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As many of you know my "Poppy's Workshop" makes toys and donates them to organizations, helping children in need. My current big project is 125 toys for a local organization here in Hampton Roads VA, that helps out with kids with cancer. I am a little behind the 8-ball due to my eye injury early this year and then my summer stoppage. I am about 1/2 way there and have until October, so it should not be a problem. I finished another 20 toys this week (photo 1), and now working on another dozen race cars. I am doing 3 or 4 at a time, so this way I am not left with a big pile of unfinished pieces. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment when I get stuff done, rather than a bunch in 'production'. That being said, I am working on a modified Steve Good design, the first 2 cars you see with the walnut sides, are more along the way of the original design (minus the number). I like this, as the interior is 1/2", and the sides 1/8" each. I can shape the head before gluing, and I think it comes out nice. However, that is more cutting, and then gluing up, which almost doubles production time. So I am opting for a single piece of 3/4" wood. It does make shaping the head a little tricky, but I am working on a process, of sanding on my 1x30 sanding belt, for the rough shape, then using a Kutzall bit to shape the head a bit more. It is still abstract, but it works for me. Images: (1) 20 finished from earlier this week, (2 & 3) from single and glued sides, (4) On the scroll saw, #9 FD UR, (5) Rough cut, (6) This is how I set axle length quickly with a spacer (7) Rough shape, (8) The rough shaped blanks Next will be the rotary tool to shape the head to the finished shape, then on to the barrel sander to add curves to the body of the car, then mop sand, and then the wheels. I will be doing this after my lunch and nap, so this is the start.

A few weeks ago, I smelled smoke in our family room. I looked around and found nothing. There was no smoke, just a smell. This happened a couple mornings for about an hour, then would go away. On the third day, I came in from the shop to get a drink, and this time there was actual smoke. No fire just smoke. It was coming from my wife’s area where she sits and stitches her cross stitch projects. She uses a lighted magnifying glass on a stand. The way it was standing, sunlight coming in through the window was focused on some books next to her chair. Fortunately, there was no real fire but it did burn several of her books but nothing else. I’m just happy that I was at home and caught it before there was actual fire! This reminded me of another incident. A few years ago I was at a friends shop that had the same thing happen to his DeWalt saw. He had a magnifying light mounted to his saw sitting in front of a window. Sunlight from the window shining through the magnifier melted all the plastic on his saw! So, this is a warning, if you use a lighted magnifier, make sure it does not sit next to a window!

I actually finished a project while Momma was away for the week. My neighbor has two young granddaughters, that visit them often. I love to make them something when I find something I think they will enjoy. When I saw @alexfox's spooky candy box I had to make them each one. They are both the same. I added a skeleton to the inside bottom. Not part of the plans but saw the pattern for the little guy and thought he belonged in the box. The eyes on the cat are green but didn't show up well in the picture.

Finished this Buffalo a Russ Beard pattern, it was a challenging cut as Russ put so much detail in on the forehead. I double stacked 4mm Baltic Birch Plywood, cut with Niqua #0 and #1 Niqua pin less blades. Finished with a few Coates of a BLO/Mixture, varnish is still to be applied.

Just some Fall decor my imagination dreamed up since we're in September now......Landscape timbers, 1/4" sanded ply for the "Hello Fall".......98¢ scarecrow at wally world......give me your thoughts

I have been working on this over the last 3 days. I have about 6 cutting hours into it, I go slow. Cut from 1/4" walnut. First photo: I am just holding it together with the 1/4" spacers between the layers. Third photo: I have it all clamped up right now after gluing. Tomorrow I cut and shape the base, and glue that up before dropping it into linseed oil to bring out the chocolate hue. Second Photo: You can see that the trees are very fine and detailed, thankfully nothing broke. I still have all my fingers too! As I was working on the piece I closed some of the branches so there was better support, made a lot of changes to the design on the fly. I used #1 and #3 Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse Blades. The plan is to add a string of multi-colored micro LED 'fairy' lights between the layers. I enjoy making these layered pieces. When I get it together and lit, I'll post that, and then another after the final linseed finish.

