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Our last scroll saw challenge, it was fun to see where we started and where we are now. It was a great reminder that we were all newbies once-upon-a-time. Anytime we start a new hobby, it is super easy to get overwhelmed and we don't know where to begin. So, this month's challenge is about helping our new friends get into the hobby of scroll sawing. What did you you wish you knew when you were getting started? It can be a tip, a recommendation, a guide, reference, videos, inspirational story, or whatever. This is for folks who are new to scrolling. So be as descriptive and helpful as you can. Bonus points for illustrations/pictures....double extra points for a video demonstrating what you're talking about.

I am a young wood worker and recently learning about scroll saw. I know among all the power tools scroll is the safest. But I am still confused about few things and going to share those issues here. So me as well as all other newbies will get their answers here hopefully. Thanks for giving a chance to write here....

Hello everyone, I have found this wonderful forum very recently from doing a web search on scroll saws. I am a beginner. I am looking at getting a used good one -- so far, I have seen a Delta 18" variable speed and an Excalibur-II 19 inches. I understand the EX-II is an old saw but well-built. I contacted the Delta seller and was told it's a Q3. My biggest concern is not being able to find parts when I need to. I am in Ontario, Canada. I have attached two pictures of the saws (one of each). If you were in my shoes, which of the two would you get, assuming they're both working perfectly (Both claimed they're in excellent condition)? The Delta is $100, while the EX-II is $280. Both are about 1-2 hours away. I am also open to recommendations on a new scroll saw, if it's better than the two I mentioned AND it's within $250. I wish I could get a Dewalt straight away, but the price range is too high for me at this point. My plan is to get a decent one to practice on, and then get a much better one when the right time comes. Thank you so much for your time. I greatly appreciate any advice.

I'm Alex. My background is in 3d printing, 3d modeling, CAD/CAM, and animation. I am a software engineer, and I really enjoy this as a way to relax. I'm relatively new at scroll sawing. I started with a budget based saw from HF and just purchased a Porter Cable 18 Inch Scroll Saw, after a small struggle to get the handle on toolless blade changes (which were 1000 time better than the HF way) and about 11 spiral blades breaking - on the twelfth blade, I found my groove with this and I finished cutting my first portrait with it. Now I am in the process of choosing how to finish that and attach it to a backing surface, and I have so many questions about how to do this correctly. I'm constantly learning something new with this and I find that thrilling. Hello everyone! I look forward to learning from and one day contributing something to the benefit of this group.

I am so new, my scroll saw machine hasn't even arrived yet! So total NEWBIE, to scroll sawing, and extremely interested in learning. In waiting on my machine to arrive, I searched YouTube and found Scroll Saw Goodies page, and enjoyed the tutorials. I knew I just had to join this site and learn from the best. Originally from the great state of IOWA, but during my active duty service in Germany, I met a German girl. Well, that is the end of that long story. So anyway, I now live in Germany, but with my global travels, I get back home now and then to visit family/friends. My goals are to not only learn how to use my saw machine, but to combine it with other hobbies to end up with unique products.

Hello, Another new scroller here. I am a retired USPS Letter Carrier living in Anchorage, Alaska. Been here 30+ years, so figure I'll maybe stay...see if I like it. I bought a Porter Cable 18" scroll saw a month or so ago and have finally got around to setting it up and using it. I spent the month looking at patterns, tips and tricks online. Also found this wonderful site and downloaded a few of the patterns. I just finished the "Creature of the Night" (Ace of Spades design) sign last night. I had scrolled a couple practice sheets and tackled this sign as a starter piece. I think it is a very good choice for a first project. It poses some challenging cuts, but is very forgiving given the overall design. I cut it out of .25 plywood using a #5 Reverse blade for the outer edge and most of the inside cuts. Also used a #3 spiral blade for the narrow inner cuts. Overall, I enjoyed it and now have to decide on my next project. I know, I covered a lot of topics here, but just excited to be part of a great, knowledgable group of people. Thank you ahead of time for the advice and help I will most likely ask for in the future.

I got a Delta 40-560 a few months ago and my boys really got into scrolling. I just ordered an upgrade a 40-694 because they will enjoy using a better saw as much as me. Hope to do some great projects this year with the father son shop time.

