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I'm going to cheat a little on this reply This was not done last year but rather 38+ years ago after I started this great hobby I may be off topic a bit, so I apologize for that When I came out of rehab(drugs and alcohol, the good old days) I needed something to keep me busy Long story short, I found a scrollsaw which I knew nothing about and bought it when I saw that the pattern book had Christmas ornaments. I'll make some ornaments, have my son and daughter paint them. Then I saw this little guy and just had to try and cut him out of wood. He's precious to me and it was a great moment when I finished him. (see the pun there....LOL) So, he's sitting there as I was one day, wondering if I made the right decision with rehab and this life changing time for me, my wife, my kids, my job, friends... Well, I can honestly say that this little guy and I both agree that it was and has been the best decision I ever made in my life. 38 +years sober and drug free and it hasn't been all that bad. Still married to a wonderful girl who could have easily walked away but she never did.

This is an order I received from a friend of mine to give her friend, a bass fisherman, a unique Christmas gift. This is cut in an inch and a quarter thick maple burl slab on my 21" Seyco saw. My pattern was done by a friend, Candy Zine of Candy Zine Graphics. Haven't heard how he liked this project. Hoping to hear.

I don't know my favorite so that I will go by volume. I have made a few thousand animal cutouts. I taught myself to use the scroll saw making these. Kids love them; several sets are still in use after 40 years. I keep patterns ready to go in the shop, and when the pile of cutoffs gets high, I will cut animals from these odd pieces.

I have three!, I have three! First and most important are the military emblems I make for veterans I meet. I will just show the latest one, but it was worth every bit of effort just to see the appreciation for them. Even saw some tear from a couple. Second, my street organ.. My most complicated build ever, taking the longest and most dedication and resulted in meeting some very talented wood working people and was very fun to share with audiences. Third, my kayak, not as difficult as the organ and did not take as long but I did need to use the scroll saw to cut out the framing. Could be done on a band saw but did not have a good enough one at the time, could not use the kayak because of back problems, but worth the effort/satisfaction just to build it. The picture is sent to me from the guy that bought it from me, paddling on beautiful Lake Coeur D'alene, Idaho. Hope he didn't sink! The main point for me is the scroll say is just not a tool for intricate, portraits, fretwork, it is a useful tool in other project, just like table saws, routers, and planers...

A couple I did last year, can't really decide on a fav. John Wick....cuz.....John Wick. Cant' remember where I found the pattern, pencil holder was added by me because my warped sense of humor found it amusing. All these big bad tough mafia-types, when they talk about John Wick, the thing that scares them the most was his use of a pencil. Jellyfish, if I had to pick one, might be my fav, just because I took a risk on the spraypaint and it paid off. I was going for that blacklight purple you see them bathed in at the aquariums. Two different shades of rattlecan, started close to the project and backed up as I sprayed downward, then picked up the other can, started close at the bottom, and backed up as I moved upwards. Moving away reduced the amount of spray hitting the piece, so the colors tapered off. Starting on opposite ends gave it a gradual blending effect. Flowers and butterfly were papercutting patterns I found. LOTS of little details, and the outside cut took about as long as the interior cuts combined, but they're well worth the effort. Had a lot of fun doing these.

I'll include two. My brother in law passed away a few years ago and my sister asked me to make a box for some of his ashes. I had some hesitation at first because I knew that I would have to be the one that added his ashes. Cremation and ashes freak me the heck out! I figured with enough personal protection gear I should be alright! I was looking for some ideas for a nice box and never could find what I wanted. So I decided to think outside of the box. We are truck people, my brother in law always had nice trucks so I decided to make a truck to hold some of his ashes. This is what I came up with. The next one is something that I had planned on making for my Mom for Mother's Day. I bought the plans and bought the wood sometime early in 2017. But kept putting it off thinking that I had plenty of time. Well before I knew it Mother's Day was here and I never got around to making it for her. So I told myself that I would make it for her next year for Mother's Day. Mother's Day 2018 was coming soon and again I procrastinated and never got it made for her. She passed away 4 days after Mother's Day. This was the very next project that I made after she passed away. I have it sitting in my entertainment center. It is made with Walnut and Leopardwood.

These are two of my favorites. The floppy wood guy mostly for the reaction it got from people. Made people happy. The robin because the pattern came out in the spring and I was very happy with how it turned out. 20230629_151731.mp4

Here in Sherwood Park Canada , we have taken in (our community) many refugees from the Ukraine / Russia war. My wife volunteers at our local church and asked if I could come up with something that might make the ones we have made acquaintances with, something special. They were attending ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at the church along with a lady from Mexico. I came up with these... The Ukrainian Tryzub (Trident) and Mexican Eagle are contained within the Maple Leaf. Both are cut with @3 degree angle relief cut so they "pop". They measure about 5" wide and 4.x5" tall. BTW Congrats to Fab4!!! Keep it going!!

