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My dad was a Baptist minister. 50ish years ago he brought a discarded upright piano home from the country church he was pastoring and refurbished it. It stayed in my mom and dad's home till they passed away. Then my sister had it for awhile, but it's been stored in a garage for years now. My sister saw something similar to these somewhere and asked me if i could make her one of the key holders. I made her and her daughter the key holders and my son and daughter-in-law the one that says, "Love is the key." All the materials except for the text and the hangers came from the old piano. The little brass buttons are part of the key/hammer mechanism of the piano, called capstans. Felt like my dad was smiling while I worked on them. The chips on the keys were done by my mischievous son and nephew with a toy hammer. Maw Maw wasn't happy.

The first project is from a sock Image titled “Life’s a Gamble”. The conversion to a 12”x12” scrollable Pattern was mainly adding many bridges in the Lettering. There was no special reason for doing this project, other than wanting to take a break from doing complicated patterns for a change. Although, it did seem a little appropriate for me, as I will reach my 82 Birthday in May. I guess I should be happy the "gamble" is still paying off. The Cut Panel is 5/32” thick Solid Core Birch Ply cut using mainly Pegas #2/0 Spiral Baldes and Pegas #1 MGT R Blades. The cut panel is affixed to a 1/2" thick Sanded Ply Backer. Color was added using Artist Acrylic Air Brush Paints. The close-up photo shows some cutting and painting defects that are not TOO noticeable when viewed from a standard 4 feet away. This will hang in my shop. The second project is more of my normal work, yet this too was a very quick cut. There are many illustrations in what I call the “Red Lips” category, by many different Artist both known and unknown. Many of which are available from the stock illustrations sites and are royalty free. I’ve been eyeing these illustrations for some time now. I found this “Lady (with Red Lips) in a Cowboy Hat” illustration on-line and it seemed like it would make a scrollable pattern. I proceeded with the conversions even though it was obvious from the start that it required the addition of many bridges. Once again, the cut panel is 5/32” thick Maple Solid Core Ply and the backer is 1/4" thick BB Ply. The relatively easy cutting was done using a Pegas #1 MGT R Blade in just one, two-hour, sitting. Yes, this is another colored piece using Artist Acrylic Air Brush Paints. However, only two colors were applied to the backer… Red, for the lips of course, and everything else black. The assembled panel was protected with multiple coats of a Clear Gloss Acrylic finish. I also hid many of the bridges with Black paint applied by brush. The Frame is my simple 1 3/4" wide Poplar Rails finished with Black Lacquer that had a final top-coat application of a Clear Matt Lacquer. As allways, comments and critiques always appreciated. I will post the Patterns in Pattern Exchange for anyone who might wish to have.

I have been using my local UPS store to enlarge and clean up my patterns and the manager, Chase, has been very helpful. Told him I would cut a car for him. He has a Jeep Wrangler Sport and loves to drive it on Folly beach in SC near Charleston. All the hardware on the front and the treads on the tires were the hardest part to cut. The rest is mostly straight lines. I did the "Paint-in" method on the tires and around the windows. I'll give it to him tomorrow when I drop off some packages for my wife. BTW, I tried to buy a Jeep pattern from H. Botas and even emailed him and looks like he has stopped selling them. He mentioned about going through some changes? on Facebook.

I made wood-art pieces for a California friend of his beach house and the coast at Dillon's Beach.

While reading the thread on bearing lubrication, I was wondering about the ball bearing numbers and letters. I found that each number and letter have specific meaning. I am attaching brief info on decoding the ball bearing numbers. Some may already know this but may be useful to others.

Just finished this one I made for a craft fair I have coming up this Easter Weekend. It's made from 4mm Birch ply and finished with 2 coats of sanding sealer and 2 coats of acrylic lacquer. Hope you like it. Keith

I recently posted a problem re foot switch that the one I was sold actually was a speed controller, which we all agreed would not work. I dismantled the switch removed the speed controller IC completely, I was left with just the switch, press down switch is on lift foot switch is off, tested on the scroll saw and it works fine. Saved myself a lot of money not replacing the foot switch.

Exactly it was a good save on my behalf because I’m sure I would have damaged the motor.

Scenery piece that I just finished.

