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Dont wait Mothers Day to say it. "I Love My Mom" - my latest project Video of making project I Love My Mom pattern

This is a Steve Good project the one on the left is the original done on 1/4"BB and the right one is done on 1/8"BB which I made a couple changes, I sorta like the one on the right, what do you guys think.

A few weeks ago I asked the scroll saw community to make something for Memorial Day to either donate or sell and contribute the proceeds to any veteran organization of your choosing. Here is mine. If anyone can't figure out what this portrait depicts, it is the backside view of the Three Soldiers sculpture which is located at the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington D.C. I have also include a few of my patterns here if anyone would like to cut something as a tribute to those who served. I will be donating this portrait to The Highground, a Veteran's Memorial site in Neillsville Wisconsin. https://www.thehighground.us/

I cut this Harvey Byler puzzle recently out of poplar using #1&3 pegas blades. The puzzle is rather simple and a quick cut but the person that requested it and the recipient are both very amazing people. We have had the great pleasure of “adopting” 3 young ladies who were Clemson University students several years ago through a program at our church, to give them a home away from home as they attended college. One of the young ladies, Abbey, is now a NICU nurse at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville dedicating her life to helping save babies and young children who have had a difficult start in life. During a recent visit home she requested this puzzle for a baby boy who was born prematurely at 23 weeks. Jacob has spent the first 8 months of his life at the hospital and Abbey was assigned his case. Jacob’s father is a huge tractor fan and decorated his home nursery with all kinds of tractor paraphernalia. This puzzle is a gift to Jacob to celebrate his discharge from the hospital. We wish many blessings on Jacob and Abbey in addition to all the healthcare workers who give their time and passion to serve those in need in hospitals across this great nation.

Mike Williams designed the pattern for this beaver. He calls it 'Working Man' but I call it 'Nature's Lumberjack'. I completed cutting it last week. It took me about 11 hours and the work has about 610 holes. The material is 6mm thick panel with a thin quarter sawn White Oak veneer on top. I’m planning to take 'Nature's Lumberjack' it to Pellow's Island and to frame it with poplar “logs” much like the mock-up that utilizes Spruce below: I may or may not decide to frame it with a green backer-board. By the way, I’m going to use Poplar because, over the last 15 years, beavers have “chopped” down all the large poplar trees on Pellow’s Island.

This is just FYI. As I have mentioned more than once, my shop is a small 8X14 Resin Shed I purchased through Lowes. During the summer last year I could only work for a few hours, very early in the morning, before the temps here in Central Florida reached the high 90's and the sweat would be running down my brow and into my eyes. I had gone to Lowes yesterday to pick up a few thing I needed and as I was walking out I pased a Stack of GE small room AC units. The smallest is 5000 BTU intended for a 150 SF room. My Shop is only 112 SF...Perfect. Price $159...not terrible. Military discout kept it under $160 after sales tax. After going home and checkiing on the dimensions of the unit and the space I had in my gable end wall (the only feasible location) I went back ane purchased one. Today I installed the unit. I don't have a window so I had to make a cased opening just the correct size to fit the unit. I first made a frame to varify it was correct for the unit and then use it to mark out the openening in the wall. My jig saw made quick work of the resin wall, just above the metal header for the doors. I cased the opeing on both sides and fixed it with some screws into the metal header. The frame in place is more than strong enough to replace the cut out wall section. I slid the unit into the opening and, WALA, everything fit nicely and now is working fine. I know the power in my shop is fed from only one 20 AMP breaker circuit in my main panel. Was concerned that the AC would overload the circuit if it was on with my router or dust collector. I'm happy to report I have no problems operating those three heaviest draw items as the same time. However, I will probably turn the AC unit off when I operate the Router station with the dust collector running to make sure no overloads. Any way, maybe I will be able to work in the shop more each day with out worring about heat exhaustion . Inside Outside

Yes, my Hegner bushing will wear out... some day.... but I will bet you $50, not in my life time. Mine is a 2010, I purchased from Advance Machinery as a demo... We can let @Rockytime hold the stakes... I am 77.. is that a fair bet?? Not really I am not trusting Rockytime with my money.... he is one of those old biker guys....

Thing is, one can't make a bearing but, if necessary, a new bushing can be easy machined from sintered bronze by any machine shop.

Let's avoid all this and buy a Hegner!

Seyco has a new made in 1996 EX19 VS scroll saw for $500 plus shipping and that might be the deal breaker. If you have an opinion I would appreciate hearing it as I know nothing. Thanks

Finished this Steve Good project, done on 1/4" BB and painted backer Sky blue.

The man who once killed two stones with one bird, the reason Waldo is hiding, the man who sleeps with a pillow under his gun, the man whose cowboy boots are made from real cowboys. Chuck Norris Cut in wormy live edge oak. The worms and the edge are now dead.