I've posted about this some years ago and so has a few others over the years. I've kinda wanted to look into the magnifier lights that have the flip-up lens cover.. but back then many folks said that cover is cheap and most get broken off. For a while there I was putting a square piece of plywood over the top so it'd block the light from getting to the lens but I used the wood for a project and never replaced it with something.. So thank you for that reminder. The way I found it is one time on my old DeWalt saw the table top burnt me as the light was shining just on the edge of the table and made it hot.. so thankful it was only hitting the top of the table and not something flammable.. Many times I would get up from the saw and just leave my project setting on the top.. That could start that wood on fire very easily..

Judy Gale Roberts, the heart and soul of intarsia and the scroll saw world passed away after a short illness. I was blessed to take two classes with her and to meet her on several other occasions. Not only was she a talented artist but a gifted instructor and just a special person. Rest in peace my friend and mentor. Prayers for your husband Stephen and all who you touched through your life.

Never thought of that with the magnifying light. Thanks for the heads up.

I was driving by a neighbor's house a couple years ago and saw faint smoke coming out of the basement window. Stopped and discovered it was actually the wood mulch on the ground in front of the window catching on fire from a gallon glass jar filled with water with the sun shining on it and the light passing thru the water in the jar and focused on the mulch on the ground. Fire Dept responded and put it out. My son-in-law is a Firefighter and he told me that happens (glass bottles acting as a magnifier) more than people realize.

I had the same thing a few years ago but instead of a magnifying glass it was a magnifying Mirror. I had left it on the counter in the bathroom the sun was shining on it reflecting back on the bathtub and the bathtub started to smoke. I too am glad I was home that day.

Thanks for the reminder Dan. Glad it turned out well for you, rather a few books than your house. Marg

WOW, that is something I never thought of. We need to pay heed. I remember as a kid I would purposely try to burn paper with a magnifying glass. Successfully burned the paper. I was outside and just had the paper on the ground. When I finally succeeded did't try it anymore. Thanks for the warning. Jerry

Good a lot of us have those lights. Good to make sure they are not where the sunlight will hit them. Thanks for the reminder.

Congratulations, Barb. You did an awesome job on your piece.

You ask: why does one need more than one scrollsaw? Right now I am wishing I had two again. And I promise, momma, if I can have a second one I will never sell it! I always have more than one project going. Right now I have two. One requires inlay. But I can not work on it because once I set a saw for the depth of inlay I want it can not be moved to a different degree of tilt. You would never get perfectly back to the degree of the original set. So before I can continue in the project requiring an inlay, I have to wait until the paint and glue tries on another project. If I had two saws I could keep on working. When I find the right deal, I will have a second saw again. Plus it is nice to have two or more saw so you do not have to change the size or type of blade so often. You can just move back and forth between saws.

Just wanted to acknowledge “Januski” for the awesome pattern!!! I hope I spelt it correctly!! LOL. My kids love it!! Thx Scott McCaul

Four more Miniature Birdhouse Ornaments. I used Ash for the birdhouses and Eastern Red Cedar for the little birds. Cut on the Pegas Scroll Saw using Pegas #6 Super Skip blades. After a light sanding with a Mac Mop, dipped in diluted Shellac. Another light sanding. Comments welcome.

My sweet sister Amy, 66, passed away as the result of a stroke a week ago. Her happy place was Cape San Blas, Florida. We went there together with our families and shared a beach house for the week of Thanksgiving several times. Those weeks were like Heaven on Earth. She had no grandchildren so was like a bonus grandmother to my 5. She and I shared a love for the song "Here Comes The Sun" as done by James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma. Her son-in-law is a gifted guitarist and played it at the funeral. I cut this the night before to put alongside her beach pictures at the funeral chapel as a tribute to her, and therapy for me. You can see her bird that has left our flock in the upper right. Amy was able to donate her kidneys, liver, and eye lenses. Cherish your loved ones each day.

