Messages

1

Ask Steve a question. / STOOPID ??

« on: September 06, 2020, 06:45:30 pm »

Steve.  A few years ago I worked with a man who asked me a question.  When I said I did not know the answer, he replied that I was ignorant.  Well!  Then he explained that if a person doesn't know an answer he is ignorant until he learns about it.  OK.  If he is unable to learn, then he is stupid. 

I just finished cutting your pattern "You Can't Fix Stoopid".  I laugh when I see that pattern and think of the friend who let me know when I was ignorant instead of stupid, and vice versa!

Take Care, Stay Safe and well.

Bellman70

Karl Koch

2

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Sticky Wood

« on: January 07, 2019, 10:19:49 pm »

Thanks for the response.  I do have some sanding sealer on hand.  I think I will sand everything down as best I can, then put a few coats of sealer on it and sand after the sealer dries.  I usually like to show the grain of the wood, but in this case, if the sealer works, it should look nice with a few coats of black lacquer.
Thanks again.

3

General Scroll Saw Talk / Sticky Wood

« on: January 03, 2019, 04:57:45 pm »

Here's a new one for me.  Tried to use a bit of reclaimed wood from an old bed frame that was being thrown out.  Nice and straight, 1 1/2 in thick, about 6 inches wide and over 6 feet long.  Planned on making a small box just cutting a square piece for the body then cutting the inside of it out leaving a quarter inch wall on all four sides.
After I cut it, I found that parts of the wood were still slightly sticky.  I know it is some sort of pine, but this is an old piece of wood.  Now, will it dry enough to work with?  Would a sealer help?  Is it just good for firewood?
Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bellman70

4

General Scroll Saw Talk / Thank you Wood Magazine

« on: June 09, 2018, 09:51:03 pm »

Thought I would start using a metal stand that came with one of my scroll saws.  I had a stand made from 2X4s for about the last 20 years.  Found a pattern in an old Wood magazine.  When putting the stand together, and trying to fasten in the end grain, you insert a 3/4 inch dowl about 2 inches back of the end grain.  The lag screw goes into the end grain, but imbeds itself in the dowl rod.  After all these years, and two moves, when I took the wooden stand apart, it came apart easily.  Nothing but lag screws holding it together, no glue.
Kept the wooden parts just in case the metal stand doesn't work out!

5

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Oops

« on: May 24, 2018, 09:24:48 pm »

So.. I'm not the only one with an "OOOPS" moment.  I had cut a heart shape with a saying inside out of 1/4' hardwood.  Almost done with the lettering when half the letter a broke off.
This was a gift to my wife, so I carefully reglued the piece with super glue.  It looks good and has been hanging in our front room for the past few years.  If it can be glued and still look good, then no one ever has to know.

6

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Backing for cut-out letter signs

« on: May 26, 2017, 09:44:11 pm »

Thanks for the ideas.  Did get some black foam board and glued it to the back of one of my signs.  So far it seems to be holding up in this rainy & windy weather.
I am going to have to try the bevel cut on another sign soon.
Thanks again.

7

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Backing for cut-out letter signs

« on: May 06, 2017, 10:10:25 pm »

Thanks for the help.  As far as cheap pine for the backing, any wood, especially thin wood is not going to be cheap.  But, I might try the craft store and look for a thin foam board. 

The other idea of bevel cuts and pushing the letters out so they stick out is one that I never thought of.  I have made things with bevel cuts, but never thought of using it for free standing signs. 

Thanks for the help.

Bellman70

8

General Scroll Saw Talk / Backing for cut-out letter signs

« on: May 03, 2017, 10:34:18 pm »

Made some wooden signs with the letters cut out of the wood.  Free standing to put in the garden.
Depending on the light, the letters are sometimes hard to read.  I want to put a dark backing piece to make it more readable.  But, I hate the thought of using a perfectly good piece of thin plywood just for a backer.  Any suggestions on what I could use that would make the lettering easier to see, and be waterproof enough to use as an outdoor sign?
Thanks,
Bellman70

9

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Losing my grip

« on: January 24, 2017, 10:30:38 pm »

Thanks to everyone for the great advice.  Rubber gloves?  I use those every time I stain anything.  Never thought of that.  I have seen gloves with rubber coated palms and fingers, but they look too bulky to be useful.  Rubber Fingers?  Just today my wife was cleaning out a box of old sewing and craft stuff and found a bunch of rubber fingers that were too big for her.  Just fit me!

Again, thank you.  You have given me some great ideas and I will be trying them out over the next few months.

Bellman70

10

General Scroll Saw Talk / Losing my grip

« on: January 23, 2017, 09:37:41 pm »

The winter so far has been mild enough that I was able to spend some time in my unheated garage and do some scrolling.  Found my self making a few errors because I kept loosing my grip on the wood.  The pattern was covered in clear tape, but a few times I cut a little wwwiiidddeee on the curves because of not being able to keep a good grip on the wood.
I have two problems.  One I am old and my skin is dry.  Don't expect much help on that one.  But the other is how do you keep a good grip while sawing?  Don't want to use a heavy cream that may get onto the project I am making.  Just looking for ideas.
Thanks,
Bellman70

11

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Foot switch

« on: November 25, 2016, 09:39:28 pm »

I use a tall stand that I built about 15 years ago, so I'm always standing and using the dead-man switch type foot pedal.  Lately I have been getting some pain the the leg I stand on ( I don't seem to put too much weight on the pedal leg).  Using a stool and mounting the switch so I could reach it with my knee is one thing I never thought of.  Thanks.  The other idea of a switch that latches on may be another thing I may try.  Thanks for the great ideas.

12

Introduce Yourself. / New Old Guy

« on: November 18, 2016, 11:53:26 pm »

Been using the patterns and reading the posts on this site for a while.  Guess it is time to get more involved.  Started scrolling with a Craftsman saw back in 1994.  Liked it, but liked pulling a trailer and traveling more.  Kept coming back to scrolling until I moved to an apartment.  Took a few years, but finally managed to make enough room in the attached (but unheated) garage.  Broke the Craftsman (parts no longer available), scraped enough pennies together to get a Porter-Cable, used it a couple of years, but decided I really wanted something a little better.  Just recently got a Delta.  Wow!  What a difference.  The only downside is that if a make a bad cut, I can no longer blame it on the saw!
Looking forward to learning even more thanks to the dedicated scrollers here.
(This message written near the cold, windy shores of Lake Erie)