I just started really getting into it last year. Did my first fretwork pieces. I am so happy with all that I have done so far but these two are my top ones I suppose. The Cross was a Mother's Day gift. I thought it quite challenging with those many skinny cuts, but I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. My Mom LOVES it and shows it off often, which is my favorite part. The Dragon was a piece I thought would be really challenging. Come to find out it is just a bunch of cuts and not many difficult ones at that. This piece taught me to not be afraid of a pattern that looks tough, and just start cutting.

These two are my favorites. Hubby was a Marine and in Vietnam and has PTSD. He is just now starting to accept the fact that he doesn't need to feel guilty about being in Vietnam. It's been a long road but he is getting there.

I liked making this vanity tray for my granddaughter

Halloween haunted house I made for my Voodoo Lounge bar. Steam locomotive pic I made just because I like old trains. Horses I made for my wife.

I made this as a wedding present for a very special cousin, he and Lauren are great people, but they have no attachment to any organized religion, so I honored that. It started out as a Steve Good pattern, it was the first time I tried to do some carving and I was pretty happy with it. The base is maple and the HERAT and lettering is Sapele. Thanks for looking.

I like these toy cars a lot. I originally made two of each color, but some of them were gone before I thought of making a group photo.

I would have to say my favorite scroll saw project was the first I ever made which was May of this past year. I made it as a Christmas present for my Daughter and her Husband. It is a silhouette of her and her husband at their wedding. The wedding was late in the evening and she loves the Moonlight and trees. Later in August I decided to enter it and another piece (a tree) I had done into a Juried Wood Art show. I ended up winning a couple of ribbons. I was so supprise by the ribbons that I wanted to surprise her and her husband with it. Now she new I entered the Tree piece but she had no idea that I had even made her the Moon piece. So when she and her husband came to the show they at first saw my Tree piece and then they both saw the one I made of them and they said "Wow, I wonder who did that one, it is really pretty (and then a pause)...HEY, that is us!" The judge happened to be there and got a good laugh as well. Anyway, I ended up wrapping it up and gave it to them this past Christmas.

I just finished this one. My first large cutting on the new Seyco saw.

My first pattern of 2024 and it is a scroll saw pattern of a scroll saw. I tried to make it detailed but not too diffiult. I recommend to use two types of wood or stains, three - if you want to make variant with cat (it is optional). Pattern - https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlexFoxUA

Hubby bought these for me for Christmas, I have already marked which patterns I want to cut. lol

Nice! two things I have a weakness for are scroll saw patterns and scroll saw books, even though I will never live long enough to finish one tenth of them. If you want them after I go,,, contact my kids. They are renting a big dumpster!!

The most important work is making a gift to your love..Made this wooden comb to my wife as a birthday gift.

I had enough window frame molding to make another box. I had stack cut the rose pattern so I needed to put this somewhere also. I did amp it up by scrolling a pattern on the sides. They sort of disapeared once I started spray painting the black lacquer so my wife gold painted around the pattern along with the feet. There are probably 10 coats of lacquer on the top. It goes down fast and dries fast and I started wet sanding after 5 coats each coat. It came out very deep and shiny. The trick is to progressively go to a finer sand paper and to make sure there are no shiny parts between each coat. Amazing how hard lacquer gets.

I knew this would open a can of worms.

Congratulations Paul, you did well on both accounts. Jerry

A friend had me make some atomic stars for her a couple years ago. I noticed the pattern laying around and figured I could make it into a 3-D ornament. Here's the result.

I love this so much! There's a lot of meaning to you and I can see why it is important to you and your family. Congratulations on your continued journey.

I will never die. My "gotta cut" list is too long.

Hello all, Nathan from Kalamazoo, here. aka homebru. Been making beer at home for way longer than scrolling. A couple of years ago I expressed an interest in wooden gear clocks to my wife. Two kits a Wen Scroll saw and a scratch clock later and here I am. I've done a piece of fretwork and a number of other small things. Most recently made a couple of bookends for a physician that I worked with who retired. Compound cuts in 2.25" thick walnut to make 6-inch chess pieces are not kind to cheap saws. My FIL gave me an old Dremel scroll saw that suffered the ravages of those compound cuts and it is no longer in service. I'm currently trolling the classifieds on various forums. I've got a couple leads that I'm working and I'm confident that I'll have a more robust saw in the workshop in the reasonably near future. Oh yeah, as my second project (first project was cutting the frame parts for a clock kit) I decided to cut Daniel Brown's (Laughing Mantis Studios) Apis coronavirus "intarsia". I think it's Rolf that says "I don't know that I cannot, therefore I can". That clearly defines me when I took on this Apis coronavirus project. Gave it to my in-laws as a gift since my FIL is a beekeeper. The pic is pilfered from Daniel's site. homebru aka nathan in kalamazoo

I've seen many posts over the years about finishes and tried all sorts of things. I watched this yesterday and thought it might be of interest.

My daughter's boyfriend bowled his 3rd 300 game last night, I thought I would make him a gift so he never forgets......so I went to the drawing board this morning and this is what I dreamed up......21" T.....used my DW to cut the bowling pin out(3/4" select pine).....vinyl graphics.....pendulum clock from Amazon.....Hope he likes it....I'm pleased with it Carter Hudson 300 Clock Video.mp4

Wow, very impressive fret work Kris!

