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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: rfielder on September 24, 2018, 09:36:54 am
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I am looking at making some flat ornaments for this Christmas, and have a question for those who have been cutting these in the past.
Most patterns say to use 1/4" thick wood. That makes sense, the ornaments are not very big.
What is the preferred wood - 1/4" baltic birch plywood, or a hardwood that is 1/4" thick?
Thanks!
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I have no real preference, but if I am painting them I use baltic birch and hardwood for stained or clear finish. Many of the common ornament patterns do not present an opportunity to show off much pretty grain which pushes me to baltic birch for those. Something for you to give some thought to. Regards, GLC from Cypress, Tx
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....if I am painting them I use baltic birch and hardwood for stained or clear finish.
Thanks!
What is your source for 1/4" hardwood? Do you purchase it as such, or do you resaw your own?
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I sell Christmas ornaments at craft shows and do very well. I cut mine out of 1/8"Baltic Birch, stacked cut 4 at a time. This saves a lot of time and more profitable.
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I purchase from Heritagewood.com. They have baltic birch ply and "spec wood" in 1/8" and 1/4" thickness as well as thicker cuts. They do not carry a bountiful inventory, but cut to order. This usually runs two to three weeks for order to delivery cycle. Try to think ahead or have other things on hand when you order from them so there is no impact to you. Toneman's suggestion to stack cut will increase your efficiency and speed.
Regards GLC
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I've made a lot of ornaments over the past 20+ years and I think aesthetically speaking, the thinner the material the better. I resaw and plane my own hardwood, so I can make it whatever thickness I want. For really delicate fretwork ornaments, I typically use 1/8" Baltic Birch ply. It's stronger and less prone to breakage.
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I find it interesting that some people prefer 1/8" baltic birch.
I am fairly new, so this may just be my inexperience, but I would have thought that 1/8" would be a bit fragile, at least for some patterns.
There is a sheet of 1/8" at home, maybe I will cut a strip off one side and cut a few patterns, and see what they come out like.
With 1/8" material, your stack cutting could produce a LOT! :)
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I have cut both 1/8" and 1/4" this week. I am going to go back and recut the 1/4'" in 1/8" because the 1/4" inch looks to heavy and bulky.
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I'm actually considering going to 3/32" or 1/16" for my ornaments this year. BB ply is much less fragile and prone to breakage than hardwood of the same thickness.
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I've been cutting ornaments for 12 years and use 2 thicknesses. In hardwoods, it's always 1/4" and for the baltic birch plywood my clients prefer 1/16". I can cut 10 at a time in that thickness, but really prefer just 5 or 6 so I can use a #1 blade.
My new favorite blades are the Pegas modified geometry, but I only use the #1, because they are basically the same as Olson Mach blades, and I still have a ton of those in sizes 3,5 and 7. Really only use the #3. If they made a size #1, I'd have never found the Pegas. These blades leave the back TOTALLY smooth, with no sanding required. Now I don't know what to do with all the Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse #1's that I have left. Don't care to use them because of all the sanding required on the back.
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What, wait - Baltic Birch is available in 1/16"?
Up here, I think the thinnest is 1/8".
Just checked the Exotic Woods of Oakville website, and the thinnest they list is 3 ply 1/8".
How do you get 1/16"? How can you have less than 3 plies???
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For 1/16" baltic birch try Ebay search "baltic birch 1/16"" Regards, GLC in Cypress, Texas
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Michaels carries it here, in small sheets. A little pricey, but convenient.
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I get mine from an aircraft supply company, and it's 3 ply. Also comes in 1/32", but that's just too thin for me. Some clients called it dainty, but others called it flimsy. I like the 1/16" 'cause it's sturdy enough, but still light enough to tie on a gift, or enclose in a hand-delivered card.
It's available in lots of sizes, and shipping isn't too bad. I buy it in 12 X 24 inch sheets, and then cut those down to 4X8" pieces which can hold 2 ornaments each.
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Once again, something new is learned here! Much appreciated.
I have found a few sources for 1/16" baltic birch in Canada. Some are very expensive, and others are just expensive.
Michaels Canada does not list it on their website.
Suppliers like Exotic Woods Oakville and Peacock do not list anything under 1/8".
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Believe it or not, my neighbor bought a sheet of 1/64" baltic plywood from a local source here us. Anderson International Trading has it. I couldn't believe it either until I saw it with my own eyes. I have no idea what her project was that required it to be so thin.
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Just did an experiment with one Christmas ornament.
I stack cut four - three with 1/8" plywood, and one with 1/4" plywood, all Baltic Birch. I then painted two, and put some Tried & True finish on a third.
