maybe I'm missing out..Since you brought this up.. I'm going to try it on purpose to see if it's something I really want to take the saw apart just to remove it..

I like it when people post questions as it is a great way to learn. I took the image above copied into Inkscape and used trace bitmap. I had to up the brightness threshold to .68 to get all the image. Went to the node editor and deleted some nodes on the right. Duplicate 7 times and aligned on page. No idea what size you were looking but here is image with 8 occurrences.

fyi, I have read them & do try to follow them.

thanks for all the replies, & I agree with everyone of you. It's tough to answer some posts due to what the op's asking at times in words. Other times, I just shake my head & go on. Having a bad day is ok. I come here alot after a bad day. We had a death in the family this week, & it has been a rough week, but to read you other guys' posts helps fill the dark spots. I'm here to learn & help, not bicker.

That is why I like the little smiley faces things, what are they called, "emotioncons" or some silly name. It is the only way I see to put emotion with words to help let the readers know your intent. To me it is sad, people get offended so easily not days, I like to get true, helpful criticism on my work, but I think most are afraid to give it for fear of offending.

"What we have here is a failure to communicate". I can't remember where that quote originated but sometimes it does apply. Being the fallible creatures that we are sometimes we are apt to offend someone. What I find offensive as most people do is to be talked down to. What I often do after writing a response is look it over and ask myself how I think it will be received. I quite often add at the end of a post as I will this one is. Just my humble opinion. JMHO

Well said Jim. Scrollsaw703 If we step over the line and things get out of hand, the moderators will step in and do their thing. I am a moderator on SSWWC along with some really great folks. It is very difficult to express oneself in writing, as you don't get to see the facial expressions or body language that would give you an indication of what a person means. I like goofing around and take most comments with a grain of salt. Why would someone go after me if they don't know me.? Having said that there are some inherently nasty and caustic folks out there. I have had a couple of encounters on the SSWWC forum a few years back. The individual was that way with many folks and was banned. I myself have made comments that were misinterpreted and was called on it, of course I apologized as it is never my intent to offend anyone. I don't get it, we all love this hobby and the Forums are and should be a happy place, yes with different opinions and all. yet we had people quit the forum because of changes they didn't LIKE, really? I suspect folks like that are just naturally miserable.

In my experience any hobby site is filled with very experienced helpful folks, this one ranks right up there. But reality is that in in any large group, there is going to be someone that irks you, or that you irk. For some reason my writing style and off beat outlook and sense of humor irks a lot of people initially, if it continues I just ignore their posts - after all it is not like they are at your home, drinking your beer, eating your BBQ, and you have put up with it cause your wife likes theirs. Just one of those things