I cut this as a surprise gift and he was thrilled to bits with it. The pattern is by Gayle from over at Scrollers Cafe. Cut from 2.5mm Bamboo as always and framed in a store bought frame. Marg

That hurt me Paul! Just because all my old fart friends are retired Hells Angel's and Bandidos is no reason you can't trust me with your money. Shesss.

Oh I wish I had that, I have the same problem here in Southern Tn, I can only work in the early morn, hrs. I have a nice window. I just may run down at Lowes and get me one of them AC units. Excellent job on the insulation!!

you're right, that is what I like about the Hawk and Hegner saws.. Most parts could be purchased at a local hardware store.. what can't be bought at the hardware could be made at a machine shop.

They still wear out too I've seen post right on this very site where people had bad bushing and couldn't get just the bushing as it was back ordered so they purchased a new saw.. LOL.. Like I said.. they all wear out.. some much sooner than others.. your mileage may very depending on maintenance.. I do agree with you though.. they are built to last much longer. Just as Hawks are..

I'm not sure, Bob Duncan says the Pegas upgraded these bearings to a larger more robust ones.. How true that is or if it's just a sales pitch I don't know.. I probably could download the Pegas manual and see if they list the bearing parts / sizes as the EX does that.. and compare... One day I'm going to order one of those Pegas or pick up a used one.. and I plan to take it apart to see the differences myself.. Not saying Pegas didn't upgrade this.. But there are tons of sales pitches from certain sales people that most wouldn't go into a saw to see if it's true or not.. I'm one that does that though, LOL.. Only reason I spent all the money for rebuilding the China made saw was.. I wanted to see the differences.. and I found them.. All clones aren't created equal.. But my gut tells me all of these saws share the same guts on the inside since they are made in the same plant.. As the saying goes, all of these saws will wear out at some point.. no matter what brand.. maintenance can make it go longer.. but at some point.. we all want a new toy anyway..

The one I had issue with this time was the larger bearing to the right of the one you circled in the last photo. Those end caps are different height / thickness from the China made saw to the original EX parts I received from Ray at Seyco.. This bearing kind of wedges between the saw frame and has a through bolt that removed the whole assembly.. Being different thickness end caps made it sort of rock around in there and caused vibration.. I thought the bolt was loose or something. but couldn't tighten it down enough to pinch it in place. Changing the end caps all is good now.. Not sure how it ran so good for so long the way it was.. I did have some issues trying to keep the saw tuned and the more I run it the worst it got. If I remember correctly this larger bearing is the one that had the rust and shot bearing the first time around. Though the one you show was also like this.. I think they all could use more grease when they're new.. It's a wonder they last as long as they do.. As for bearings, Most of the bearing sizes are the same ones for the DeWalt.. I have all new bearings and sleeves for a DW from when I had my DW.. they were the same sizes.. The inserts / sleeves is what was different. I never found a source for the sleeves. I think if you look in the EX manual it shops the bearing sizes.. I don't know if one can buy just the sleeves or not.. In my findings.. the bearings alone without the sleeves cost more than the entire assembly for the EX-21.. each bearing from my source was 5-6+ and there are nearly 20 of them.. a whole assembly from Ray is $120 ish shipped.. I bought all new rocker arms at the front of the saw so my cost was nearly $300 in parts to do the whole new saw.. that did come with new blade clamps / chucks too. If you need to replace all of them or most of them like I did as they all mostly looked rusty like the one you show.. It's cheaper to buy the assembly.. but if you really only need a couple bearings then it'd be nice if they sold just those bearings / sleeves needed.

These are modified patterns from Steve Good at Scrollsaw Workshop, and I am doing these for a golf benefit here in Colorado for Folds of Honor. I am putting different backer colors behind them, and I hope they are a hit!

Thank you! Those stars take a bit of time to finish, but I like it a lot too.

Kevin is it the Pitman arm? The sealed large bearing or the needle roller bearing. I just rebuilt a friends second EX 21. This is what I found in the first one rust in the needle bearings. That tells me the bearing Never had grease in it. Why the saw even ran was a mystery to me. When I have time I will check all of my bearing sources to see If I can find these bearings. It does not make sense for a manufacturer to make their own bearings.

You’ve done an excellent job on this Marg. I can see why he’d be thrilled. Clean and precise cuts. Well done.

Those are great. Well done.

Great work Charlie.

