Leaderboard

They are all finished and wrapped and will fly out to Ireland and Norway in 2 weeks. Mainly pine because of weight but 5 which will stay in Australia are Tasmanian Myrtle. All are approx, 6" x 4". Marg

I was asked by a client, who had recently purchased two other pieces from me, to make a Breeching Whale cutting to give to her daughter for Christmas who is a ‘Save-The-Whales’ advocate. I found the popular Humpback Whale Image, converted it into an 11” x 17” scroll saw pattern and sent it to the client for approval. Her reply was that what she wanted was an image of a Whale Tail and, in her reply, sent me a photo image of what she was looking for. Although the photo was not appropriate to make a Scroll Saw Pattern from, I was able to find a similar image which I, once again, converted into an 11” x 14” scroll saw pattern and sent it to her for approval. In the text to her (with tongue-in-cheek and an emoji) I said, “If you like I could make the pair!”. Her reply was, “I like that idea” and proceeded to drop off the deposit I require before starting the cuttings. Both cuttings were made in 5/32” thick solid core Maple Ply panels and affixed to a 1/4" thick BB Ply backers. Color was added to both the Backers and the Cut Panels with an Air Bruch using Artist Acrylic Air Brush Paints. The assembled panels were finished with multiple coats of Deft Clear Gloss Lacquer. I made my usual 1 3/4” rail frames out of Poplar and applied a High Gloss Black Lacquer finish. Comments and critiques always welcome. Edit: Patterns posted in Pattern Exchange.

All the very nice comments that I received to my post in Bragging Rights re: ‘Whale of a Christmas Gift’ were based on the final work I showed in my post. However, that is not quite the whole story. My first conversion of the Whale Tail Image I found was not done correctly. Simply adding bridges to a line type image, I created in Inkscape using the Trace Bitmap command, may produce a scrollable pattern but doesn’t always result in a visually correct pattern. My foreground and background were kind of reversed and after a long tedious cut and an attempt at adding color, the panel was a disaster. The White of the Whale flukes were in the background and the Black was on top. The White was almost invisible and visually, the cutting just did not work. In addition to the cutting being visually wrong, I attempted to add color to the ocean on the foreground cut panel. Well, I’ve always admitted that, although I add color to my work, I’m not an artist when it comes to creating an image by painting. I just could not make the ocean water look like ocean water. So, I finally cried Unkle and decided to start over. I revisited the pattern and reworked the image, keeping the same general line work I started with, but changed the pattern to make the Whale area background all Black and the White of the Flukes and Body, on the foreground cut panel. This resulted in a scroll saw pattern that produced a “typical scrolled dark and light’ image that was visually appealing, and that I was able to add my colorization efforts to. Well, I wasted a Maple plywood panel I use, maybe 15 to 20 hours of cutting time, quite a bit of Air Brush Paint and a lot of paint application and dry time, but I’m very glad I came to my senses and redid the panel. And, although I feel my scrolling abilities are fairly decent, I’m still learning to use Inkscape and the ‘Art’ of creating well designed, visually correct, scroll saw patterns. So, this project was not a complete waste as it resulted in some valuable ‘Lesson’s Learned’. Sorry no pics of panel....fire pit tinder.

Thanksgiving is a very serious time.............. Examples of adding color to scrolling.

I have a few hundred dollars worth of I guess you could call it exotic wood coming soon from Ocooch Hardwoods... Not about to waste any expensive wood so I figured it was time for more practice. My mother in law gave me some 1 inch thick cedar planks that were in her garage probably 20 years and although straight, they were super dry and hard. Since I never tried stack cutting or even wrapping a project with packing tape it was time to give it a shot. I still had that maple leaf pattern I traced from the leaf found on the ground so this would be my first time making a box with that leaf design using 1/4" ply on the top and bottom with that brick hard cedar sandwiched inside. The biggest blade was a #7 it got it done but it was slow going through 1-1/2"... So I surprised myself trying something new that turned out okay I guess. Put some wipe on poly and calling it done!

I made these for a fellow vendor at the FM, he's a turner. I'm not sure what they're supposed to look like when they're done, but the scrolling's done. 3/8 x 1 1/2 x 2" Elm. cut with FD Polar #1 no finish as there will be addition work done on them. Always a joy when you don't know beforehand how the picture will orient.

This is my attempt at Frank’s Kokopelli Band. Still in my early stages of scrolling and this is the most challenging project I have tried. Made out of 1 inch recycled Rimu that a scavenged from a demolition site. The wood is very dry and quite brittle in the thinner places but oh well it is all part of the fun. So here it is with a big thank you to Frank.

I'll go any route, email, facebook or site home page. Regardless, I'll order my blades from Denny if I have a code or not.

This is my best seller this time of year.

