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Finally finished all my special orders, and get to make stuff I wanna make again.

Finished today a S G pattern, color not clear looks better in person.

Some of my customers asked me to make animal patterns of geometric shapes, here is my first one - owl. What do you think about this style? Video of making Owl Owl pattern

Cut a few puzzles today. Got the “winter shop” just about the way I want it, just need to get a couple more drying racks. A cooling rack over a cookie sheet works fine, will get 2 or 3 more tomorrow. All my animal puzzle patterns are Harvey Byler that I get from Scott aka "Iggy".

Russell generously made me another portrait pattern of my Pop at the beginning of the year, I did two stack cuts of 4 and made up my own frames. I also laser cut the back of each frame and gifted them to my family for Christmas.

My wife and I were talking about toys we got for Christmas many years ago and she said, as a very young girl, she got a Hampelmann puppet. (Jumping Jack) I decided to surprise her and found a picture and and cut out the pieces on the scroll saw and pasted the cut outs of the picture on to the pieces. Used 1/8" dowl for the pivots. Hardest part was locating the hole locations on the joints and the center pins where the string wraps around to lift the joints. A fun project and she really appreciated it.

Used FD # 1 and FD Flat end # 1 Spirals 1/4" BBPLY 8 1/2" X 11"

If you haven't already seen this video, the first 4 minutes shows what I do. The hard roller is what really makes sure everything is stuck to the board and to the laminate.

I have a Wen, a cyclone system using a Fein vac, and a box fan with filter. I still wear a dust mask. The Dust Deputy/Fein would be my best suggestion as a starter. The Wen works well as an air cleaner but capturing most of the dust at the source is the best idea. I edit to add this, my shop is all of 9 x 13. In such a confined area, capturing the dust is imperative.

Love this pattern by Sue Mey. I'll probably cut one of these every year. I'm giving this one away on my Facebook page to who ever guesses the closest # from 1-500. It's cut in 1/2" Walnut.

Thanks Kevin! I might try to find a 10 - 30 pack here in the valley and try it first. If it works well with this printer I picked up I'll order a bunch. That would save time and mess.

Before I quit scrolling, I used 3M77 for years. Thought they later made the product worse later on. Switched to 3M45. Much better, but could only find it here at True Value. A month ago someone posted that he bought his at Ace Hardware & really liked it. jerry

While this would probably last a hobby scroller a good 5 years or more I buy my full sheet labels from eBay.. I buy 1000 sheets at a time.. and typically that will last me about a year ish.. but if you can absorb the steeper up front cost.. the higher quantity you buy the cheaper it gets.. I used to use these for my shipping labels too.. but now I bought an actual label maker that's thermal printed rather than using a crap load of ink.. so the full sheet labels are for patterns only now.. Still keep a can of adhesive around for those larger patterns that require more than the 8.5 x 11 paper.. actually I found a source for the 11 x 17 label papers.. but have yet to order any.. now I probably can't find the site again.. Staples couldn't get me any.. When going to eBay to grab you the link.. I noticed they jumped the price up since I bought it... I paid $52 just a few weeks back.. Might look around for a better deal. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1000-Shipping-Labels-Full-Sheet-8-5x11-Self-Adhesive-PACKZON/172818314778?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Edit to add... See just shopping around and found it cheaper.. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1000-Sheets-Laser-Inkjet-8-5x11-FULL-Shipping-Mailing-Labels-USPS-UPS-Fedex-FBA/183324507232?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40719%26meid%3Dd6bac0ebd0e34b4796d5e2f5d29d7a42%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D254057132996%26itm%3D183324507232%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Gary also make certain your [rointer will handle the material. It is a bit thicker than 20 # paper. If your printer handles envelopes you should have no problems. I use noname labels from Amazom. Avery is p-r0bably a bit better but I went the cheeeep way.

Gary, I’m not a fan of using blue painters tape as I spend too much time trying to remove the tape. I glue the pattern directly to the wood using 3M Super 77. Spray on the adhesive to the back of the pattern, let it set up for about 30 seconds then apply to the wood. I don’t have any problem with the pattern lifting. To remove the pattern I heat the pattern with a heat gun and the pattern lifts right up. If the heat gun doesn’t work, I spritz on some mineral spirits and let it sit for a minute or two, and the pattern will lift right off! I keep mineral spirits in a spray bottle for this purpose.

I've had this same thing happen and a little dab from an Elmer's glue stick is easily enough to hold it down while you finish your cut.

I bought contact paper from Sloan’s. Going to have to find another source.

