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My high school English teacher always had the senior class memorize the first 18 lines of the prologue of The Canterbury Tales. Written in Old English, it is the story of a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral. I included in the frame the line which translates, "Then folk long to go on pilgrimages" along with some nods to some things mentioned in the prologue, the rain, the wind, the sun, and singing birds. I'll be surprising Mrs. Hudson, my English teacher, with it soon. It is around 11" X 14", 3/4" alder wood, painted with acrylic craft paints with a spray clear coat.

I have a couple friends that love baseball and puzzles, so for their birthdays I’ve been making them a puzzle from a Norman Rockwell baseball themed illustration. This year is #10 in the series. The locks around the edge add a little challenge rather than a straight edge to identify the outside "frame" of the puzzle.

Our daughter was here with family last Thanksgiving. She admired the Jewel Box I had made a few years earlier. Guess I’ll make her one.

Eight Standing Miniature Birdhouses patterns by the late Diana Thompson. I used Poplar for the birdhouses and Eastern Red Cedar for the birds except for the eight one, I used Lacewood. Cut on the Pegas scroll saw using Pegas #3 and #6 Super Skip blades. After sanding, a dip in diluted Shellac and another light sanding. Comments welcome.

Alex, Thanks for the great patten. Some areas were a challange but it was a joy to cut. I did add some bridges when I thought some pieces would become too floppy. I actually stack cut this to make 2. No harder than cutting one. 1/8" BBPW on 3/16" backer. Shellac and Gloss Lacquer finish.

I felt this would get seen more here rather than the other forum topics so hopefully I’ll get some good input on this. I built two of these bucket gardens, one for a friend and one for myself. To do over I’d have just used treated lumber or cedar. But now that they are built I’m wondering what would be a decent finish to help preserve the standard construction 2x4’s. Originally I thought I had some leftover exterior paint but when I open the cans they are mostly dried up so I originally thought I could buy cheap lumber and use up my old paints I had laying around. Now that I’ve got to buy something is why I say to do over I’d just use treated lumber. Since this is a garden thing it’s obviously going to be outside and getting watered etc. Not looking to make it last forever but I don’t really want to just leave it raw either. Thinking about cheap options is someone else’s leftover paint from the restore places or some paint that was mixed incorrectly so long as it’s exterior and not interior but thought maybe I ask here as maybe someone has a better idea. Don’t really care too much about looks or colors really within reason, I mean I don’t really want fluorescent bright pink or totally ugly colors . Anyway thoughts on something to use or am I on the right track with just using an exterior paint and call it good. Nothing in this type of setting is going to last forever other than metal so I know it’s going to rot at some point.

If you have to buy something, go with exterior paint. It will provide the best bang for the buck. All the other clear finishes or stains will need to be reapplied every year or they will degrade and be useless in short order. Exterior paint contains additives and pigments that you won't get in Big Box spar varnish or other clear finishes/stains. The additives in good exterior paint do more to prevent mold, mildew, UV damage, etc. which are just as big an enemy to wood as moisture. I wouldn't necessarily overlook acrylic exterior paint. I know oil based is the tried & true, but acrylics have come a long way and are probably more readily available in most areas.

Excellent craftsmanship, RJ

Kevin, very nice, who said he can only do clocks and ornaments, as for a finish I have used exterior oil base spar varnish, RJ

That is a beautiful example of segmentation. Wonderful colors.

You really come up with lots of unique things... I agree this is one of your best! Great piece of art.

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie!!! Your creativity never ceases to amaze me! I showed this to my wife, and she is literally drooling!

This quite excellent !!! I have not seen this style before and am extremely impressed. The cutting is great and the choice of colors really brings out the details. It is one of the top projects I have seen lately.

I am a hobbyist scroller but more importantly a lucky husband and father! In 2022 I fired up my old craftsman and started scrolling for the first time in probably 20 years. i did a few simple projects and then some nice Steve Good patterns including a modified nurse pattern for my daughter in laws graduation. In January I suffered a stroke. I am fortunate that it did not affect me cognitively, but it did leave my left side flacid. So, i invested in a Dewalt 788 (got a great deal) because of the ease with changing the blade with one hand. I will use a hack that Steve Good shared a few years ago to hold the blade. My belief is that scrolling will assist in rehabing my hand. Looking foward to sharing my findings!

Latest ones. Angel is Ridgeback Wood-Lamp pattern, double stack 1/8 BB ply. 164 cuts with #3 ultra reverse and #3/0 spiral 11 X 17 inches. Fishing rules by Jim Blume on BB ply 8 X 8. 70 cuts with #3 ultra reverse.

The steer head was my first real scroll project using my 90's era, single speed, pin tpe blade scroll saw. The RN is my favorite, its a Steve Good pattern that I modified to include the recipient's initials. I used scrap from pallets and other sources, mostly pine. My latest is the nativity scene, Pictured is a pine practice cut, I did a few in popular for some friends. my cutting was halted in January with my stroke. I am waiting on my new saw, Dewalt 788, to arrive this week. ready to get serious!

How about Thompson's water seal like we use for decks? I built a gate for my daughter and used it on that and it's been 5 years and looks like new.

Great cutting on a very worthwhile pattern.

Brend, you do beautiful work, RJ

Stunning! Great cutting on a great pattern.

That is really awesome.

WOW Bernd. That is some really smooth cutting. Are you certain this is not the output of AI? Looks too perfect. Jerry

Awesone Job! Bernd. Well worth all the effort. I see some real challenges.

That is a wonderful puzzle. Almost evil not having an edge!

Thank you. This is a memory for everyone who had Mrs. Hudson. If you mention her name it will likely come up. Hopefully it will bring her some joy.

I use my drill press most of the time. I also use a Dremel, mounted in a drill press attachment. Maybe not quite as versatile as the Dremel plunge router kit, but works well for me. I rarely have a circumstance where I cannot reach a hole location by using these two. I like the convenience of having the Dremel located near the scroll saw to catch those hole locations I missed on the DP, which is at the other end of the shop.

I prefer to use my drill press as it is convenient and ensures that the holes are vertical. It works for fretwork and is necessary for compound cutting which I seem to be doing often these days.

Always used my drill press with a micro chuck when needed. Many times did not need it because I could easily use an 1/8" drill bit which makes threading blades so much easier.

Great job!

Thank you very much!

Charley, you amaze me with all your talent. That is beautiful!

Alex, since the body is a cylinder and if you need to drill perfectly perpendicular holes you can hold a square against the wood and drill body instead of just relying on your eye.

Thank you so much! So many fun things can be done in this hobby.

Thank you so much! This one took a couple of weeks but I really enjoyed it, most of the time. Lots of different steps.

It appears that the one that I showed has variable speed and the Quick Clamp.

There is a type 1 and type 2.. for the 2 speed model. I don't know for 100% sure but all the type 1's I've seen didn't have the nice Quickset II blade chucks.. I think that is the only difference but as I said not 100% sure of that. So the type one you had to use a special wrench for the upper clamp. Just putting that out there if anyone was to seek out one of these old gems, LOL

Thank You. I have been exploring and have just touched the surface.

Wow-za cutting!

Here's one near me to use as an example. It appears to be complete, including the center plate. https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/tls/d/carlsbad-delta-16-variable-speed-scroll/7733822180.html

Awesome work!