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Using up more scraps, birch I'm guessing, I thought this pattern from Steve was interesting to try. Ofcourse I added a light. Thought it would add to it. I used fd spiral #1.

Jim made me this pattern off a painting

A friend of ours who knows I scroll saw asked me if I could make her a State of Delaware Christmas ornament and wanted 12 of them. Thanks to Inkscape and tips I found on the forum on how to use it, I was able to manufacture a pattern and cut out a dozen of them using 1/8" BB plywood. Finished them with Watco natural. I can see why some like making patterns as much as cutting them out.

Good morning all. As I mentioned in my introduction a couple of weeks ago when I joined up, I have been purchasing a bunch of scroll saws for a boys club at my church to teach the boys some wood working and so they can make some ornaments. I told them that we would be doing this back in October, and there has been a lot of excitement and anticipation ever since. I also got a couple of gents from the church, who are also woodworkers, to help out on the nights we are going to use them as I wanted one adult per saw. On Wednesday, December 1st, we had our first workshop. As I was bringing the saws in from my truck, the boys excitement and anticipation turned into nervousness and hesitation. One little guy of 6-years-old looked down at the floor with a disappointed look in his face and asked me how old someone would have to be to use one of those saws. I told him I've seen boys as young as 4-years-old use them, so he is more than old enough to operate one. Well, after the guys were setting up the saws, and the boys and I were doing our pledges and oaths, I walked them into the room that we converted into a scroll saw workshop. I gave the boys my safety speech, handed out the safety glasses, and proceeded to explain all the things that would warrant us shutting off the saws and asking them to sit down away from the saw (screwing around, not watching where they are cutting, etc.). Once I was done with that, I demonstrated how to use a scroll saw with a practice template. Straight line, zig-zag and wavy line. After they boys felt that they got the concept, I had each boy grab an adult and a saw, and I passed out the practice boards and asked them to do the same thing I did. I'm telling you, if I didn't have 6-saws running at one time, you could have heard a pin drop. The boys were 100% focused on the saws. I saw the nervousness and hesitation slowly melt away and replaced with sheer enjoyment and amazement at their new found ability. After they started getting comfortable with the saws, I had them pick out the ornaments they wanted to make. I had prepared the pieces ahead of time with painters tape, then gluing the ornament templates to the tape, and pre-drilling any holes that they may have needed. The boys started cutting them out, and one by one, as they finished, the look of pride when they showed me what they did was so rewarding that it was worth spending well over my budget (I had $300 of my own cash set aside, and spent over $400). They peeled the tape off of their now scrolled out ornament and painted them up. They wanted to go back and make another one, but we had run out of time. We are going to do this again on December 15th, so I assured them that they would probably have enough time to make two more ornaments, so they were very happy with that. And, remember the 6-year-old I told you about? Well, I have to say, that little guy totally MASTERED the scroll saw. He chose a rather difficult Christmas Tree with multiple branches. This little guy stayed on the line the ENTIRE TIME! He had never even seen a scroll saw before Wednesday, let alone used one, and he had that little Wen scroll saw 100% under his control. He never broke a blade, or anything like that. For him, going from thinking he wasn't going to use a scroll saw to cranking out the best ornament of the evening was so rewarding for the both of us. I am very proud of all those boys, ranging from 5-years-old to 11-years-old. I still have a smile on my face from that night, and I am looking forward to the 15th as much as they are. Anyhow, I just wanted to share this with the community. Dan

Finished a couple of new patterns for the Christmas season, "The Birth of Christ" 385 cuts, and "Blessed Mother and Child" 170 cuts. My boss lady and I finished cutting them today. I will post the patterns in the new patterns section if anyone is interested.

Finished this one for a good friend for a Christmas gift, his son started his own Law business earlier this year, it will hang in his office, it’s 24x24….comments always welcomed......I kinda lost my mojo for the shop lately, been working a crap ton of hrs of rotating 12's......happy holidays everyone

Finished this one for a good friend for a Christmas gift, his son started his own Law business earlier this year, it will hang in his office, comments always welcomed......I kinda lost my mojo for the shop lately, been working a crap ton of hrs of rotating 12's......happy holidays everyone

Any grandkids that might be interested in doing the online selling part for you? They could make some $, spend time with you and learn some life skills.

And that's a wrap... the season/year is over. Finished on a high note with 3 fabulous holiday markets in a row without any being rained out which is unusual. Today was amazing 70 degrees and sunny. Anyway, for those interested... This was my best year since beginning 5 years ago, even with 3 of my major events cancelled due to Covid. Sold a total of 772 pieces (443 puzzles and 359 key/leash racks). This year was only slightly better than my previous best year (2018) and that year I sold 1,112 puzzles and wasn't doing the racks back then. So I like the fact that I sold 350 fewer pieces but made as much in revenue due to the higher selling price of the racks. $33.86 avg price this year compared to $23.22 avg price in 2018. This year was 24 events (16 of which were my local weekly market) with the lowest event of the year being $355 and the highest being $4,120. Pics from today's final event.