Barb, My best suggestion, without breaking the wallet too much, is to use a re-purposed vacuum cleaner or a shop vac, with a Dust Deputy in the line ahead of it. A 5 gallon bucket under the Dust Deputy will catch 99% of the sawdust that your scroll saw will produce, and I'm willing to bet that you can't fill that 5 gallon bucket in a full year of using your scroll saw. The filter in the vacuum will collect almost nothing during this same period. The re-purposed vacuum would be my choice because it is much quieter than a shop vac. You might add a Scrollnado, if it will fit your saw, and you won't need to clean the saw dust off the floor or change vacuum cleaner filters frequently any more. You won't believe how well the Dust Deputy works to keep your vacuum level from dropping and your vacuum filters from needing frequent changing. I re-purposed a whole house central vacuum and a Dust Deputy and installed the pipes to inlet ports for it at various places in my shop and use it mostly for my scroll saws, drill presses, and sanders, but also put an inlet port outside next to the passage door of my shop. I use this port for vacuuming my cars and trucks with the original 25' hose that came with my re-purposed vacuum. My Dust Deputy sits on top of a 20 gallon metal barrel, and it's been several years since I needed to empty it. My vacuum and Dust Deputy are located in the attic above my shop with the exhaust vented to the outdoors, so not even the sub micron sized sawdust ever gets back into my shop air. For just one or two scroll saws, my suggestion above should be more than adequate for your needs. Charley

You are talking 3 different things here and all do a specific job and all can be very helpful. First is the Wen air filtration system. It is design to collect the very tiny particles of dust that float in the air any time they are disturbed. You can have dust on the floor and not see it and yet it floats in the air. This will capture it along a long period of time because it circulates the shop air across 2 sets of filters. These are designed to scrub the air and not pick up dust or debris. A cyclone dust collector is a system to collect debris and dust at the source of the tool. It takes the larger piece and throws in a barrel as the finner dust goes in a filtered bag. They can be very efficient but can be overkill for scrollsaw work. They are designed for larger tools such as lathes, table saw, bandsaw and such. There are homemade versions and also professional units that are much more efficient and quieter. These homemade units that attach to a shop vac are basically a larger shop vac and still noisy. Then there is the shop vac that can be connected to the saw with varies degrees of pipe works. I will leave that to others because I do not use them and in fact use nothing at my scrollsaw and never did. I do have an air cleaner that runs the very minute I walk in the shop and if I have a heavy dust making day I leave run for about an hour after I leave. Without getting technical and electrical I can tell you that shop vacs use a universal motor that uses brushes and is very loud. Now some vacs like the Festool and the Fein have found ways to insulate their product with very good sound proofing and cut way down on he noise levels and thus the higher price for them. A dust collector uses an induction more efficient and quieter motor but is designed for heavy duty uses. A box fan only collects dust in the air. It does not collect dust that is produced while cutting so to answer your question you need 2 things. Something to collect airborne dust and something to collect dust at the source. I know that is not a direct answer because there isn't one. For me the airborne dust is the more harmful. The dust made at the saw just falls on the floor and I vac it up when done. I have a large dust collector but it is for my larger tools. I could never run a shop vac while scrolling. That noise would drive me nuts. Buying these expensive shop vacs to use for scrolling to me is a waste of money too. They get turned on and off so many times and that is hard on those motors. Good luck.

When I buy wood, I usually buy 6” or 8” wide boards and I use a lot of 1/2” stock. With that said, I like John’s suggestion to check out Steve Good’s site.

I cut this about ten years ago. It’s a pattern by the late great Dirk Bolemen. It comes out every Christmas season. I made six that year. Stack cut 1/8 Baltic birch plywood. Back then I would of used Olson #2 and 2/0 Reverse tooth blades. If you look behind Mrs Claus, there is a wall clock. Dirk designed a real clock of that. I cut that clock. It comes out every holiday season too.

It is so nice to be a SNOWBIRD and to be able to scroll outside. Got a few things done with my Florida shop, very limited as to amount of tools and room, but it is so nice to be outside in the sunshine.

Valentine's Day is a great day for giving gifts, any day is a great day for giving puzzles as gifts. So here's a simple 12 piece heart puzzle that might make a nice gift on V day or maybe just about any day. I cut mine from 1/4" birch ply and lightly painted it pink on the front. Pattern On Free Page

I make certain the surface I am sticking to is clean and smoith. I sand quickly to 220 and wipe clean. I use blue tape on wood and 3M77 to glue pattern to tape. I leave a margin of about 3/8-1/2" around the pattern to keep pattern from lifting. I have no issues with patterns sticking. I also use high quality paper and laser printing. important note is that I do not do fretwork so no issue with problems of peeling the tape off.

Kevin put me onto using the full page shipping labels and it does work great. I still use the see-through shelf liner on the wood but stick the label onto that. I never have a problem with pattern lift. If I have to leave the whole mess on the wood for an extended time, I might have to use a heat gun to remove it though. Not a big deal. A quick wash with MS takes care of the residue of which there isn't much.

