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I got back to my scroll saw art after a month break to work on other projects. I made this one for my wife, Leslie, because she taught me to love nature.

hi all I am a complete newby from derby uk any advice to get me started after the new year would be great my wife has informed me that she has got me a scroll saw from santa ?? so don't no the brand think a basic to try it out as I have been wanting to try for a while best regards nidge

Let me begin by stating once again that I love being able to tap into the knowledge of all of you fellow scrollers who have "been there, done that". I once read a post from someone that mentioned they wished their neighbor was so & so...I too have thought that many times about many of you! Today marks 1 year that I've been working with my scroll saw. It has been challenging at times, but the advice I've received from many of you has helped immensely. If it weren't for the advice you've given me over the past few months, my DW788 may have ended up being returned and I would have given up on many projects. This leads me to my latest endeavor. I'm once again embarking on another chess set. I'm looking for wood combinations that will go well together, but most importantly, scrolls fairly easy AND that I can buy in 1.5x1.5 blocks from SOMEWHERE without having to square my own blocks. My first set was done out of Walnut and Aspen, so I want to do something different. I ordered a number of wood-species from WoodCrafter to "try" and didn't consult with you first...my bad. The blocks WERE NOT square, and despite my efforts to square them, never ended up quite right... I tried Wenge, Palm, Cherry, Yellowheart, Ash, Maple Ambrosia, Marblewood, and Zebra-wood. Sycamore cuts GREAT and seems very forgiving to heat build-up without burning ...most likely my choice for "white" this time. But paired with what? The Zebra-wood wasn't bad to cut, but not crazy about the wood-pairing. Wenge and Cherry were too difficult for my preference and BURNED during my turns, no matter how slow I went. They also consumed A LOT of blades (nearly twice as many as Sycamore or Zebra). Both Palm and Marblewood were impossible to cut (you would have likely told me this, thus saving me the expense). I love Maple Ambrosia, but I need a reliable source for truly squared blanks. Yellowheart also seems to cut really well, and should it scorch, it turns a darker gold instead of ruining the piece. And finally, Ash, which also cut well but did scorch on most of my turns. Not a hard "no" for future use, but I'm not crazy about it. All said, I'm looking for your help. Part one...where can I get SQUARE blanks that are true? What wood pairings would you suggest? One last note...I do NOT stain woods. I am partial to the beauty from within if you will. My only "finishes" include Danish oil or spar urethane. Thanks as always!!