Since it's happening to two different blades and completely different brands I'll go out on a limb and say it's not the blade.. Saw set up might be the same etc. But is the blade tension slipping / flexing? during the stroke? Are you pushing straight into the blade or off to the side a bit? Heat kills these blades... a slight side pressure will create heat.. pushing too hard feeding the blade creates heat. I find it real easy to either push too hard or sometimes onto the side of the blade when cutting out the rounded outer profile of an ornament, patients is key when doing those long cuts. I used to have a lot of troubles with this until I found the Pegas MGT blades.. they bite right through fast enough on those longer cuts I don't tend to push like I did with other blades..

I cut two of these for son in laws. they both enjoy their beer and it is difficult to not see an open one in their hand at any time. Luckily they don't ever get obnoxious or irritating in any way when they are drinking but when I saw this Steve Good pattern, I just knew I had to cut one for each of them. The other one I cut with an orange background, just so they would not be exactly the same. I cut both of them from BB Ply was surprised that they did not take more time to cut as the font of the letters is fairly delicate but I was happy with the way they turned out, and I hope they like them as much as I enjoyed making them. Dick heppnerguy

Transformers Robots in disguise. Oh I remember that song, My girls used to love that toon. So while looking around I came across these familiar faces. I just had to give em a try. The Mystery Machine with on the right I like that on better. And the General Lee Transformers Flag is on his back I guess.

I'll throw another variable into the equation. Different boards, of the same thickness and species of wood, will cut differently. Not something we usually consider, but it does happen. I was cutting some 1/2" red oak yesterday. I was having some difficulty, the blade seemed dull and tended to wander, even though it was a fresh blade. I double checked tension. Same result. I tried the same blade on a different piece of 1/2" red oak. It cut much better. I've cut cherry before that would burn as soon as the blade touched the wood. Different piece of cherry, same thickness, no burning.

I have never tried to add lights to anything I have ever made but i do enjoy seeing others do that and it add so much to a piece. Nice project

Looks very good.

Very well done.

Outstanding.. Hope you took some pictures,, I would love to see some.. I can't help but believe with a little pr and campaining,,, you would get Wen of some similar company to donate s few saws... after all you are creating future customers for them and it would give them great publicity... What a great feeling this must have given you.. Good for you...

beautiful job! that does look like quite a challenge.

Awesome job. Next time cut it at 11 X 14. LOL But with that being said, it's amazing you got it done in 8 1/2 X 11. You da man.

Thanks for sharing

nice job

awesome job

very nice job

nice job

Here is the completed one that went on show.

Wow, Brent. I'm sure that took some time. You did an excellent job. I love Jim's patterns. They are beautiful but challenging.

You did a great job, well done. Marg

Saw this quote pop up in my FB feed, thought it was a solid line of reasoning. Threw together a quick pattern. 1" whiteboard, Pegas #3 MG blades. Pattern is stained Minwax "Natural Oak" and the backer is "Early American". ...don't quote me on either of those stain names. I'm still working on first cup of coffee, and its been a VERY trying, emotional couple of days for the family. No losses, but prayers/vibes/thoughts would be appreciated. Frame is built, just need some light sanding on the upper left corner to get a better fit.

Very nice job! I like this quote from the movie Castaway when facing rough days. "Now I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing, because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?" Hang in there.

This past two years there have been no craft sales in my area so I have put oodles of stuff ion consignment a t Art/ Craft shops. Sales last year were excellent this year looks very good as well.

Yes many things we unconciously do during cutting may shorten a blade life but sometimes a blade just seems to have shorter than another blade from the same bundle. I have inserted a Pegas Mdf 5 and a Niqua uiltra that wouldn't cut at all , on examination bottom half of the teeth were missing don't think it was because of something I done. As I often say "Compost Happens"

Neat work.

Need a little more information. Type of wood and how thick. Stacking I stack cut 2 each 1/4" hardwood using Pegas #1R MGT blades and one blade will cut intricate ornaments with no problem.

Good job you give me an idea

I have been cutting a boat load of Christmas ornaments the last few weeks and have found that some blades of the same size/model/brand work much better than others with the exact same setup; as best I can tell. What I mean is an Olson Mach Speed 3R will cut roughly half to 3/4 of an ornament, and when it gets replaced, the very next might only be good for 4". I've found this with the Pegas #3 skip tooth reverse also, though I've only been through about 4 of them. The first was bad, and the next couple good. Is this bad setup or blade quality?