Wow Simon, those came out great!! I'm betting the family loved them. Nice work and such great gifts. Thank you for taking the time to post a picture of the finished project, much appreciated, I'd given up hope.. Russell

I have used labels (sticky back) and Xylon. Both work very well. Make certain you get the non permanent or temporary label material. The permanent requires the use of heat gun to remove which also works well.

I have both a fan with filter and a Grizzly ( Like the Wen ) that hangs from the ceiling..and this is my take on it... After using the dust port on my Excalibur for a few days of production cutting.. I think a small dust collection at the saw is important.. While as was mentioned.. the dust does just fall to the floor... BUT.. any time you move around you stir up that fine dust.. I was amazed at how much cleaner the shop air was just by hooking up the shop vac to that dust port.. Also not as big an issue with the Hawk saw. because the majority of the dust falls into the saws stand.. so it doesn't stir about as much as it does on say the DeWalt and EX type saw. where ALL the dust falls to your lap and on the floor.. Once in your lap.. you carry that dust with you inside the house / car and where ever else you may go.. Thus.. you need to wear a mask all day and even when you do the laundry.. as any time you move those cloths you can see that fine dust stir up.. IF you look through a light or the sun light just right... you'll see it for sure.. so if using one of those type saws... My vote would be for some kind of dust collection at the source before it gets stirred up where ever you go.. Ideal would be all of those suggested.. but I get a lot of dust caught in my box fan and the hanging filtration system.. My next step is at the source.. personally I think I went about it backwards after using that dust port on the EX.. Just I can't stand the noise of the shop vac..

Hi Kevin. I am very satisfied with the system with one drawback. The pick up is only on the bottom, no pick up on top. It is permanently attached to the Pegas. so I do't think it is an option for more than one saw.

I've seen Steve's review quite some time ago.. I may go back and re-watch it again.. as I've had quite an interest in this compact system that would attach right to the saw stand etc.. Since you say you have one, What is your thought of it? I'm thinking of buying one in the next few days.. The disadvantage to me on this system is I'd need a few of them unless they are easily swapped from one saw to the next.. which is why I've had a Festool or Fein in mind and build my own piping.. The price of the Seyco is a lot less if only buying one.. but... would it be easily moved from saw to saw?

Wow, Gary, you are sure busy in the winter shop!

I have had one of the deluxe ones pictured for years and it has worked great. Has a nice heavy base to it so it doesn't move around when you don't want it to.

Nice,Very nice !

I live in Canada , tried Denny out, service great/ excellent ,prices good/ excellent, delivery is about 10 days about the same as from Mike's. I like the idea of buying from a fellow hobbyist that I can relate to and that shares ideas on forums such as this. Delivery rates are about $10.00 bucks in U.S currency or $13 in Canadian dollar, very good as I receive the blades thru regular mail.

Looks great. Love walnut.

I only laser cut the words on the back of the frame, but I use adobe illustrator for that

very nice job

Very beautifully done Chuck.

That is truly a work of art.

Free is good, pun intended

That seems to be a dilemma that many of us suffer from. I'd like to relocate. My wife says she's perfectly happy where we are and keeps throwing it in my face that we are 76 years old and have no business moving. I might be 76 but I refuse to believe it. I am wanting to move somewhere that has a much lower cost of living so we could afford to do some things before we perish. But, like you said,............

He only lasered the back of the piece to add name and title.

Russell is a great pattern maker and you are an expert scroll sawer!

very well done ..great idea.....nice pattern Russell

@Birchbark, Many thanks Russell for that wonderful pattern. I may make another this year and follow your design a bit more closely, also a bit closer to the pictures that started it all. I took it to the Childrens Hospice and they loved it, I also took some of the toys and ornaments left from the Christmas Fayre we had at the Mens Shed and left them to be distributed among the kids. Thanks Again. @meflick, Thanks for the link I will probably make another this year if the members of the 'Shed' feel they can find somewhere that would appreciate it, maybe an old folks home ?? Thanks again to everyone that commented, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to you All. Don W

We went up the street last night to a little open house that our dear friends hosted. I made one of my votive candle holders for her a while back and she proudly displayed it in her home. I had to take a picture to share with you all so you can see what it is that I work on. I hope you like it as much as she does. And as much as I do making them. I can't take credit for the wall sconce. She had that. But, now I'm looking for a pattern to make some of them. I'm going to try to design something but if any of you have a pattern that is similar, please forward it to me. If I have to pay for it, so be it. If it's the right pattern, I'll gladly buy it. Thanks.

I am truly humbled by these comments. I bought blades from Mike for years and considered him a good friend. I still remember that wonderful Dutch accent. I hope to provide the service standard set by Mike.

Very nice indeed! It should give you a warm feeling when you see something you made so prominently displayed!

Great work, @don Watson and I'd like to express my admiration to @Birchbark again for all the effort he put into the designing. God Bless! Spirithorse

Made this Hockey Plaque for my grandson for Christmas, as he loves Hockey and also plays the game, the pattern is from Steve Good