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

Nice job.

Well, I have two belt/disc sanders of different sizes, and I have two drill presses of different sizes. I still have my 21" Excal, tucked away. I should find some space for it and perhaps just put a #9 FD UR blade on it for some quick cutting and then the 30" Pegas for my fine work...

I have three counting the old DeWalt which still works great.

Okay, so I quickly did a prototype with the boat tail taper and the little people cut down and glued into place for safety. I had some canary wood cast off so I used that. I like this... A few more tweaks, but overall fast to cut, drill, and shape. This is how I spend the last day of my 5-day leave...

I am so sorry for your loss Charlie. She is still with you in spirit. Love your tribute to her. Sometimes they are the hardest to do. Marg

My first saw was a Dremel 1371, later upgraded to the Dewalt DW788, just recently placed an order for the Pegas 21”. Hoping that the Pegas will be the last saw I ever need to purchase (I’m 67 now).

A man with a project. Wonderful! WOW, you are able to go back to the shop "After lunch and nap"????? If I don't get into the shop by 6AM and work about 3 hours I would never get anything done. After my early morning shop time might do a few chores done around the yard and then stop for lunch and my afternoon nap which can last to nearly supper time. Sooooo, no shop time for me after my "lunch and nap"!!!!

Beautiful job Barb, congradulations, RJ

I completed this Sleigh Ride. Pattern by Charles Hand. I stacked three layers 1/8 Baltic birch covered in green painters tape. Pattern attached with 3M77 spray. Cut with Pegas #2/0 and #0 and #1 spiral blades. Slow going. 13 hours seat time. Cut on my King Industrial 21 inch saw. My first project completed with spiral blades. It was a learning curve but I will use them again on similiar patterns. After getting rid of as many fuzzies as I could and sanding I sprayed with laquer. The one in the grey frame will go to a friend who took my wife and I and our kids and grandkids on sleigh rides through the forest on his property a couple times. Grandkids still talk about those rides. When I saw the pattern by Charles Hand in Scrollsaw Woodworking magazine issue 89 I knew right away I wanted to cut it for Al as a thank you.

I remember playing this waaaay back when.

Great looking piece!!!

Finished this week

Some made in Mexico also.

Most of the new saws coming out now days.. actually I think all of them are tilting saw and not the table.. Most are just a knockoff of the early EX saw.. and basically rebranded.. Some made in China and some of the better ones made in Taiwan.

I cut this back-lit scroll saw wood-art today. A bit of pre-halloweeen fun to put in our front door's window on October 31! This is the largest piece I've ever cut on a scroll saw, coming in at about 21 x 14 inches.

My latest - Fire Department badge, 4 layers, 7,5 x x7,5 inches Video of making project Fire Dept. pattern

The buyer requested a custom size and color. They looked much better than I had anticipated. These trucks are what I was making when I did the blade test I posted elsewhere. When I do custom work, I always make extras in case something happens. There were no discards this time, so I have extras to sell or give away. My granddaughter has already claimed one. The six-inch-long trucks are cut from 2x4 construction lumber. I use 2x4 for this size because it is lightweight and is already the correct size. The bodies are brush-painted with satin acrylic, and the wheels are finished with clear shellac.

An Alex Fox Basket C-09 Modified. I used 1/4" Hard Maple 8" square. Cut on the Pegas Scroll Saw using Pegas #1 MGT blades. After glue up, one coat spray Lacquer Clear Gloss, a light sanding with a Mac Mop and another light sanding. Comments welcome.

i still use my first scroll saw but it is a wen 16"