No I probably should have put something for size reference in photo. The watch dial is a 2-3/4" insert. Overall length of watch is about 15" I also made a joke to kids that came up to look at them and asked them if they would wear it? I tell people it is basically a desk item but you could also hang it on the wall. I in fact made a couple over the years that were about 3 times the size and they were wall hangers. Had a customer ask for that. Around the same time I was making these I did a flexible band watch. As I said I did work for Steebar and John Nelson came up with a pattern for that type watch and I made the prototype for him and it became a big hit for Steebar. Then the owner asked me to make a stand for it and I did the pattern and construction on that. After that I took it another step further and made a gift box for the watch also. I am sure these are still available at Steebar which is under new ownership and maybe even someone else. I have no dealings with them any more. I will include a photo of that watch here too. Now these did not sell as well because they were twice the price. Lots of time goes into making these. And that is the reason. But did sell a few over the years. Had one lady buy one at a show and she was so mesmerized by it and got it for her husband. Next year I saw her and she raved how much he liked it. He was a big watch collector. Always makes you feel good when you get good reviews. I looked for a picture of the box but I do not have that on this computer.

I use mostly #2 blades on quarter inch wood. I have Eberle blades and Pegas blades. I don’t remember where I bought the Eberle blades cause I’ve had them for quite awhile. The Eberle blades start out sharp but they don’t last very long and they seem to stretch more than the Pegas. The Pegas blades seem to last forever. I know it could be the wood which is red oak I’m cutting now but I have used both on cherry too and had the same results. Just thought I would share my experience.

Even with a good pattern, I end up with fire pit tinder more often than I like!

My best seller Sheila Landry Design

Another Steve Good design finished over the weekend and I spent way too much time and trouble... I hate to scroll ovals, especially two with one being slightly larger for the backer. Nothing seemed to go right. Drilled the entry holes a tad too little in the tight spots and bent new blades trying to bottom feed. I ran an old blade in first to make the holes a bit larger and it helped "some" of the time. Got so pissed I loosened the clamps and tried to snatch the bent blade out but, forgot to loosen the bottom one and sliced my thumb. Good thing the blades have small teeth. It kept going downhill when the flat black paint on the wood backer showed fish eyes and had to repaint even though the wood was prepped properly. I also wanted to line the backer up to have an even reveal all around and didn't want to chance it with glue and have it set up before I got it centered. So, I ended up using double stick tape which let me move it around before I put the pressure on it. Whew, didn't mean to write a book but sometimes something that I thought would be easy to do ends up kicking my butt!!!

Me too! I forget the code most of the time too!

Available at Cherry Tree Toys. I just had to check.

Love this beautiful piece of live edge Cherry. Pattern is in the Library. For some reason it's blurry until you click on it.

Last puzzle for the upcoming craft sale. Cut from Poplar with MG#5 blade. I have painted the hardboard backer to represent the sea. There are about 4 shades of blue that I sponged on. Didn't get a picture of the backer. I have priced it at $50 so we'll see!

My only Thanksgiving project.

Steve Good pattern. Nice way to use up some scrap wood.

I never did get a photo of the wedding cross thing... Since we are going into the Christmas season my top selling ornament is this BMX bike ornament. I threw just a clipart image onto a sprocket image in inkscape and created this.. I believe I posted the pattern here but it's not a cleaned up pattern.. You just have to guess at where the bridges need to be etc, LOL.. I think I did this 3 years ago and was very late into the holiday season so I only sold a handful of them.. last season I sold around 120 of them at $16 each + shipping.. They are selling already this season too so my experience is what starts selling early is going to be the "hot seller" for this season. They are not the funnest to cut with that gear and when having to make so many.. was a fun cut for the last couple years but now it's getting annoying to make, LOL I may stop making them as there is a point and time where then it becomes a job.. or maybe just keep raising the price until the sales slow way up or stop, which is more typically what I tend to do.. Also this laser engraved and cut sonographer ornament that I hand paint the details on.. sold around 200 last year at $18 + shipping each.. have already sold 40 this year. The Mechanic and the Linemen are very close second place ones.. I'm kinda getting away from making larger items and sort of going away from scrolling and moving towards laser stuff.. The demand is way higher for laser engraved than just plain scrolled items for me currently.. much easier to personalize a ornament with the laser than on a scroll saw.. seems that's what everyone is asking for is personalized engravings so I'm just following up with what is wanted.

I agree with Joe, the Penny drop game is my best seller also, a lady ordered 4 about 2 months ago and then while a was making them she wants to increase to 6, she just ordered 6 more last week. I just cannot keep any in the inventory. I have 3 shows coming before Christmas and I have only 7 in stock

I remember seeing your watches advertised in a scroll saw magazine several years ago. Very beautiful work John. My best selling items are toys. All ages buy them. The angel cross and praying hands have also been good sellers.

Saw this on pictures of @Rolf's dust collection set up. I decided to try it. In the past I have twisted the loc-line up and out of the way to move it out of the way to move the blade to another hole. That means when I want the sucker back in place I have to twist it down and fiddle with it to get it right where I want it. That wears out the loc-line and it is not cheap not fun to replace joints of it. With this union I just swing the sucker to the side out of the way and when I swing it back it is right where I want it. No fiddling. Now I am pondering on a way to do something similar for the blower side.... This took me less than 4 minutes 32 seconds to put in. Thanks Rolf!

