Topics

1

General Scroll Saw Talk / Typo in URL for today's Raccoon wall art pattern.

« on: May 09, 2024, 10:22:14 am »

The URL for today's Raccoon wall art pattern has a typo - there's only one c.  Just change it from 'racoon' to 'raccoon' and it will work just fine.

2

General Scroll Saw Talk / Unicorn Rocker 11/13/23

« on: November 13, 2023, 11:32:47 am »

Until Steve gets the link to the Unicorn Rocker pattern fixed those of you who want to download can do what I did - click on the Pattern Catalog link on the top bar and grab it from there.

Or just click here: https://www.stevedgood.com/catalog/index.php

3

Brag Forum / Quick & Easy Advent Calendar

« on: December 03, 2021, 01:37:33 pm »

The picture limitations of the forum made it too tough to put this directly here so I did a quick & dirty web page with it.  Basically, you can make a very simple reusable Advent Calendar in a couple of hours.

https://svandyke.com/AdventCalendar/AdventCalendar.html

Steve, if you happen to see this a pattern like this would be a good choice for early November.

4

Ask Steve a question. / Love the Battleship!

« on: April 18, 2021, 04:01:56 pm »

Steve,

When you did that survey recently I mentioned that I have a lot of 1/4" scrap from making jigsaw puzzles and would like patterns that let me use them.

Boy did you hit it out of the park with the Battleship pattern (04/18/2021)!  When I get a chance to do that one it will be all from my scrap pile.  I hate throwing away good wood (so I never do) and this is a pretty cool thing that will let me use it.

KCSteve :->

(Scroll-Right.com for those who want to see the puzzles)

5

Ask Steve a question. / Simple finish gate idea

« on: April 05, 2021, 09:16:37 am »

Steve,

I've been thinking about a simple finish gate for the 04/05/21 racing game.  The best I can come up with is a pair of pegs on the outside of the finish.  Slot down the center of the pegs from the top, then string a strip of toilet or tissue paper across the track.  It should either break or pull out of the slot showing which car won the race.

I was trying to think of something with a wooden flag and the best I could come up with was using gate bars hinged on the outside that pull out from under a center structure so it tips over into the winning track but it kept getting way too complicated.

6

Ask Steve a question. / Steve, you're really killing it with the advice lately!

« on: February 02, 2021, 09:00:48 am »

I know Steve doesn't get on the forum that often, but I just wanted to say that his recent add on bits to the daily posts for new scrollers have been extremely helpful.

Heck, his little chart for ID'ing loose blades is well worth printing off.  I had three blades stuck to a magnet but I wasn't certain which they were.  Printed a copy of the chart and confirmed they are what I thought they were.

If someone (and I'm going to assume it will not be Steve) has the time, it would be great to build a list of all of the 'other' stuff in the blog posts.
This link: www.stevedgood.com/sswslist.html
lets you see the list of all of the posts (it can take a while to load) but it only shows the 'official' topic.  It would be great to have a companion (possibly a post / thread on the forum) showing the other things Steve puts in, such as that blade chart, or the circle cutting jig / method we've been talking about but having trouble finding the post for.

Thanks again for all your hard work Steve, even if you may not see this thread.

KCSteve :->

7

General Scroll Saw Talk / Setting blade tension on a Jet scroll saw

« on: June 16, 2020, 06:30:14 pm »

So, on Saturday I will have had my Jet scroll saw for 6 months.

Today I suddenly realized I've been trying to set the blade tension completely wrong the whole time. 

On pretty much every saw the big knob at the back sets your tension.

Jet saws are different.

The Jet uses a lower blade holder and a cool upper clamp that uses a flip arm.  When you flip the arm the upper clamp closes on the blade and pulls it up into place.

So the big knob at the back of the Jet saw?  That's really just for adjusting the spacing between the arms.  It does affect the tension, but only in a crude way and if you try to set it too tight you can't get a blade in.

The knob is to get the arms parallel and to make sure that the upper clamp comes down far enough to grab the top of the blade.  You rotate the flip arm of the clamp to set your tension.

Once I realized it I was able to get my blade to the exact tension I wanted rather than just kind of close.

I'd say the realization made me feel stupid, but it's just one more thing on a long list. 

The manual does tell you all of this, it's just so different from other saws that it didn't sink in until today.

8

Brag Forum / Finally built myself a cart - HUGE improvement!

« on: April 30, 2020, 09:25:46 am »

I had my saw mounted on a cheap stand from Harbor Freight.  It worked, but it was bit flimsy and hard to move.  I could only use certain speeds on my saw because others would resonate the stand and cause way too much vibration.  I got tired of it and made myself a cart very loosely based on the one Steve recently posted a video about.  That gentleman sells plans for his but his is for  a Dewalt and I have a Jet. I did use 3/4" plywood and drywall screws, and it sits on 3 lockable casters so the basic idea is there.  Three casters is better than four - three points will always sit nice and stable on a surface while four may not.  Two in front for stability and one in the back.  I colored the 'on' ends of the locks red to make them easier to see.

