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Made this for my wife. Steve Good pattern from 8/23/24. 3/4” maple.

My lady had found an Image of an embroidery Blue Dragon a while ago that she really liked and had asked me several times in the past if I could make a cutting from it. The image was not suitable to make a fret type pattern previously, but I felt I was now able to make a segmented pattern that would work. However, the resulting pattern I developed is made up of a LOT of very small pieces that was a PITA to re-assemble. I use a piece of clear knot free ¾” x 10” Premium Pine to cut the pattern from using Pegas #1 MGT R blades. The Piece is approximatele 8" x 10" and again, Intarsia techniques were used to sculpture the work. This project was also an experiment using water-based color dye to color the wood the blue and black needed. Dying the wood is easy but very sloppy and took forever to dry. The White highlights were done with diluted acrylic paint that when applied immediately dissolved the blue turning the White to a light Blue. The water-based dye also raised the grain that was hard to deal with because the pieces were so small. In the photo this looks like dust but it is the light reflecting off the textured surface. The backer is 1/8” thick BB ply with edges painted Black. The assembled piece was protected with multiple coats of Clear Gloss Acrylic Finish spray. My lady is happy (and you know what that means) with it and it will be hung in our home. Comments and critiques always welcome.

So as I finish up the 125 toy project (Never Again), I am still working on some toys for the older kids. So I broke out my laser so I could lay down the playing pattern and instructions. I did the layouts in Lightburn after work yesterday, and then after dinner, I started burning the games. This AM, I cut everything out on my scroll saw, used my new router, and also drill holes. Mop sanded and hand sanded, then finished with the beeswax and coconut oil. Used a variation of large axle pegs, small cribbage pegs, and marbles to give variety.

A week ago, we were at a Dinner Dance with a few friends. The conversation at the table turned from my history as a Dance Instructor in the past to my current work as a Scroll Saw Artist. My lady likes to have me show off my work, so of course, I had to take out my phone and show pictures of my work. A gentleman was looking through the group of pictures and came across a photo of a Hummingbird hovering over flowers that I had made way back in 2020. He liked it so much he wanted to buy it right there and then. I had to tell him I was sorry, but that it had been sold a long time ago. I never make a cutting exactly the same twice…that is why I do not stack cut. And, since I will be seeing him again next Saturday at an Art and Music Festival that we are setting up a booth at, I decided that I would revisit the pattern and make a new version that he might care to purchase. The basic pattern remained the same, but I changed the panel size to 11” x 17” that enlarged the image somewhat, changed the colors a little, and mounted the assembled panel in a Floating Gallery type frame instead of my standard 1 3/4” wide rail frame. The rather simple cutting was done in under two hours using a Pegas #0 Spiral blade. I used my Air Brush to prime the backer with an acrylic sealer and then added the various Air Brush Artist Acrylic colors. The assembled panel was protected with multiple coats of Clear Gloss Acrylic Finish spray. The Frame is 1” wide Poplar rails, primed, and painted Black. I do have to pat myself on the back just a little. I think you will agree, that when you compare the attached 2024 photo to the photo of the original from 2020, there is a some improvement in the quality of my work. 2024 2020 Comments and critiques always welcome.

Donating mine to my kids for the big bonfire they have always said they wanted to have when I go.

I just use a cardboard box.

It's time to add my 2c. My wife had the same complaint. The walls are full of plane and car plaques. I had gifted a few planes and cars to relatives and friends but needed to do more. Last year I was invited to my old company's 25th anniversary in New Hampshire. They have a beautiful $10mill hangar and several conference rooms to work with aircraft customers while their ships are in the hangar for service and installations. My old business partner lamented he needed to get some art for these conference rooms. I sent him all my aircraft plaques and made several more I sent later. I really enjoyed looking at my plaques in my office but I felt it would be better if more people can appreciate them (and maybe order some??) Now what to do with all the car plaques, car shows or car dealerships? I'm still working on that...