My first scroll saw was an AMT. This same saw was sold with several brands on it. I purchased it in the mid-1980s. It came as a pin blade saw. It only took me a week or so to figure out that pin blades didn't hack out for me, and I bought an upgrade that allowed me to use pinless blades. The saw cut very well. In some woods, the cut was smooth glass. Thin lumber was not available in my location, but I had access to all the pallets I could haul, and that is what I cut most of my project from pallet wood. I made many toys, fretwork shelves, and compound-cut chess pieces. I never got a full set because my kids thought they were excellent and kept running off with them. I bought a used RBI Hawk for $100, refurbished it, and used it for a few years. Then I saw a video about how easy blade changes were on an EX-21, and I had to have one. I found a used EX-21 for sale locally. It wasn't long before the EX-21 was the only saw I used. Now, I had three scroll saws. While I had them all setup side by side, I did a test. The AMT cut smoother than and had less vibration than the other two. Heavy cast iron can dampen vibration a lot. I had to get rid of one and gave the AMT away. For me, ease of blade changes was more important than anything. After a few years, my EX-21 finally had a problem, and I used the RBI while troubleshooting and ordering parts. I decided I really did not like the RBI saw. The blade changes again, and it was hard on the smaller blades. So now I am shopping for another scroll saw. I found a never used Pegas and drove about 700 miles to get it. I sold the RBI for $100.

I made the pattern for this from a painting that I found online. The original artist was not credited. It's 8 x 10 x 1/8 inch Baltic Birch plywood. Cut with Pegas #1, 2 and 0 spirals.

I scrolled this 10" guitar for a friend who custom builds the real ones. Figured it would look good on one of his metal shop cabinets!

Thanks Scrapple, I finally decided to push the launch button on the upgrade. With Denny Knappen's help, I ordered the Pegas and hope to have delivered near the end of September. I am looking for to it and like you, I will not have any regrets.

My son is an avid runner, 5Ks, 10Ks, marathons, even does the occasional 100 miler. His kids are following in his “running steps” doing shorter 1 milers and one did a 5K. I made them some medal displays, and kept them generic so they can also hang medals from other sports or academic awards.

Ha! I could run like that easily for several days if I saw a snake in the path!

Can't remember who said they leave their pattern attached when spray painting to avoid getting too many coats applied trying to get those cut areas covered. Leaving the pattern on stopped me from having to apply a thick coat when pattern was removed. Works like a champ!

My SOs daughter requested me to make a Bethlehem Star to hang on the wall above her Nativity Scene she displays for Christmas. Believe it or not, I could not find any simple patterns of just a star. I finally found an image of a star made/folded out of card stock that was exactly what I was looking for. I converted the folding pattern to a nominal 6 1/2” x 12 12” cutting pattern. This size is proportionally correct for where it will be displayed over the Nativity set. I’m not sure what to call this…it is not Intarsia nor Segmentation nor Fretwork nor ???…, but I did cut it on the Scroll Saw, so I guess I’m allowed to show it off here. The two stars are identical with the small Star about half-size. I used a Pegas #5 mgt R blade to cut the bottom big star from nominal 3/4” (actual 5/8”) thick Whitewood that had very little grain and the small star from the same board milled to 1/2” thick – on the Table Saw. I sculptured the small star to taper the sides of the points, much like how the card stock was shown after it was folded. If I had used a harder wood, the sharp ends of the Stars points may have held their shape better. After sanding, sculpturing and mounting the small star, I applied an Acrylic Air Brush Sealer White prime coat. I then used my Air Brush to paint the star an Acrylic Craft Paint called Pure Gold. After the paint was dry, I applied a coat of craft glue and a thick coat of Fine Gold Glitter. This was the messy part of the entire project, and you can see in the photo, it is hard to remove from where it is not supposed to be. After the Glue dried the entire Star was coated with a Krylon product called Clear Glitter Blast, that is supposed to brighten up the Glitter while securing it in place. Like photos of most Scroll Saw work, all the blemishes are very visible, but when displayed on the wall it doesn’t look bad at all. My Lady is happy, and I think her daughter will be also. Comments and critiques always welcome.

Thank you Jerry. Her son requested the portrait I made of her which she had in her home.

Are you enjoying it? Are you learning? Are you looking forward to your next project? Time spent doing these things is time well spent.