Here are my observations:
1> 1/8" is much nicer than 1/4". The 1/4" in this case is just too chunky
2> These are from a set of Christmas ornaments from Steve. The default size is larger than we like. We are going to reduce the size via photocopying the pattern and try again. The one pattern I used produced an ornmanet that is 4 7/8" tall
3> The painted ones are not as nice as I had hoped. The paint - one was a Christmas green, the other silver/chrome - just don't improve the ornments
4> The Tried & True finish did not do much of anything for the plywood. I think I will try some spray shellac next
5> Cutting the round part, around the hole for a wire, is tricky. That needs a lot of practice.
Does this match the results from others here?
My questions for others here:
- how do you finish your ornaments? Do you paint?
- do you find the sizes of ornament patterns a bit on the large size?
Thanks in advance!
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I stack and cut many ornaments from a book I bought from 1/8 th bb plywood, left them plain unfinished. set them out at a trade fair as a give away. not one ornament was picked up yet people bought other items, go figure
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Our scroll saw clubs cuts simple ornaments from 1/8 BBP, and we well them through the local Creative Woodworking CLub store for $1.00 each. Proceeds go back to the scroll saw club to pay our rent where we meet. The ornaments always seem to sell well. Perhaps it is because they are free that people think there is something wrong, or they are rejects.
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That is true, FREE doesn't sell well.
Try making a few fancier ones and have two or three prices for them. Like $1.00, $2.00 and $3.00 just to see if that makes a difference. People want to spend money especially if they are getting a good deal or, it is perceived as a good deal. You could add "$1.00 each or three for $4.00" just to see what happens. :)
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{"You could add "$1.00 each or three for $4.00" just to see what happens. :)"}
LOL, Roger, I love it!!!!
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Just did an experiment with one Christmas ornament.
I stack cut four - three with 1/8" plywood, and one with 1/4" plywood, all Baltic Birch. I then painted two, and put some Tried & True finish on a third.
Here are my observations:
1> 1/8" is much nicer than 1/4". The 1/4" in this case is just too chunky
2> These are from a set of Christmas ornaments from Steve. The default size is larger than we like. We are going to reduce the size via photocopying the pattern and try again. The one pattern I used produced an ornmanet that is 4 7/8" tall
3> The painted ones are not as nice as I had hoped. The paint - one was a Christmas green, the other silver/chrome - just don't improve the ornments
4> The Tried & True finish did not do much of anything for the plywood. I think I will try some spray shellac next
5> Cutting the round part, around the hole for a wire, is tricky. That needs a lot of practice.
Does this match the results from others here?
My questions for others here:
- how do you finish your ornaments? Do you paint?
- do you find the sizes of ornament patterns a bit on the large size?
Thanks in advance!
I've finished ornaments several different ways. It depends on the wood I'm using and the pattern. I've used paint, stain, dye, Danish Oil & Shellac. Shellac is my favorite finish for many scrolled projects. Baltic birch is pretty plain, so leaving it natural or just with a clear finish doesn't really enhance it's visual appeal much. However, depending on the style of the ornament, that may be OK. Sometimes I supplement with paint or dye. Stain doesn't do well on BBP, as it tends to be blotchy.
I've never cut any of Steve's ornament patterns. I have patterns for hundreds of ornaments of all shapes, styles and sizes. Generally speaking, I don't really care for very large ornaments, but it depends on the style and the pattern.
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Once again, something new is learned here! Much appreciated.
I have found a few sources for 1/16" baltic birch in Canada. Some are very expensive, and others are just expensive.
Michaels Canada does not list it on their website.
Suppliers like Exotic Woods Oakville and Peacock do not list anything under 1/8".
Hi rfielder
Where is Peacock Woods. Is it in Oakville as well ?
Phillmore Enterprises in London ONT may have some wood your looking for ,if your down that way sometime.
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I've made a lot of ornaments over the past 20+ years and I think aesthetically speaking.
Which or what type of Christmas ornaments do you find sell the best? Christmas tree ornaments or do you sell the bigger projects?
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Once again, something new is learned here! Much appreciated.
I have found a few sources for 1/16" baltic birch in Canada. Some are very expensive, and others are just expensive.
Michaels Canada does not list it on their website.
Suppliers like Exotic Woods Oakville and Peacock do not list anything under 1/8".
Where is peacock woods? is it in Oakville as well?
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Try something fun, use CD's for small ornaments. They are pretty
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Where is peacock woods? is it in Oakville as well?
Peacock Lumber
http://www.peacocklumber.ca/
328 Ritson Road North
Oshawa, Ontario L1G 5P8
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I've made a lot of ornaments over the past 20+ years and I think aesthetically speaking.
Which or what type of Christmas ornaments do you find sell the best? Christmas tree ornaments or do you sell the bigger projects?
I don't sell anything. I make ornaments to give away to family and friends, etc. Last year I made about 100. I make ornaments that appeal to me and that offer a challenge.