Messages

1

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: scrolling in old age

« on: January 22, 2019, 06:45:13 pm »

Welcome Sir! I'm not as blessed with wisdom as you Gentleman are, but, I'm 53, and been scrollin' 25+ years.

I understand about the vision, and not bein' able to cut as fast as I used to. I just finished a project that had some tiny detail throughout the the project. Man! It took me longer to compensate for the smaller parts to cut than it did to read the labels in my blade inventory & make a decision on what blade to use!:o

I've been out of the shop right at a year due to health issues & Sawbones tellin' me ya "can't do this or that anymore." I finally told my Bride I ain't able to sit any longer. When she asked what the problem was? I told her these Sawbones took my Trucking career, I ain't lettin'em take my hobby that her & our family Sawbones thought I needed to get into so bad. We've got to many $$$$ just sittin' and collectin' dust otherwise. So, I walked out the door to the shop, and been tryin' to work in the shop some ever' day since!

I drove OTR 30 years. It took me to long to settle in after I retired in 2012, I refuse to go thru all that again. My health has placed enormous limitations on me as it is, creating high stress situations. And my Bride's health is not the best, either. Wood working is a huge stress reliever for me, and just a get away when I go to the shop with my dogs. Nothing else is goin' on in that shop except what I am doin'. Everyone needs that.

If you can put together an "old farts club", send me an invite, Sir! Mr. Rocky & I are good friends.

Keep in touch.

2

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Took the plunge and bought a scroll saw

« on: January 03, 2019, 12:11:03 am »

Howdy Mr. Mark,

Congrats on your new ownership, Sir, and welcome to the forum!

It sounds like you had your recent purchase planned well. I will say HF tools are excellent beginner level tools, and nice to learn on. If and when you tire of the HF saw, or wear it out, whichever comes first, you'll know by then if this is the hobby for you, and you'll have a solid relationship with your saw.

Were I in your boots, I'd start watchin' CL and other such places for a good, solid used higher end saw as your skills improve. It won't be long, and you'll see why I'm letting you know this.

In the meantime, you made a wise choice in going with the pinless blade change over. Keep in mind every blade sings a different tune while cutting in different thicknesses of wood, so make sure your tension & speed are set correctly. Don't over tighten, but don't run to loose, either.

As far as bein' on the hunt for wood, if there's any construction goin' on in your territory, get to know the job foreman and ask him if he'd let ya do a little "dumpster divin' " in their dumpster. Them fellers pitch more "good lumber" than they pay for. You'd be surprised at the amount and size of lumber you'll find.

Another option, if you're on the ambitious side, might be pallet wood. It's a rough job gettin' them apart, but there is some excellent oak, ash, and maple to be had from those pallets. And, if you're fixed with a planer, jointer, and table saw, glue, clamps and patience, you're set, brother!

You can joint the edges of the pallet slats, run'em through your planer to clean'em up and smooth the faces, fix ya a glue up to look however ya want it to look at the thickness you decided, clamp it together, and let'er set overnight. The next morning, after ya take your clamps off, ya can start sizin' it with your table saw. Just that easy, you're off an' ready to start slingin' sawdust again!

Best of luck to ya, Sir! One step at a time. You'll get the addiction, I promise ya!

3

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Blade Changing

« on: December 28, 2018, 09:32:01 pm »

Howdy.

Something you may try if you're still having issues is to try flattening the ends of your blades with a small ball peen hammer. No need to beat the blade to death, just tap it til you flatten about 3/4" of the top and bottom of the blade where it will go into your blade holders and will allow your thumb screw to tighten against the flat spot you made in the blade stock.
This will allow for better gripping, and better blade guidance. Something else, Make sure that your thumb screw does not have any "shiny" spots on the face of it. If it does, gently rub it over 220 grit sandpaper to get rid of the shiny spots and put a grip surface back on the face of the thumb screw. Also, Make sure the spiral blade "bottoms out" in your blade holder. If it doesn't, your thumb screw will never hold a spiral blade correctly, and blade breakage will continue. Watch your tension and side to side motion against the spiral blade, as well.

Sawdust703

4

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Pattern removal cost

« on: November 26, 2018, 09:59:03 pm »

Howdy,

As far as cost concern, in reality, the blue painter's tape and spray adhesive is the cheapest way to go. You can buy Elmer's spray adhesive at Walmart for a little over $3 a can, and a roll of blue painter's tape is $4, maybe $5, and will complete several projects.