Hawk uses all ball bearings.. Not sure what's better? Ball bearing or bushing type bearing.. I'm guessing the best is something that is easily maintained so hopefully someone will actually maintain it.. They make everything throw away these days.. used to get greaseable ball joints, tie rod ends, u-joints etc for cars.. Most are just sealed and throw away now.. WHY? probably because a lot of people now days don't maintain anything in which case is better to have a sealed part where it keeps out the moisture and contaminates better than one where you add grease. There is advantages to both.. I see the Excalibur and DeWalt as the maintenance free crap.. It's all encased to help keep out the dust etc.. but since you have to take it all apart just to grease it.. not many are going to do that.. until it's too late and starts knocking etc.. LOL Then again, I find it to be somewhat the Manufactures fault for people failing to oil / grease at said intervals.. Why do I say that.. well there is no hour meter or way to keep track of how many hours you run a saw.. Hawk suggest oiling the certain spots every 25 hours.. How many people keep track of that.. many people in this world now aren't mechanical and can visually see the bearing area looks sort of dry.. I don't think it's about the hours you run the saw as much as it is just looking at the spots to see if they look oiled or not.. But it slips most peoples minds.. they just thinking about the project at hand.. not the maintenance that needs checked / done

I NEVER thought of Fastenall. I will have to go and check them out.

I absolutely love it!!!! I heard that Chuck Norris makes onions cry!!

I'm not sure the size of the community you live in, but if its big enough to support a welding and machine shop, they will most likely have them. I can source tiny drill bits at ACME tools or Fastenall where I am. Model rail road folks use tiny drills too I think. You'll not likely find a store supporting that hobby anymore though.

Beautifully done and beautifully presented!

Curious, but what Hegner bearing are you speaking of? My Hegner has bronze sleeves on the rocker arms and bearings on the pitman. At least mine does.

Gotcha. If the needle bearings are giving you repeated troubles, maybe try a plain bearing like what the Hegners use. Thats if the shaft it rides on will allow it. Its odd that they would choose a not common size bearing for a product that has a niche market and likely limited sales potential (by which I mean not the market potential as a car, table saw, ratchet set, etc). Spec'ing a more common size would make more sense in that regard. I guess it could be argued that the odd size forces parts sales to you, but it also gives a negative when word gets out that you can only find a critical part in one place. Anyway, best of luck!

For most things I use a 1/16" drill bit. It is big enough for easy blade entry and small enough for most of the projects that I do. I buy cheap ones from harbor freight. I tend to loose or snap them before I really dull them.

I found that a drill bit smaller than #65 are also shorter. It's hard to find one long enough to drill thru more than a 1/2 inch.

Very nice, Cut very well and great job framing them.

For my fine inlay work I use a #70 bit (.028") I have bought quality bits from Mcmaster Carr. You can also get them from Amazon or best of all support our scroll saw blade suppliers.

very nice work

Those All look great! God bless all our service members, those currently serving, those that have served and those that lost their lives for our freedom!

Looks good to me. My favorite wood for 3D scrolling is basswood. Others work well, finer grain and softer the better. I almost start with a #5 blade and adjust up or down as needed. I almost always finish with boiled linseed oil.

You may already know but he also speaks braille and can hear sign language!

Too crowded, too expensive, too "liberal"!

I find 3D cutting fascinating... It is always a surprise to me what comes out when you remove the outer wood... I love the mini bird houses,,, so does my daughter, she steals every one I make and my favorite is the 3D nut crackers I have cut... she stoled that also... but she use to dance in the local Nut Cracker productions when she was a little ballerina many years ago... Like you,,, I have patterns to make a chess set... hope to get to it this year.. Show progress on yours,,, it will keep me interested in completing one.. I will be a thanking you...

Man that’s perfect. That’s a old pattern. I did that one years ago. Still a great one. You hammered it home

Bingo ! Travis is the man!!

Rant on Randy, I agree. With spare parts not being available any longer, I don't understand what he's up to. It's a good way for him to ruin his cred, hopefully, he is letting any perspective buyers know about no repair parts being available for these saws. Len

I just don't know what Ray is thinking, trying to sell a non-supported saw for $500. I'm kind of hoping he was on vacation and a employee did this without his knowledge. Ray has repeatedly said that parts were not available for the older saws, so I can't imagine this one is an exception. For a bit more money, a EX16 could be purchased . . . . once they are back in stock. Or a New DW788 complete with warranty. I was very surprised to see some of the older saws listed on the site, especially at those prices. I would not risk buying anything earlier than the Purple EX-21, and especially for those prices. Holey moley! ps. I'm sorry if all this seems a little harsh, I get a little hot about stuff like this, similar to when I see listing on Craigslist asking $700 for an old scroll saw worth $50, or anything that is really out of whack, intended to rip off folks that don't know the value or lack thereof. So, that said, I purchased my EX from Ray and greatly respect him, however, this feels unethical, like preying on those that don't understand the relative value of stuff. When I send someone to Seyco saying, "hey, I know these guys and they will treat you right", then see something like this, I feel a little betrayed.

Hi Eugene, I hope this message finds you well and still in the shop. I have an EX 19 I was given in trade for replacing a furnace, however, it has been collecting dust in my shop. I had to machine the lower blade set screw as it was stripped but it's in great working order otherwise. If you're still looking for one, get in touch with me and I'll send you some pictures and whatnot. Mark F.