I believe this can be put under the Bragging Rights forum very easily. Many beautiful pieces have passed through this site over the years and many of you either sell your items or give them away to family and friends and charities. So the question is what over the years has been your best seller or piece that gets asked for or you just decide to make and hand out. ?? Or both? What seller and what hand out? I will start and must preface this by saying I have been selling and making things for friends and family for over 40 years now and have made over 500 different items. Would have to pull out the records to know exact numbers and even that would not tell the whole story because I use to make things for Steebar many moons ago when the original owner was still alive and they were a good company to deal with. He would put them in his catalog. Many times John Nelson made the patterns that I would do prototype of and work out tweaks. But these watches have to be #1 for sales. and the heart has also a lot of sales but is also one that I gave out very often because it fits homes well. So lets see yours too.

I just finished these ( a Sue May pattern) for a friend of ours who has a daughter in a local fire department. 1/4" BBPly and several coats of Krylon spray Candy Apple Red paint.

I love how people have been getting ideas from Rolf's post. This is my execution when I saw his setup. When I raise the arm up, the locline moves up and will be in the exact same place when I lower it. The actual pivot point is my flex pipe. I also added a blast gate which "throttles" my lower vac, some pieces cover all the holes and the suction is too much underneath. This brings suction more to the top vac. I just ordered more locline for my drill press. My flax pipe is not doing the job alone.

Thanks. I considered it, but my ego got the better of me. Didn't, and don't, want to dimiss the myth that I'm nearly perfect and I never make the big bad mistakes, and I always do everything worth bragging about. That is far from the truth and my post was condescension enough. I don't often make too many cutting mistakes but I freuently do make the big type mistakes and many of my cuttings wind up in the fire tinder pile well before, or even during, colorization and finishing. If I'm not happy with how it looks, then nobody else gets a chance to see it, usually not even my better half. I believe most out there can relate. However, in the case of the Whale Tail, the better half did see it and she was the one who convinced me to start over from scratch. When she says it is bad, It is really BAD. I'm sure you get the picture

Ahhh you are easy!

Those came out beautiful Frank. Color adds so much in some cases.

I sometimes....more often than I like... end up with fire pit ready stuff. But, usually, I just hang the unsatisfactory piece on the shop wall as a reminder.

Thanks Rodney. Facebook seems to be the easiest.

Turned out well

That saw is still running like a champ Charley. I used it all weekend at the Extravaganza!

I didn’t realize they carried that. I will try to remember to pick some up!

terrific job

Jimmy, have you not yet realised that, it always seems the project is against us from the start, , But alls well and ends well, Good Job, Misty

Pretty sure they're just renamed / rebranded Flying Dutchman blades.

Awesome job, Frank... but I've learned to expect nothing less from you!

WOW, they are so cool. Love them both. Marg

Thank you everyone for the kind responses. It has given me the confidence to show more often on here.

My son asked if I could find a good pattern of Jimi Hendrix and scroll three one for himself and two to give to guitar friends. So I found this pattern by Charles Dearing. My son approved it. Stack cut 4- 1/8 thick" 16" tall x11" wide.

I wouldn't be without this double sided tape. https://www.woodworkingshop.com/search/?search_query=double sided tape I use it to hold wood on sanding shims when sanding intarsia pieces. I also use it a lot for holding small pieces on larger pieces when I want to cut them on my band saw.

I Like It! What size is it?

Jimmy, that is might fine scrolling. My advice to you is when you find yourself having some issues just take a break. Watch a good western or somthing to make you laugh. Maybe even a walk. When you get back to it you will find everything seems to fall into place. Jerry

It looks great. Scrolling an oval is easy if you can keep the blade slightly outside the line, then use a bench belt or disk sander to finish it to the line. I think you will find the double stick tape is not permanent. I use Titebond III. Gives you plenty of time to align the panel on the backer. I just apply the glue to the back of the cut panel with a 4" foam roller making sure to get an even thin coat so there is no squeeze out. I use my homemade press to clamp the panels together.

It looks good. Have you tried E6000 to glue your pieces together. It gives you a good amount of time to position your piece and it has a great bond even on painted surfaces.

I'm still using an HP LaserJet 4 printer that was given to me almost 20 years ago. They still sell off brand refilled cartridges for it, so why upgrade? It does what I want for scrolling. I have an Epson for office scanning and printing and a Canon IX 6820 for photo work. The Canon can do the 13 X 19 if I ever need, but it's been a couple of years since I scrolled anything that needed a sheet larger than 8 1/2 X 11". Maybe, when I run out of easy-to-get toner cartridges for the Laserjet 4, I'll replace it with something newer, but I just don't see needing a better printer for my scrolling needs right now. Charley

I love it! Super awesome!