Well, I certainly don't wish to come across as a "smart-aleck" or anything along those lines, so suffice it to say I'd like to share a real-life personal experience with you. I recently (October) took up scrolling as a rather serious hobby/small business. Just like anything with me, I tend to learn faster through trial and error, with the emphasis leaning a tad heavy in the direction of error. I am fortunate in that I have a "scrolling mentor" who lives about an hours drive from me. I asked him the other day "how does one determine if they're pushing too much, aside from recovering from a broken blade, far too often?" Rather than try and answer my question, he asked me what blades I was using since he knew my primary material I am cutting (3/4" MDF). I told him I was using a #7 Olson and he suggested a #3 Ultra-Reverse blade from Mike's, The Flying Dutchman. So, I ordered the blades and got them in. Voila'!! I wish I asked him sooner!! I would have NEVER guessed using a #3 blade, period, due to the thickness of my stock. The cut was so smooth and clean, I did another one and another one. I'm BRAND NEW at this hobby folks, however, as a way of saying "thank you" to many of you who have already opened up with suggestions and encouragement, I felt compelled to share this information with you. Back in July, this year, we had a horrific shooting (Baton Rouge, LA, USA) here that left three of our law enforcement professionals dead and two, seriously wounded and still recovering. I said that to say this. Using my new blades which I described above, I made a plaque for one of the wounded Deputies (the other one remains unconscious). This coming Thursday, I am going to his home and gifting him the plaque I made for him, as a surprise. This is said plaque.

Hello everyone. Well, I appreciate this introductory section, as it gives me the opportunity to see that I'm not the only newbie onboard. As stated, I'm brand new to the hobby, having purchased my very first scroll saw this past October. I live out in the country now, not too terribly far from the city in which I worked, as a police officer for thirty-one years. After retiring, I wanted to do something and I felt like I wanted to do something creative, with my hands and the proper tools. I visited a local craft show, whereas I saw a glossy, board mounted photo (city skyline) and for some reason that sort of stuck with me. The more I thought about it, the more refined I got in my idea as to what I could do. As such, I completed my very first project on my new scroll saw today. It's not intricate. In fact, I suspect a lot of the intermediate and advanced guys and ladies would consider it pretty easy. Well, that's what I was shooting for, to start. I thought I'd share my first effort with you folks. Hope you don't mind. It's my "retirement badge."

Hi everyone, I,m new here but not new to the art of scrolling. I must say though, I've been away from it for awhile but now am back into it full time(or at least when I'm not working). I can't waittodive into new conversations and topics here. See ya soon ppeps. Sincerely, Peter J.Brown

I live in south Australia and I'm looking at possibly starting this hobby, My other hobby is rocks, gems and minerals with a side hobby of silversmithing, I don't have a deep pocket so cannot afford a big priced machine so any ideas would be helpful Cheers Maurice

I have been given a scroll saw by a friend to put into "active storage"for her adult daughter. [i can use it all I want]but I had to recover the table which was covered in rust [vinegar works wonders] now I would like to know if I could paint it to prevent further rust.I've got about 6 coats of auto paste Wax on it and I'm still pulling up the fine rust. I thought of getting it clean and then painting it with rustoleum paint [one that binds with rust to take care of the immediate problem then with a white finish to leave a smooth coat. Yea? Nay? Any other ideas? Thanks for your time

hi al. i am a newly retired emergency room nurse. who neverr tried anything with a scroll saw until recenty. I was always t tired to have hobbies :-). I have recently bouth a woodd turninglathe and have made a few bowls now starting withthe scroll saw. so far have only been cutinout shapes and no inside work at all. want to step up and do some more intricate work. I am a big fan of the wild west so cowboys, wild horses, native americans etc is the sort of thing I am interested in. just found this site by chance andit looks wonderful. my big question is this, after cutting a design do people burn a design onto the wood. most template I see or picture of peoples work looks like pyrographic art with little or no scroll saw work. any thanks for reading this from a complete stupid newbie all the way from county Down in the north of Ireland. any help or advice would be greatly appreciated . A Chara Cathal

Hi, just like to say hello just started to learn scroll sawing and I'm very impressed with the fantastic work on this site , only got a cheap scroll saw to see how I get on so far so good cutting getting better going to tackle some patterns this week . Love the forum everyone is so helpful great site. I'm from London England and we don't have any magazines over here to learn from so I'm glad I found this site keep up the good work.