Ha did not see the pencil thing at first....

I'll just say that my go to is Danish oil. I recently started using the Walnut Danish oil on a few projects and Love it!! But the good ole regular Danish oil is my favorite. I use it for dipping and wipe on/off.

YOU GO SANTA. That had to put Santa on the good boy list. Have fun with your gifts. Rick

That is a sad situation that Kevin brought up and is one reason I do not make toys for kids. Just not worth the anxiety of what if. The OP and his video opens a age long practice that all the person in the video is pointing out and that is advertising methods. There is nothing wrong with it and buyer beware. This applies to that bag of chips you buy and the contents and size of packaging and so forth. So no ground breaking info there. Now another long and I mean long term discussion that has to do with finishes that gets debated till the cows come home is how safe is so called food safe finishes. There is the theory out there that when all finishes are dried and CURED are food safe. But are they. Look at the ingredients that go into making them. Where did the ingredients go that now make them food safe? Because they are now solid or attached to wood fibers makes them safe? What if you use a cutting board that has finishes on them and you cut into those fibers. You see many people making fancy cutting boards with exotic woods segmented. Then they use say a mineral oil on it How many people are allergic to mineral oil? How many people are allergic to exotic woods. heck there are people allergic to walnut wood dust. And the list goes on. Yes know what is in the product you are making but as with big companies you can not protect everyone. Common sense has to play a roll and unfortunately we have become a sue first nation . I wish the person in Kevin's story a speedy recovery and a happy outcome. But to take this back to finishing and making your own concoctions, be aware of what you are mixing. Those big companies have science behind them and mixing amounts needed to produce a product. We all fall in love with a favorite finish for various reasons. that is fine and hope you get the results YOU are looking for but it is not for everyone. Thus the amount of different products on the market.

The rest of the scroll saw items he got me for Christmas. I love Amazon's Wish List.............................LOL And yes I am spoiled but then so is he................lol

Back to the original question !! I really like Danish Oil for the look but it takes a long time to dry. I probably use shellac most of the time as it dries quickly. I use it for 2 coats by brush and spray can fir last coat.

After seeing all these great examples, I'll refrain from posting my work. You all do amazing work. I'm in awe.

Fantastic work! I love it!

A while back Paul @Scrappile posted some info on his dust collection system and many folks from the village responded. So I decided to set up one for my saw as well. I have a very large noisy dust collector which I use for my large equipment but I wanted something quieter while I scroll saw. I bought the Dewalt Stealth (really quiet) shopvac and set it 20' away from my little workshop room (located in our Orchard Building). I then hooked up the locline suction tube Paul suggested and purchased the bottom attachement from @James E. Welch https://bigriverwares.etsy.com/listing/1497458276 and hooked that up as @rafairchild2 described using dust gates as a "throttle" to decrease the suction to just what I needed. Then I took @Rolf cool collecting catch system and added it... so If I had a piece that was sucked up it would land in my catch container. I didn't have a container like his, so I took an OXO storage container from my kitchen (it held coffee beans) and drilled 2 1/2" holes in both sides and used it as my collection container with a screen over one side. I also added a "Y" where it came out of the wall so I could add a vacuum hose for clean up in my shop. Wow! it really works great. I used to use a small paint brush to remove some of the sawdust and now I don't need it. I also have virtually no dust on the floor anymore.... Thank you Village People for all your help!

@Rolf @rafairchild2 I did glue most of my joints, wish I had not.... good advice. Even the joint, that when I glued it,,, the fire went out.... Think about it.

You're going to be busy all year Judy. Jerry

Hi Judy: spoiled again!!! Fab4

I don't think mixing up your own is all that crucial to be exact.. especially when your mixing up a gallon.. certainly not as important as mixing paint in the autobody industry when you're mixing just 4oz to paint a fender.. one drop off makes a huge difference in the color match on mixing 4oz compared to mixing a gallon to paint the whole car.. For the most part I use Natural color Danish oil so color isn't a huge issue.. Just that mixing more oil than thinners makes the gain maybe pop a little different.. But wood is various colors anyway and many times you can't get too boards with the exact same grain colors.. LOL.. I'm not sure what they would add in for driers for these finishes.. I can say they do usually dry faster than the stuff I've made myself.. however I may have mixed with more or less thinners.. Typically thinners is what evaporates faster.. But there may be other drier's in the mix too.. looking at the data sheet from the links I posted from HD above they have quite a lot more than just 1 oil and thinners in the mix..

Another beautiful box, RJ

Paul, you have done a beautiful job on that, RJ

Those are great!

That is beautiful! Very well done. Just as an aside. the first glance I thought the first word was "Sex", And I thought that is not true. Left me some time ago. I should have had my glasses on!

Great job on the project Matt, the lettering is very well done. Can you please share the name of the font that you used? Rick

Yes Thurman, each word cut out then glued to the backer. The stain color is called Briarsmoke btw. I had to look it up as well.