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Finished this on Monday. Jeff Zaffino pattern, double stack 1/8 inch BB ply. Cut with #1 Niqua spiral 16 X 20. 1302 cuts with 772 just in the grass. Well worth the effort. Jeff

Completed this yard sign today....will have rebar stakes installed to stick it in the ground....beige w/Kona brown lettering.....3ftW x 25”T....comments welcome

It has been awhile that I could spend time in my little shop, got all the other “todo things” done, so now time for me to play. Due to Covid all the golf courses are closed here in Ontario (only place in North America- go figure) so in the basement I went. Denny had too much fun with the bird houses so I decided to use some of my scrap pieces and have fun also. Animals puzzles are from Steve Good the same for the trivet.

I needed to see if I could cut anything other than a puzzle or a wall hanger, so I stack cut one of my favorite Steve Good patterns... They're not finished or framed yet and I'll update once I get them done 1/8 BB x 4, with a very, very dull and bent Pegas #3 MFG blade LOL (another test). I had 4 frames in the shop, from where I have no idea so figured I would use them instead of making 4 new ones which I prefer to do but time is no longer on my side Frame is top right obviously Thanks as always in advance, I'll update the thread once I get them stained, poly'd and framed I'm going to offer them as Outward bound and the other as returning but can be purchased separately. Thanks as always in advance for reading

Holy Cow! I've been a member since Dec, 2008! Thanks everybody for the kind words. It's nice to know that folks are finding SSV useful. We're a small and humble community, but the folks here are what make this place great. A community is made of amazing people....not the house where people meet. I think there are a lot of great communities out there. Forums like SSV has fallen a bit out of fashion as communities move to social media platforms. But I think they'll swing back this way. With social media, the content is very fleeting. Conversations and content is only visible for a short amount of time, before it disappears into the ether. It's also easy to get lost in the crowd and feel isolated. Creating friendship with strangers on those platforms is difficult and you'll find that toxicity that can easily grab a foothold in those groups. Specialized interest groups like SSV offer an alternative. I think it's easier to build stronger friendships and much easier for us to organize and find information, which is what a lot of folks are looking for. Here's a little insider baseball for y'all. Online communities naturally follow what's called the 90-9-1 Rule (it's a real thing, you can look it up). Basically what it means is that 90% of people in a community are consumers. These would be the lurkers and folks that come to read the articles, browse user galleries, and download free patterns, etc. They don't participate, they're just here to enjoy the site. 9% do participate, usually at a casual level. They are the ones who join the conversations, leave comments, likes, etc. 1% are the ones who actively participate in the community. These are often called the content creators. So they are the ones who start brand new discussions, post tutorials, fulfill pattern requests, and post their own patterns. So, when you see that there are 120 people online, but only 14 logged in.....that's about what you'd expect. Out of those 14 or so people logged in, you'll probably find 1 or two that are active posters. Honestly, this really doesn't bother me. I knew this going in. I wanted to build a place that had a lot of great information and a place for like-minded folks to share ideas, projects, and friendship. I want it to be a resource for those who are new to the hobby, so it can fuel their excitement. I want a place for seasoned scrollers to pass on their knowledge and have fellowship with other woodworkers. I think hobbies are really important and I want to help as many folks as we can to find ways to enjoy our free time and be creative. My goal is to be helpful and useful. I'm happy to provide a clubhouse for people to hang out at. But it's the amazing members that make this place a community. As long as I can keep this site sustainable, I'll continue to serve the scrolling community. SSV memberships go a long way in making that happen. So thanks to everybody who chose to become an SSV Patron. It makes a big difference.