I use a 24" x 36" piece of cardboard laid on my table saw. I have used this same sheet for a few years now. It now has a thick layer of dried spray glue that keeps the pattern from getting blown about as I spray. Tom

I remember this same struggle when I first started.. Then I accidently learned that I could just print them on self adhesive peel and stick paper.. no messy spray glue, no more clogged spray nozzles.. no more getting sticky glue all over my fingers.. I think it's the best thing ever.. including better than sliced bread in my opinion,

This is the one I use. It has 3 Vettes of different years and a transporter. Corvette Trio & Transport (toymakingplans.com)

That's what president George Bush has been doing painting a portrait of a fallen solider and giving it to the family, been doing since he left office, RJ

Anyone tried one of these yet? I've heard about them a few years ago and then kinda forgot about it. I ordered one last week but I haven't even had a chance to open up the package yet and probably won't really get a chance to for a few more weeks as I'm in the middle of doing some home remodeling projects.. Thought maybe someone here has tried them? I'm hopeful to be able to buy quart or gallon cans of lacquer and use this as I do the spray cans I had been buying.. Spray cans are pricey compared to the quart / gallon sizes and many times I'm doing a one off personalized ornament that isn't worth all the hassle of getting a spray gun set up and then clean up etc for one or two ornaments. The spray cans are just handy to grab and go.. hopefully this will work like a normal spray can and be able to refill in. IF not then I might try building a refillable spray can out of my old empty one.. I've seen videos on adding a valve stem to a old can and refilling / recharging with air.. Where I built my finishing room in my shop I never did set it up with a line for the air compressor either so doing the whole spray gun deal would require more work than I'm currently willing to put in on it at this current time... so anyway hoping this works.. If nobody has tried one I'll update my thoughts on it maybe in a few weeks. Hopefully I'll have had a chance to at least open the package by then, LOL... Edit: Oops I forgot to put in the link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0748KZFQK?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_19&amp=&crid=168HGT532N0WN&sprefix=refillable%2Bspray%2Bpa&th=1

I just have to put a trim on the edges of the plywood. Pattern by Brad Mathews. Issue #88 of Scrollsaw magazine. Woods are White Maple, Orange Osage, Walnut, Wenge, White Oak. Rocks are white Oak, Cherry, Jatoba, Red Oak, Spalted Maple, Zebrawood, Poplar, Maple, Aromatic Cedar. Plywood shadow box. 1 coat of Osmo oil, satin finish.

They are both very nice but I, as well, do like your 2024 one better as well....nicely done

Hey you do what you want but to me at those prices what are you gaining? Paints and finishes need mixing and thus have that marble in them so may need to consider that. Any compressor will inflate it as you see they use a bike pump too. But what is regulating how much pressure is needed to spray different products. A pressure regulator on a compressor is not the same as pressure monitoring at the can by no means. I say this because I use pressure tanks in my blank making and see the difference all the time. i too have 3 compressors that are excellent rating and they have pressure gauges on them and safety devices. This is a tin can that says it can hold 100PSI. I highly doubt it. My tanks are rated for 80PSI and are better built than a piece of tin. The valves and threaded parts are not designed for that kind of pressure. Be careful. You would have to buy individual cans for each product unless you clean out each time. Is the can sealed well enough to hold pressure. Each product sprays at different PSI ratings so need to know this. I know about reviews but when the bad reviews are as many as on this I worry. Not all are idiots. That is how I guage a product. I needed a belt for my snow blower that I am reconditioning for this year and looked to buy at Amazon and could find them for half the price I wound up paying but all said junk. So I bought an OEM one and should be fine. As far as waterbased lacquer goes. I buy it in quart cans and always spray with a HVLP gun. Does not raise grain and sprays like Nitros. Good Luck.

Since its been about 1 1/2 years since you added the Bora wheels and ample time to use them, have you had any issues with vibration or stability or anything else? I am considering ordering some to put on my stand as well. Thanks in advance.

Very nice @FrankEV. I do like the 2024 version better, the colors, the frame and the extra space around the subject. The gentleman should be very pleased with it.

My compressor stops at 200psi so this should be fine.. Water base lacquer? I might have to look into this as never heard of it. I have used the blue / teal colored cans of water base poly.. I like it sort of.. doesn't smell bad and dries quick.. My dislike for the stuff is it doesn't enhance the wood grain at all and the spray mist is more like a spatter than misting. It also is terrible for raising the grain on the wood so really requires a light sanding before the last coat. That said I did like it well enough that I did set up to spray it in my spray gun.. however it still doesn't spray / mist well so it must be something with the make up of the poly. I tried a water base Varathane spray that was worse yet. I really like the lacquer smoothness and look so rather stay with it. I probably should have clarified that I find it hard to find the lacquer in spray cans locally but there is always plenty of quart cans.. last time I needed some I had to order online and wait 5 days for delivery. While cost is a write off it's still an expense and better if I can find a cheaper source so this was just an experiment that I was going to try which is also a write off. IF this doesn't work out with the lacquer I use a lot of different sprays like Wd40 and PB blaster for spraying rusty bolts etc. before taking stuff apart so I'll be able to use this for other things if the spray pattern isn't good for paints. I did read through some of the reviews but I take reviews with a bit of optimism because there are a lot of people that complain about their lack of common sense rather than a poor product. Kinda like the review I read about a 1/2 ton floor jack that the guy complained about wouldn't lift his semi truck. .. You are correct about getting the correct air pressure will determine the spray pattern.. I have a high end compressor set up for doing auto painting and can regulate a precise pressure.. It might take some experimenting the first time using it to get the right pressure. There are guys on YouTube making old spray paint cans refillable by soldering a valve stem onto the can that isn't intended to be used like that. If that blows up on them then it's their fault.. If this can I bought blows up and I've used it within the means of the directions there would be a lawsuit.. but again common sense plays a large roll in the use / safety of anything someone does. BTW, the best reviews are the ones you watch the people on YouTube use.. this way you can get an idea of their intelligence rather than reading a written review plus you can sort of view how this is supposed to work or lack of.

