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I don't have a lot of projects that I consider outdoors, but I made the 2 fish ornaments for some fishing friends and a lighthouse to remind me of fun times relaxing at the beach.

I have worked with purpleheart and found that it's color did not remain the same as it aged. It was tough wood to work with as well. If I wanted wood with a reliably purple color, I would go with a wood dye and experiment with the wood used, but would probably go with Birch or Beech and finish cutting each piece before dying. Use the scraps from cutting for experimenting with soak time, etc. Charley

Here are a few of my outdoors projects

New Pegus clamps for my DW 788 sure make it easier to install the blades. And, no blade slippage, either. Lots of folks seemed to think they wouldn't make a difference but, they were wrong. They're lighter than the originals, saw seems to run smoother/quieter. I got the saw used but nearly new. With the new clamps, I think it's ready to work.

3 of mine for the challenge.

My aunt asked me to make an Urn for her beagle, Buddy, who passed a while ago. Dark walnut box, with a scrolled front. I think the pattern came from The Wooden Teddybear.

The other day I was going trough a drawer looking for something and came across an accessory to a combination scare I have. I think it was something to measure depth, like a depth gauge. I never really figured it out and never used it for anything. But the old brain clicked on and I took a hacksaw to it and made the best tool I have come up with to check the 90° of my scroll saw blade. I cut it so it would fit either way, short or tall. The combination square it went with was a cheap one. Anyway check out you combo squares, there are other parts on them that could easily be cut to fit.

Neil Diamond's song, Play Me, came on the radio the other day and it inspired this cutting. After reading some other opinions and listening to it about a dozen times while cutting it, for me, it's about the relationship between him and his guitar and maybe sometimes music as a whole. If you disagree, you're right too. I'll add the pattern to the library.

Are you using one of these tools for setting the angle for making bowls etc?

It is a bit hard to tell on my computer....are they a bit lavender grayish in color. I bet it burned some when you cut it since it is such a crazy hard wood. I did see this picture of someone who made a spoon out of lilac....I think I will have to see if I can find some up here in Spokane. Thanks again for the tip

Here are some pictures of the Lilac wood that I have. I'm not sure what kind of lilac it is, a friend brought me some pieces. The pieces have no discernible smell ( I was hoping for ) It cut ok on my HF small bandsaw, but when I was trying to sand it smooth it changed colors, I think the oils in the wood were burning as the whole piece turned darker. I have sanding belts up to 1000 grit and this wood polished up very well. These first three pictures are to show the grain and color the first is without any treatment, the next is fresh BLO and the third is BLO after a day to dry: The next two are just to show color:

Beautiful. Lovely tribute. Marg

Beautiful, especially the parrots. They look a little like crimson rosellas. Marg

I have a clear plastic block with red filled angle lines that I use most frequently. Sorry, I don't remember where I bought it. I also have a bunch of yellow plastic pieces kind-of U shaped, but with a flat bottom, and each leg of each piece in the set is a different angle in 1 degree increments. Both were bought 20-25 years ago and I haven't seen either for sale in a very long time. The Wixey angle gauge is a good modern way that I use for setting my table saw angle, and this will work fine if adjusting the table angle, if the table is at true 90 degrees to the blade to start with. Otherwise, there is no way to set zero degrees on the Wixey. You can get very close to blade 90 to the table if you take a square block of wood and cut a single width blade slot in one side. Then move this block around to the back side of the blade and see if the blade slides easily into the slot without the saw running. If it does, the table and blade are very close to 90 degrees with each other. You can then use the Wixey, setting it to zero while it's sitting on the table. Then tilt the table to the desired reading on the Wixey. You can get very close to the desired table angle this way, but it will not likely be perfect. The problem is all in how the Wixey zero setting is determined. Charley

That's really nice, RJ

Well done! Very nice of you to share your talents with a family member, I'm sure it won't be forgotten. Rick

very nice job

I usually use my Wixey gauge when changing the angle. But many years ago I drew this in Autocad based on an article in SSWWC. Printed if out (red) and glued it to a piece of Plexiglass.

I was not aware that turners were prone to prevarication. Although, my turning BIL certainly did lie to me about his sister's rosy disposition.

Easier way to find the angle use scrollmania.com

Just call me the great enabler. I am wanting to make bowls and baskets. From my understanding, the angles for these need to be precisely set. Using this tool would be much easier than getting down on the floor and turning the knob, then making a test cut to see how close you are. I like the iGaging version better than the Taylor tools version primarily because the ruler on the other side is a center finding a rule.

I'm not done yet, but this is my outdoor challenge project.

I am pretty sure lilac wood is not lilac color. In fact I think it is white. Am I wrong?

Yes you did! I passed some of mine down to my son also. Honestly though he has introduced me to lots of good music I would have missed. He and I share a great love of good music.

Great job.

Nice job!

That is so cute! Now I know why @BadBob was looking for a round picture frame recently

That is one "holey" project.

YES! I thought I heard him tell me to get a new planer...?

I don’t know any woman who wouldn’t be a “happy bunny “ with new good wood! Sorry I just couldn’t let this past

Tony does that all the time

I just start my projects at the end and work towards the beginning... that way I know its going to mess up first instead of last..

Whenever I lose something, I go buy a new one. I always keep the receipt so I can return it because I know I'll find whatever it was.

Yep. Been there. Done that. On your redo, cut the last two letters first. Larry

It has to do with Karma. If you find him, give him a few thwacks with your broken wood project. RJF

MDF cuts like butter but it is incredibly dusty and in my opinion only good for pieces that are going to be painted. Most of us prefer to work with 'wood' as it looks good without 'paint'. I must admit the only time I use mdf is if I'm doing a plaque with my router as it is easier than wood to carve.

At $19.99, I reckon you'll need to supply your own whiskey! Rob

God gave us 10 fingers for a reason! If, by the third finger, you haven't figured out how close you can get to the blade, scrolling probably isn't for you. LOL

I often use Scotch Tape also. Keep a roll mounted by the saw. After taping, OSHA would hang me if they saw how close to the blade I put a finger to hold the taped piece down. Could use a craft stick, but I like living on the edge. jerry

Thanks! I had not thought of tape. My father was a dentist and I kept lots of pics. As a matter of fact I offer root canals on the weekends for just #19.99. Have not been able to get any customers so far. :>)