One of the first things I did after taking these pictures was upgrade my 'hunk O' 2x4' blade storage rack to the one Steve posted here:
http://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/2017/01/scroll-saw-blade-holder-pattern.html

At some speeds there's just enough vibration that things on the bottom shelf can walk.  The cup holder was added after my drink walked off during a long cut.  I put some shelf paper under my blade rack to hold it in place.  Other minor tweaks may come over time.

As you can see, I don't have a lot of space to work in.  I don't have a workshop, I have 'some' space in the garage (sometimes I move my car out to the driveway).  The nice thing about scrolling is that it doesn't take a lot of space.

The cart is just a rectangular base with supports front and back for the top.  The back cross piece goes all the way down to form the back of the storage area.  The front one only goes half way so I can get at the storage area from the front.  I used some scrap boards to make a few compartments.  The one in the front is for stuff I use all the time.  The one at the back bottom is for stuff I want with the saw (like the manual and such) but don't need that often.   The ever-indulgent wife bought me both the Scroller's drill and Seyco's small dust collection system.  The compartment at the back on top holds the little vacuum (that thing is scary powerful!).  There's a hole for the hose (another one you can't see gets it through the center support).  The system is designed to mount to their stand but it only took a little work to adapt it to my setup.  There is no sawdust, other than what comes off the top of the board (which is why my drink is on the left side).

The cart is so nice and solid it's actually an upgrade to my already great saw.  And, as the weather gets warmer I have the option of moving outside and giving the neighbors something new to talk about. 

Due to attachment restrictions I'll just put one/post

9

General Scroll Saw Talk / Seems like a good time to fire up our saws

« on: March 13, 2020, 05:07:20 pm »

With the current virus situation it sounds like it's a good time to fire up our scroll saws.

There are no sports to watch, can't go out to any events, and we're supposed to be trying to stay six feet away from most folks.
Plus, a lot of us are in, or near, the higher-risk group making these things even more important.

As long as we've got a pile of wood to work with it sounds to me like we're supposed to be heading to the shop.  Heck, a lot of folks are even wearing masks, just to be safe. 

In all seriousness, I hope everyone - and their loved ones - make it through this thing ok.

10

General Scroll Saw Talk / Newbie in Kansas City

« on: January 01, 2020, 05:35:41 pm »

Just got my authorization to post - Hi folks! 

Branson, MO is only about 3 hours from KC.  There's a gentleman that goes by Mr. M there who teaches scroll saw.  This year I finally made it down for his class.  Also learned pen turning but that's another thing.  I thought I had a scroll saw - a 16" Ryobi I bought for about $69 at the discount tool place years ago.  Not too bad but not really up to real use.  Wore out on me in the middle of a project.

Went to the nearby Menards and got the best (only) saw they had, the 18" Masterforce for $200.  It's 80% great, 15% "hey, it's a $200 saw", and 5% unusable.  Doesn't really handle pinless blades.  They give you set screws and an allen wrench.  If you have access to a machinist it would be easy to replace their 'clamps' with something better but the arm doesn't lift so....

I really tried to make it work but just couldn't and had to take it back.  Went down to the local Woodcraft and bit the bullet to get a good saw.  Checked out the Dewalt but I just liked the 18" Jet better - https://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/jwss-18b-18-scroll-saw/727300B

Very pleased with it.  It is a bottom feed but the arm lifts 10" and stays up.  The blade holding is slightly odd.  There's a lower blade holder you put the blade in then use a hole on the side of the saw to tighten.  Once you pop the holder into the lower arm the upper clamp is a flip arm that cams in a pair of flats to grab and lift the end.  Set the tension once with the knob on the back and you get the same tension every time.

We looked at the lights at Woodcraft but didn't want to pay their price.  Instead we went to the Joann near our house and looked at the Ott lights there.  They didn't have a good desk mounted swing arm but the ever-indulgent wife spotted a little one made for use on a sewing machine - https://www.joann.com/ottlite-sewing-machine-light/15437528.html#prefn1=brand&srule=best-sellers&prefv1=Ottlite%20Lighting&addShipToHomeConditions=false&start=1
The reviews are very mixed but it's working well for me.  You can use one of those 3M Command strips to attach it to the side of the saw.  The arm is a bit weak but mine is working well so far.  I tried the magnifier head once - it's more likely to droop but also worked well.  Just don't need it most of the time, at least for now.

Having fun, improving my skills.  Probably most just lurk here but you never know.

Enjoy!

KCSteve :->