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My 7 year old grandson asked me to make him a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle portrait. I found an image combining all four including their weapons that i used for a segmentation pattern. If you're not familiar they are, left to right top to bottom, Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Not sure how long they've been around but my son was a fan over 30 years ago.

Normally I would have put this into the "Other Woodwork" but I did do some scrolling on this project. I I did the cutout for the 2 draws in the front and the funiture feet also. My wife said she had enough black Jewelry boxes and wanted to try and paint a pattern on white. The frame is 1/2" poplar. I've made enough of these that it went pretty quick. I used my I-Box jig to cut the sides. I did cut out the draw dividing piece in case one of the draws got stuck. Steam bended the top with 1/8" BBPW and used Titebond III to glue it down to the top. I always build a second joint box section for the top. Mark out the radius on the ends and cut the correct angle on the front and back on the scroll saw, then assemble and glue the pieces. I used this to clamp (many clamps) to connect it all together. Lots of spray white paint and my wife used her one stroke painting technique on the top and inside of top. Back to regular scrolling for my next project.

It took approximately 300 years, but I made my first candle arch. So. Much. Trial. And. Error. Debated painting vs spray lacquer up until the very end. Finally laziness won out, and they got the lacquer. I'm pretty sure the base is cherry. More photos Pattern: Regu https://www.ebay.ca/itm/262775400771

The key to getting a bandsaw to cut straight while using a fence is a SHARP BLADE! As soon as a new blade starts to "drift" replace the blade.

Here's a screenshot from a Volker Arnold pattern book. Note the scalloping (right word?) on the roof. This pattern book was released in 2018, which I think was before engraving lasers became as accessible as they are today. Any idea how they made the roof pattern without a laser? I will admit to a bias against laser cutters/engravers. I enjoy the scroll saw cutting process, and get annoyed at the thought that someone will look at the result and think it's like five minutes of lasering and then some assembly/finishing. Basically the part I like becomes trivial, and the part I'm not terribly fond of becomes the focus. I know, I know, it shouldn't matter what other people think, and yet. Perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way? Matt

Charlie you did well, i remember my son being into them way back, he is 44 now, RJ

A family member (25F) is getting married in August and wanted something to honor deceased grandparents and others. Steve Good had a pattern for doll furniture that I reworked to make a flat seat. Forstner bit to make shallow candle holder and a friend lasered five names for me. Not sure how they will be displayed--individually or as a group.

Also, not a fan, but that project is exceptional. The colors are vibrant.

Without being able to see a close up, it is hard to tell. That could be a flat piece of wood and sharpie or other pen type device could be used to do the printing. They do sell wood roof material for models these days also. They have all kinds of products for building doll houses and all look real but on smaller scales.

I also built a new shop -- mine in downstate NY. Well insulated, has a heat pump, but also has an exposed concrete floor (which I'm assuming acts like a heat vacuum). I've had various expensive disagreements with the heat pump over keeping the shop at a minimum temperature. I want 40-45, Fujitsu claims to have a minimum temp setting of 50, but if I don't perform the ritual sacrifices just right I end up with 60. In practice it's insulated well enough (spray foam) that it won't go below freezing except on really really cold days. That happens maybe once or twice a year. For that week or two I leave the heat pump at 60, but leave it off the rest of the year. I go to all that effort for basically the reason you gave -- I don't want to have to haul finishes and glues back and forth.

I am a transplant from upstate NY to NC. Even in NC we have numerous nights in the 20's. My two cents is unless you insulate your shop you are wasting your time and money. Also, you want to maintain a steady temperature when not in use. Raising the temp by 5-10 degrees is doable but not more. Remember metal, especially cast iron takes a lot longer to come up to room temperature.

Great idea and well done

very nice

A young autistic man that i know very well often talks to me about mutant Ninja comic books. your portrait might something I could make for him

Never a fan but my youngest daughter was. You did an awesome job Charlie, your grandson will love it. What type of paint did you use? Marg

Bernd, you and your wife make a great team. Great work, well done. Marg

What a great idea, love it. Well done. Marg

Cowabunga Charlie!!! Great idea and well done Fab4

Ribbiting Frogs pattern by Jaeheon Yun and found in his book "20 Minute Scroll Saw Puzzles". I used 3/4" Poplar approximately 5 1/2" x 9". Cut on the Pegas Scroll Saw using a Pegas #5R MGT blade. After lightly sanding, dipped in diluted Shellac, and a second sanding and dipping. Comments welcome.

Wonderful work! So realistic. I love it!

What a cool boy....when do we....you...set sail. Are you planning a trip on it this summer to some far off place? Dick heppnerguy

white oak

look for some alex snodgrass videos on youtube. he is the bandsaw master and can explain it far better than i can.

I know you are anxious to get back to scrolling, but I wouldn't expect that you will be satisfied with this saw for very long, especially after having a Hegner. I say this, knowing nothing about the saw in the picture, but it looks similar to one I had was given a number of years ago. My primary saw was a Dewalt. I was looking for a 2nd saw that I could take with me for demonstrations. I was given one for free. It was a Performax brand. I had heard of Performax and thought it would be a decent saw. It wasn't. It was just one of those cheap entry level, $100 saws that were available in many different colors, under many different brand names. I ended up giving it back because I just could not use this saw. The reasons are many and I have no idea if your new saw shares any of the same faults, but I wouldn't be surprised. I truly wish you luck with this saw. I'm sorry your Hegner was stolen. That is a real bummer. You may be able to grit your teeth and make this one work for you, at least for a while, but I suspect you will need to start saving for a better one.