I make my own frames for the portrait type panels I cut. Have been using a presice hand miter saw to cut my frames, but decided to see if I could not make a presice miter sled to make the task easier. I found a video on YouTube and decided it looked like its would work so I decided to build it. In principle it works but I had to make a few modifications to make it "more" usable. My bigest problem was attaching the runners to the sled so it had no play in alignment and getting it a true 45 degrees to the blade. After a lot of trial and error I was able to get them mounted true and now I get precice 45 degree cuts. What I like about this sled is that you don;t have to calculate the cut lengths adjusting for the rabet. Here is a couple of pics of my sled. Take note of how my sliding block clamp needed an extra piece of wood glued to the top of the square to make it hold better. I did not like his version. His sled was also too big for my small shop table saw, so I trimmed it down which resulted in me having to add the one piece back as you cab see in the pic. And, since most of my work is a cut flat panel affixed to a backer I was having difficulty applying even pressure accross the panel using my various clamps. I tried to use heavy boards on top and bottom to spread the pressure. However, the need to move the work around to apply the clamps often resulted in the panels sliding and not remaining square with each other. I decided I needed a clamping fixture that woul eliminate the problems I was having. Using some good grade 3/4" thk plywood, some poplar 1" square dowels and some 1/4-20 bolts, flat washers and wing nuts, this is what I came up with. The cross dowels are epoxyed to the plywood and the bolts and washers are epoxyed in place. Only the wing nuts are loose. The whole thing is quite heavy but makes clamping the flat panels, without fear of them sliding out of place, very easy. Hope this might help someone.

Thought I would just make something fun and simple tonight that smelled good.

Today I visited Paxton Hardwood. I purchased two 3mm 5X5 sheets of prefinished BB. I have been using quite a bit of it. Cuts beautifully and I don't have to finish it in any way. My point is the cost. It was $35 ea. Price was fine for me. I then inquired about the price of standard Russian Baltic Birch. It is $25 per sheet. That is what I paid perhaps, three months ago. It must be just hardwoods that are going up in price.

found this pattern and wanted to give it a try. So I purchased it and did the thick on (4 layers) in 1/4 inch baltic birch while the top layer is a wood that I do not know the name of and had it in my wood rack. I found that using 1/4 inch wood made it so the other colors of the different layers did not show very well, so I cut another one in 1/8 inch BB Ply and just stained the top layer. I put four coats of semi gloss finish on both of them. I did decide the thinner wood brought our the detail and other colors more to my liking. Theses will be gifts to some friends of our that also has a granddaughter who's name happens to be Grace. Dick heppnerguy

My son is taking his placement Math test for the year. I'm going to hide this in his bag. It's a math cat.

Checking the membership page I discover there over 5500 members. I believe it is almost impossible to cull out the membership. If I pass away I will still be listed as a member as there will be no one to notify the Village. Also there may be many who have left the hobby for many reasons. In spite of this there must be a very large members who never participate or seldom participate. I agree that not everyone has the time I have being retired but I'm amazed at how little participation there has been for quite some time. I also agree that not everyone is a big mouth like me and a few others who shall remain unnamed. Travis works diligently to provide an interesting Village. Have people moved on to Facebook? I see many, many groups there of which I am a member but don't get very active there. The Village is home to me. I'm just perusing. I would like to see a little more participation. OK, I'm finished for now.

It's easy to take things like this for granted. I like this quote from To Kill A Mockingbird. "Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing." The hobby is so much more enjoyable with a community of fellow addicts to share it with. So I'm thankful to Travis and thankful to be a part of this great bunch!

I think the price increases have affected the construction lumber and plywood the most... Many places have stopped new home builds do to the huge increase in prices of building materials.

He made me a lot of money in my 401K, lets see if he can make me a little more money tomorrow at a market. LOL. I stacked cut 2, 1/8" BB ply with a 2/0 FD spiral. I'm starting to feel comfortable now with spirals, took a while though! I used 1/4" BB ply as the backers. Finished size is 11" x 14". Haven't set up at a market for a couple of years. Taking some pens and key chains made on the lathe and some scrollsaw items. Also some other items that I have been making. Btw, I posted this for your enjoyment and thoughts as a scrollsaw piece, not as a political piece.