OMG, I had the same washing machine when I first got married!!!

Same, cardboard box.

I second this. Do not over think it. I personally just lay newspaper on my tablesaw with a plywood base on it and spray away. 3m77 spray.

To me not worth the effort Did you read the reviews on the link you posted? If you are buying quarts or gallons of lacquer then use a spray gun. Buy water base lacquer. It looks and reacts the same as nitrose. Easy to clean up. If doing one or two small items then Deft spray cans are the way to go. It is write-off so money saved is not a thing. Time to refill a can. The spray pattern can vary with the amount of air mixed with product. I just do not see an advantage. I put this in the Pet Rock catagory. just an opinion. Is there some sort of safety on this? Put an air compressor to it and wow. I use a pressure pot to make resin pen blanks and I always have to be aware of amout of pressure put in the tank. It has a gauge and safety valve that will blow if too much is used. I see nothing like that on a tin can. Man I would not touch this with a ten foot pole.

Impressive job well done and a few brownie points by the sound of it.

Wow Frank, that is really amazing! I bet is was a pain to put all those small pieces together. I would have been searching for them on the floor.

There ya go Paul. Finally an idea that I might be able to work with. Thanks Buddy.

Here is what I use; Top of washing machine Layer of Kraft paper 20"x25" furnace filter for the base 20" x 20" furnace filters for the sides and top Prescription fact sheets inside for disposability

That's really cool, I did not now that...

I remember this as well. I always thought that was pretty cool. Mainly portraits of fallen soldiers but also active members.

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!

Barb you always come up with better results all the times, we will have to add “Artist in wood” to your title.

I know exactly how you feel... I have closets that are jammed with plaques and small objects over the first year of scrolling. Given away a bunch of things and have no ambition selling a 4 hour labor project for ten bucks either. Hate to admit it but I'm actually kind of tired of scrolling. Most new hobbies barely last a year but since I caught on so quickly to scrolling I stayed with it, so far. That's why I started a new hobby with casting resin projects as a change of pace but it's not as easy to figure out. Of course I will end up adding more "things" to the already full closets, just different things. It's not easy being me!

5 hours ago, rash_powder said: Find a local animal shelter - not the Humane Society, but really local (where I live we have Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue and Journey Home) - and donate the creations for fund raising sales. Or any local charity organization. We try to stay away as much as possible from the nation-wide giants. Things aren't always what they seem with them. So true. When their leaders make 7 figure salaries, something smells.

I give a lot away but have also found a store that sells art from all kinds of people. They get 30% but thats ok. I've talked to several who really like the work. That's worth more than the money.

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

Start making toys to donate to hospitals and needy children.

You are a creative person and if your are not making something well that could become a health issue. there are many organizations that look for items to put into silent auctions. I donate items to the Autism awareness fundraisers, the Fish and game league, minor sports

Agree with JT, donate stuff. I'd rather put 100 hours into a project and donate it to a good cause than spend 100 hours making inventory to sell at a craft show and end up bringing most of it home.

Do a yard sale. Give to charity. Do church raffles. The list goes on. get into Pen Making!!!!!!!!! Try new things that take time to either learn the process or takes longer to cut.

I sell almost everything I make. I have been given things in the past that I could care less about but accepted them to be nice. Build up a little inventory and take it to a small craft show. Nothing says you have to make the same thing over.

What is everyone using to mitigate glue overspray? I’ve been going outside but it stains the concrete. I have been looking for a liquid glue like 3m 77 that I can apply with a brush but cannot find anything. I have tried glue sticks and cannot make them work. Decopauge glue kind of works, I need to experiment more there. So, with winter coming I need a way to spray glue -since that works best so far - and not make a mess in the house.