Browsing through the topics I came across Rocktime’s post of 28 April 2019, I have the same problem so I tried the Jam nut ( here in South Africa they are known by two descriptions a Jam nut or Half Nut). So I put one in and I definitely think it will work, I do have a concern though, I fully understand that you have to hold the Dremel right at the top at the cord entry and push down evenly, but did noice on the right side where the depth gauge is there is a little “slop” it gets better as you push the Dremel further down to drill point.Need to figure is there a way to get rid of this little bit of “slop”

Excellent craftsmanship, RJ

Excellent job, RJ

Very Nicely done, he will love It!

Nicely done Charlie and what a great remembrance of your dad to be enjoyed by members of the family. To use parts of the piano for making is wonderful. Everyone gets a piece. Again Charlie, nicely done. Jerry

I sympathize with Maw Maw. But that is a great idea and very well executed.

Great idea and a great remembrance of your dad.

I was just telling what the manual says. I find it interesting all the posts over time about bearing issues with various scroll saws. It appears that replacing the bearings on them or even lubricating them is not an easy task. You would think that if the bears needed to be lubricated they would make it easy to do. Every time I read about this, I am happy with my Hegner. All it takes is a couple drops of oil every once in awhile in easily accessible places.

Just saw this post, Keith you did a great job on the plaque! Very neatly scrolled out, Bob

You saved more money than you know if you kept using that foot switch the way it was.

I totally love it.

Great idea! Awesome.

very nice keyboards.

Interesting, the manual says all bearing are sealed and do not need lubrication.

I recently posted a problem re foot switch that the one I eas sold actually was a speed controller, which we all agreed would not work. I dismantled the switch removed the speed controller IC completely, I was left with just the switch, press done switch is on lift foot switch off, tested on the scroll saw and it works fine. Saved myself a lot of money replacing the foot switch.

Both are very nice! So did you airbrush the white for the cards as well? I will have to see the pattern when you post it to try an figure out how you did that. Great work with the airbrush!

I learn something new every day... Never heard of s floater... Don't like that ... Luckily it was caught in time, no floater!

Two excellent looking projects Frank, well done. Marg

Not needing oxygen, yet. But I have my own complete photo studio. It's small by comparison to most, so I have had to come up with ways to make it safer. I had way too many trip hazards in there, with cables and tripod stand legs making trip hazards everywhere. So I built a ceiling grid to hang the lights with power running along the sides to the grid. Now, all power is within 5' of wherever I hang a light and all of the power cables and lights hang from the ceiling instead of being trip hazards on the floor. I'm thinking that hanging your Oxygen extension hose from the ceiling, centered over where you usually work in your shop might work for you in a similar way that I have set my photo studio up. For me, only one communication cable hangs from the ceiling with enough slack for me to move the camera around the usual half of the studio where I use the camera. From that point above it runs along the ceiling to where my computer is located and drops down along the wall to the computer table where the computer is located. In your case, this would be your oxygen system. My cable connects my cable to my computer so every time that I take a photo, the camera sends the photo to the computer within 2 seconds. Though the cable hangs low between the camera and the point on the ceiling, it stays off of the floor no matter where I use the camera. I think running your oxygen hose across the ceiling in this same way would keep you connected, yet free to move around in a 10' X 10' or so area without "hanging" yourself in the process. Make this hose a permanent installation in your shop and switch to it whenever working there. Have another shorter hose to use when carrying your oxygen tank around with you. Charley

I love it. I am turning 84 at the end of the month and I get up a 5:30 every morning to enjoy coffee and conversation with a few old guys. I said to my wife when person I used to work with was retired and meeting up with some old fellows for coffee, " I will NEVER do that." And now I am on my 5th year having coffee with 'the guys' Your sign says it all. Dick heppnerguy

When I realized I'd be on 02 forever I guess I figured wood dust would be an issue and purchased a Trend dust helmet. Here's a pic, or at least I think there is? This unit has a replaceable filter inside the helmet and a battery powered motor which creates positive air pressure inside. No dust gets in. It's not particularly comfortable to wear and its pretty warm so I'm sure it will be less comfortable come summer.

I've been President of my one person "Grumpy Old Man" Club for many years. About 41+ years ago at age 40, my first Grandson was born. At that time I said "I'm too young to be called Grandpa so just call me Grumps". The Monika stuck and I have been called Grumps by all my 'Grands' and many others, ever since. When I first started to Scroll, over four years ago, one of my earliest projects was this sign that is always on display on or near my Desk. BTW, nice cutting!