Personally, I have never used the stick & peel, shipping labels, or any of that. I have had good luck with painters tape and spray adhesive. I have tried different kinds of spray adhesive, and to this point, have had the best luck with loctite brand adhesive. It has a lemon smell to it, and takes a light spray on the project.

The secret to spray adhesive on a project to be glued down is not to DRENCH it with adhesive. Just a light spray across the back of the project, allow it to get good and sticky, then place your project on the painter's tape. If you don't give the adhesive those extra few seconds to dry, your pattern will LIFT off the wood during cutting, regardless of what your blade of choice is.

5

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Chair

« on: November 26, 2018, 09:19:55 pm »

Howdy Arkiewood,

It has been awhile since I've been on here myself. We have had a long and very rough year ourselves. Not only health wise, but financially, as well. I hope 2019 brings us better blessings, and for you folks, as well.

As far as your chair question, years ago, when I fist started scrollin', I sat on a wood bar stool. Had it for several years until I updated to a New Hawk a few years ago, and then I went to a barbers' chair. The barbers' chair allowed me to adjust my height to wherever was comfortable for me, and was a wide enough seat I wasn't crowded into it like an office chair.

Last Summer, I purchased a BM-26 Hawk, which a somewhat higher yet that my 220, so I had to locate yet another barber chair.

I have been using barber's chairs about 5 years now, and I won't go back to anything else!

Sawdust703

6

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Finger Numbness

« on: June 04, 2018, 11:56:41 pm »

try some acupuncture along with your chiropractic services. you might find that it'll help with the numbness & tingling.

7

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Wood Selection for Scrollsaw Patterns

« on: May 12, 2018, 03:47:48 pm »

we've all been in your position, trust me. And unless you have extremely deep pockets when you go wood shoppin', decisions are tough to make.

You can go to the wood database & look up any species of wood you're considering. It will give you an informative idea of each species, including color & look.

Otherwise from there, the next best thing is research. Start readin' & lookin' up in information on the woods that interest ya, & once you see work done in those woods, then maybe you can make a decision.

Another suggestion is to get acquainted with the folks at your wood store. Sometimes you can take a rag w/a little mineral spirits on it & rub on on the wood. It will give you a close look of what it will look like finished

8

Pattern Requests. / Re: Hereford Bull pattern

« on: May 12, 2018, 03:30:42 pm »

i found the bull pattern. thanks.

9

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Wood Selection for Scrollsaw Patterns

« on: May 09, 2018, 09:44:28 pm »

Kinda what dw said. You can use any wood you choose for your project. The projects you're seein' that have been completed by other scrollers are done with wood of their choice. Sometimes, projects use more than one species of wood.

you can use from 1/8" in thickness up to an 1" thick. my personal suggestion would be to avoid plywood at all cost. The glue between the layers will destroy blades faster'n you can change'em.

1/4" is good practice wood, ornaments, etc. I don't use it myself, my bride insists.

I use all hard wood in my projects. mostly 1/2" in thickness down to 3/32" in thickness. if you start out with wood, even its pine, you'll get the feel of it agin' the blade. every wood species cuts different.

blade selection & speed begins to enter in all of this. the thicker the wood the more aggressive the blade you're goin' to want to use. which in turn means slower blade speed. the thinner the wood, the smaller the blade, the faster the blade speed. you just have to learn this yourself. but don't ever be afraid to ask questions.

10

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Blade plumb

« on: May 09, 2018, 08:47:28 pm »

First of all, allow me to welcome you to the world of scrolling, my friend! You've stepped into a world of endless creations, constant learning, & the friendliest world of wood workers there is. Trust me.

They call me sawdust703, unless I'm in trouble. I'm a self taught scroller, & like you, had questions like no other. I did lots of research, lots of studyin' on different saws.

As far as your blade bein' plumb, ya should have adjustment screws on your blade clamps that will move your blade back & forth. w/out much knowledge of the DeWalt, I ain't able to guide you thru the adjustment. but it doesn't take alot of movement of each screw to change the setting. It should be square up & down.

You may have to make adjustments to your blade from time to time. keep it in check. with more experience, you'll be able to tell when blade adjustment is needed. good luck to you! start makin' some saw dust! God bless!