Last year at my son's conferences the teacher talked about how he had gone to the same career center that he now teaches at, I mentioned that I also went there for auto collision repair. We started talking about cars etc. he was showing pictures of his Porsche that he restored.. I could tell he was really into his Porsche cars.. This year with Covid and all my son has helped a lot with the school both grade school and the career center school with computer tech stuff. He is in computer networking classes and does cyber security work and competitions etc. Anyway since I live out in the boonies we are limited for internet to slow DSL and with the wife working from home and son doing zoom classes etc.. so the teacher had given us some tech tips and a device that sped up the internet some. I made a clock of his car similar to this one as a thank you for a couple computer parts he gave me. ( I didn't get photos of the actual one ). Well I used the same pattern but I didn't like how the wheel wells blended with the body so I redid it and changed it around the wheels. My son took it to school today to give him. He open the box and was like "oh cool" then said I must have done that with a laser or something, my son said no he cut it by hand on a scroll saw. He didn't believe my son and actually took it to the construction class teacher and he said it was done on some sort of laser as well. LOL My son showed him my website and he told my son that I need to be charging a lot more money, LOL Tonight the phone rings and its the teacher.. He just had to say thanks but he really had to know how I made it. He still can't believe it was done on a scroll saw. He has a big Porsche meet tomorrow and he asked if he could take it and display it at the show and asked if he could make up some fliers with my website and email etc. My son sent him links to some of my videos on my yourtube of me cutting so he could see how it's done. Anyway, cut from Cherry as usual and used a #3 Pegas MG blade and a FD #2/0 spiral for widening some of the veining.

I've haven't been around any forums, but I have been at the saw. Some of my recent. Hope everyone is doing well.

Coffee Before Talkie is by request from my lady and will be hung in our kitchen. Thank you @WayneMahler for the pattern. It is 1/4" mahogany and is 16" square; I had to glue up 2 8" wide pieces. The locomotive is a Steve Good pattern and will be donated to our church for their upcoming fundraiser. I had to get out the big camera for this as I could not get the iPhone to correctly render the orange backing.

Well, running the saw today and it started knocking pretty good.. Took it apart and the big main bearing in the rocker assembly at the back.. Seems like it should have lasted longer than it did.. I just rebuilt it late last summer.. Though I did have nearing 250 hours on it.. maybe that's the life expectancy of these. I kinda suspect a poor made bearing from the start as the other bearings are nice and tight still.. Ray at Seyco mentioned to me on the phone years ago that those bearing assemblies are sort of hit & miss for good bearing quality.. Either case.. I'm not repairing it again.. It's kind of a shame that one cannot buy the oddball sized bearing sleeves and bearings from a good source with quality bearings.. I did that with my old DeWalt I had and that saw ran for a lot of hours after that without issue..

Sorry to hear about your troubles, I just a few day ago took my Delta apart for a good cleaning and oiling and greasing. So Far So Good

I was going to say the same but Paul beat me to it.

I'm happy to hear you are better. Hang in there.

Looking good!

2 ships passing ?

This post made me go look when I became a member, March 2009. Yikes, I have been around a while. I don't always post but I do stop by nearly every day to check in.

The place I get my BB from hasn't had much of a price increase. Other sheet good, pine, oak, poplar and others have really taken on in price. A year ago I could get 4x8x3/4 sanded ply for $32 and some change. Not it is almost $65 for the same thing. Hoping these priced drop, I need to make some things for the shop, but at these prices it has been put on hold.

very nice work

Well cut, nice picture.

That is a very pretty box !!! Great job.

I’m glad you finished it there must be quite a bit of time spent on the cutting. Looks great and I’m sure you will be the only one the knows where the flaws are.

Not in my area - Plywood has gone from $35 for one sided finished 3/4" to $52 and still rising. I saw yesterday some went for $62 a sheet! Poplar and pine from my lumber yard supplier hasn't gone up yet and they're price for 3/4" is $36. I'm so glad I don't have to go to HD or Lo anymore for wood!