11

Pattern Requests. / Re: Hereford Bull pattern

« on: May 08, 2018, 12:00:19 pm »

I recently received a reply on my pattern request with a picture in a wall hanging of a hereford bull for their brother in law. I've managed to delete the information sent to me about the pattern & where I could get it. If I could get that person to kindly send me the information again, I would appreciate it. It was mentioned in the message that the wall hanging was made for their brother in law who raises black herefords. Any help would be appreciated. I'm needin' to get that pattern. Thank you again.

12

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Saw upgrade

« on: May 01, 2018, 03:24:02 am »

"keep it classy?" I reckon the first & foremost question I'd have to ask, & not to get personal, but do ya want honesty, & or smoke blown up your butt?

Then, what will your finances handle? If all you're cuttin' is fretwork, small projects, lettering, maybe occasionally 3/4" work? What do you do the most of, & what are your expectations of your saw? Usin' a bigger blade will not get ya more distance between the saw deck & the nose of the arm. Saw blades come in 5" length.

If you're lookin' for a saw that has more distance from the nose of the top arm to the saw deck, you're goin' to have to invest in a saw that the top arm lifts when you release tension. Which in turn, calls for a taller investment. I would start by lookin' on cl. You can find some decent deals on there, but be cautious. The next move would be to purchase new. Do some research. Read the reviews on the saw(s) you're interested in. Ask questions about those particular saws. Invest in the best you can afford that suit YOU & YOUR SITUATION. Not just by word of mouth. That just improves the ratings. If you've got a Woodcraft or such close, or can get involved in a scroll club, get your hands on a few different breeds of saws & test drive'em. See whatcha think. Otherwise, it'll just be by research.

Invest in a saw that has tech support & parts availability. You WILL need it. Trust me. Look at saws that have a resale value, also. All of us have got a boat anchor we'd like to unload. Consider it like buyin' a new car. If it don't suit your needs & have all the adjustments ya want on it, doesn't feel comfortable at the pilot seat, walk away from it & keep lookin'.

The saw you have now will do most anything you need it to do, it may just need cleaned, adjusted, & run until you find just the saw for you;)

I been at this 25+ years & have worn out a saw or two, had saws I didn't care for but done some of my best work on them. I just kept savin' & lookin' until I could invest in my first Hawk, & never looked back. I own a BM 26 now, amongst other saws. Keep lookin'! You'll find the right one for ya.

13

Pattern Requests. / Re: Hereford Bull pattern

« on: April 24, 2018, 09:25:28 pm »

thank you gentlemen. I'll give'em a look see. I appreciate your help!

14

The Coffee Shop / Re: Tragic Accident

« on: April 24, 2018, 03:31:40 am »

This is tragic news, & my condolences to the families & community. You're in our thoughts & prayers.

As a retired professional driver of 30 years of OTR drivin', accident free, this news makes me angry. We as Truck drivers are supposed to respect the road, others on it, & most of all, the laws of the road. Today's drivers don't have that respect, and I'm sorry. It also saddens me at the way these drivers treat the public, but yet want the title of a professional. It's humiliatin' to those of us that started out young, learned to drive before we had all these fancy trucks & laws. But we still had laws of the road to respect, & we did! As the years went by, we were under more laws, more enforcements, etc. We learned the laws, abided by them, earned the respect of the public. In the last 15 years, more & more folks are drivin trucks that can't even drive a car.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss, & our thoughts & prayers go out to you folks.

15

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Whats Happened ?

« on: April 24, 2018, 03:07:47 am »

Rocky, I agree! Facebook sucks! & Mr. Chuck, you are right, Sir!

I agree that this site has lost it's movement. When I first signed up, there were folks here lookin' for all kinds of information. Now there are gettin' to be so many other sites with more folks, more movement, topics in which newbies are lookin' for. And utube has taken many viewers from these sites, but if you'll notice in a lot of the questions or statements that come up, utube is in them.

I don't use utube, either. It's as bad as fb imo. Some folks seem to get educated from it, but I read. I run up on somethin' I ain't sure about, I'll research it & read about it first, then ask questions if I can't get my mind wrapped around it. Old school, I reckon.

I follow four sites, one of them close. But I think you folks are right. There are so many sites, folks are pullin' away from others.