Fantastic work. Love the way you turned it around.

I have to agree, I have been buying 1/4 luan for some time, and the price has varied but not very much.

I bought some last week and it was $21for 5 x 5 sheet unfinished 1/8" That was up about 4$ since last year. Not bad compared to the horror stories we read.

IMHO, if you want more content, post more. Ask questions, show your work, start conversation. I was a member of a local Co-op, it had over 12.000 members. Couldn't get more than 30 of the regulars to show up for an annual meeting. While I was in the National Guard they had trouble getting the Section chiefs to show up for pre-drill meetings. My point is that this goes on everywhere, not just here, not just woodworking.

Thanks Rolf. I cleaned mine with mineral spirits. Used a bit of fine steel wool to take of the few minor stains, and then waxed it with Johnsons paste wax. Jim

You're right. I wasn't meaning to exclude the women here.

Love the Little Bird House's, and the Animal puzzles. Awesome job!! The Swirl is Super Cool. I cut that one awhile back, One woman looked at it, said it made her dizzy. Reminded her of a tornado, But I did sell it.

Hi Frank. I love the photos and the way you've tried to explain it all. As one who has used a mitre saw only a few times for cutting sheets down to size but my blade tears the back side of my ply. The youtube video blade has huge teeth whereas the saw in your photo has very similar teeth to mine. Couple of questions; To Frank; Top 2 photos; - Do you have anything attached to your jig that fits in those grooves to keep it all straight as you saw? Bottom 3 photos;- I can see how you're clamping that sheet between the two 3/4in sheets of ply but how are you accessing that sheet when its held between the two outer sheets. Are you working from underneath? To everybody; My saw does not tear 'real' wood or lumbar but it is not great cutting BBP. What is the best blade for BBP? thanks Bob

Very nice tutorial! Thank you.

I would leave the Hawk table alone unless it has some burrs or anything else that may sang or cause drag. I periodically clean the table on my Hawk when I start to see black marks on the back of my projects. I wipe it down with acetone until the paper towels are clean. Then a coat of Johnson paste wax thoroughly buffed out. On a different note, my cast iron table saw had some stains (water) on it. I wet sanded the entire top 320 grit wet dry using WD40. Cleaned and waxed what a difference it made! The wood just glides over the surface.

Nice. I can smell the cedar from here. Hah his belt buckle was stolen

Thanks Les. Makes sense. I just waxed mine good with Johnson's, and it's ready to go. Jim

I wax every table top on every tool I have... Table saw, scroll saws, band saw, drill press, planer... all. not only does it make thing slide smoother on them but it help to keep the rust away...

I have heard both sides. I have had a Craftsman. Porter Cable and now a Delta, I have never had a problem with any of my tables.

I've been wanting to do a Paul Simon for my shop and while browsing some images last night I ran across this concert poster from 1968 which had an almost ready to scroll image. I've got a snapshot memory of being in a pool in Panama City, Florida 50ish years ago and hearing Cecilia for the first time. I picked up some 1X5" X 18" quarter sawn white oak at an estate sale for $1 a board. I edge glued it for this and the Bob Marley portrait. Love me some cheap hardwood!

That is a very nice tribute and cutting. I'm glad it is Oklahoma. North Dakota would not be near as interesting.

And thank you for showing us your work!!!

I buy from Richards Craft Woods in Clemmons, NC. https://www.richardscraftwood.com/ Thin and sanded soft and hard woods. They mill most of it themselves. You will be very impressed with the quality and service. Charley

Look up Richard's Craft Woods on the internet. This is where I buy all my thin stock from. His website may not be much to look at but he has high quality thin stock. He ships all over the US. I'm may be lucky since this shop is about a 10 minute drive from the house. Actually unlucky because every time I go out there I spend a ton of money.