Messages

31

The Coffee Shop / Re: Shipping??? I mean, Really????

« on: February 03, 2017, 05:00:10 pm »

I agree completely!  That's why it's so nice getting patterns free from Steve, or buying them from Sue Mey or Sheila Landry and having them sent by email.  Not only do you get them without shipping costs, but they arrive SO quickly.   Their patterns are well priced and there's always something new.

My other main pattern source is Pedro at finescrollsaw.com  in Spain.  His patterns are old ones that he has redrawn on the computer.  Prices are a bit steep, at least the Euro is way down so that helps.  Shipping on these is REALLY expensive unless you have him email them and then you can forward the email to a print shop where they have a larger printer.  If nothing else, it's fun to see what he has available!
Nancy

32

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Woodimals.....

« on: February 02, 2017, 04:42:34 pm »

Sounds frustrating!  The Wooden Teddy Bear has over 600 animal and other puzzles on their website www.woodenteddybear.com
Their catalog lists many of them, but only pictures of about 14.  I'm sure online it would show a picture of each of the 600 available.
Good luck.
Nancy

33

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Jet Scroll Saw

« on: February 01, 2017, 07:25:33 pm »

I've only had mine for about 2 months, but absolutely love it and have had no problems with it. 
Nancy

34

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Newbie here

« on: February 01, 2017, 03:44:05 pm »

Hi Jerry,

Welcome to our group!  I'm sure you'll learn lots of tips here.  You've already found You Tube videos, and those can be a big help.  Mostly this hobby is just learned by putting in the hours at the saw, refining your technique.  Nice that Steve offers lots of free patterns to get you started.
Nancy from Washington state

35

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: The new SEYCO scroll saw

« on: January 27, 2017, 12:01:23 am »

I called Seyco yesterday, asking about purchasing one of the dust blowers from their new saw for my Jet, and they said the new saw wouldn't be available until late February to mid March.  I know the dust blowers on DeWalts and Excaliburs are interchangeable, so hoping their will be also.  I like the fact that it points toward the back of the saw and not the side.  Might help keep some of the dust out of the way when I take the saw to shows and don't have my shop vac system set up.
Nancy from Washington state

36

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Blade Chuck

« on: January 26, 2017, 11:39:45 pm »

I don't know about the Delta, but I've replaced lower blade clamps on my DeWalt with ones from Excaliburs, and they work fine.
Nancy

37

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Subjective "JET" review....

« on: January 24, 2017, 11:35:10 pm »

Just my 2 cents about the center slot.  I've had my Jet since Dec 2 and have never had any trouble with tiny pieces falling in there and catching as I cut.  Just hasn't been an issue.  Also, when I was researching the saw, the guys at Woodcraft said they didn't want to carry it because the slot would weaken the table.  Since it's a cast iron table, that certainly isn't a problem.

If you get to try the saw at a show, make sure you try the bottom blade holder to get the feel for how far you can put the blade in.  As Steve said in his review, if you put it too far in, the blade won't be long enough to hit the "stop" in the upper holder.  Put it in just far enough to clamp securely and no more.  It does take a bit of getting used to, but I'm not all that bright and I figured it out, so the rest of you should be fine!

Hope you get to try one, and I'm jealous that you get to go to the shows... there aren't any close to me at all.  Used to be some just across the line in Canada - which is only 1/4 mile from me - but not for the past several years.
Nancy in Washington state.

38

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Losing my grip

« on: January 23, 2017, 11:40:07 pm »

My hands are often cold, even in a heated shop, so I generally wear gloves.  I've tried many kinds, but my favorite is Wonder Grip Nearly Naked.  There's WG1850AC also on the glove.  They really grip the wood and are snug fitting, so no extra bulky fabric getting in the way.  Especially helpful for thin wood that's hard to grip. 

Not sure where I actually bought them, but also saw them on ebay.
Nancy

39

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Subjective "JET" review....

« on: January 21, 2017, 11:41:03 pm »

Just some thoughts on the new Jet saw.  I currently have DeWalts and Excaliburs and the new Jet.  The only one I use now is the Jet.  While I can't say I love the bottom blade holder, once you get used to it, it's no big deal, and yes, you can put it in without looking.  The top blade holder is FANTASTIC!   As someone who uses their saw up to 6 hours a day, it sure is nice to never have to mess with that thumb screw again.  As anyone can see, it's pretty much a white Excalibur, but with all the things I didn't like about the Ex redesigned and more functional.

As far as having to move back to get the blade through from the bottom, I have no problem.  I was a top feeder with the DeWalt, but have not had a problem adjusting.  The hole in the table is much closer than the 788, which turns out to be better for me.  I wear trifocals and used to have kind of jut my neck forward and tip my head up to look through the very bottom of the lenses.  Now it's much easier, and my neck pain is gone.

My only recommendation for someone who is considering buying the new Jet, is to make sure you also get the stand.  I bought them together, but thought I'd just sit it on the desk where the DeWalt had been, but there was WAY too much vibration.  It's a corner desk, 6 feet on each side, made of 2X6's and bolted to the floor.  The DeWalt wasn't even bolted down and it worked fine.  Now the desk is 2 feet shorter on the right side to make room for the Jet on it's stand.  No more vibration problems.

To sum up, I LOVE the saw, and I think the guys at Woodcraft just need to learn how to operate it.  Sometimes  things take a bit of practice to learn, but it's so worth it.  That's the whole point of the new blade clamp system...it's new! 
Nancy from Washington state

40

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Hello from Northern Ky

« on: January 19, 2017, 09:47:51 pm »

Hello and welcome!  You'll find so many helpful people on this site.  As a new scroller, you'll probably have questions, and these people will be happy to supply answers.  Most of scrolling is simply practice, and getting used to the saw, but there are some tricks that you'll pick up from reading the blog every day.

My husband says the main difference in running a scroll saw, from any other saw, is that you have to keep your fingers constantly moving, and close to the blade.  Of course this is just the opposite of what you would do on something like a table saw or bandsaw, but you'll get used to it.  Steve Good likes to say that a scroll saw is an "ouch machine"  compared to some of the other truly dangerous tools out there.

Relax and enjoy yourself!
Nancy from Washington state

41

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Welcome

« on: December 23, 2016, 02:16:51 pm »

Hi and welcome.  I'm Nancy from Washington state.  You're going to love getting into this hobby and fully exploring it.  This site will give you tons of advice, and all of Steve's patterns are free...my favorite price!

42

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Question concerning a Video Steve showed in the near past.... ?

« on: December 14, 2016, 08:30:13 pm »

I didn't see it, but the product is called a Scrollnado, and it's $49 on Amazon.  I'll bet if you looked on You Tube, Steve probably has the video posted there.

I rigged up something similar for my saws and it's great not having sawdust all over the place.  Seyco has an interesting part that I use for under the table, and just some 3/4 inch tubing connected to standard white pvc plumbing parts for the top, with a Y connector in between.  You can even use two of the Seyco parts.

Seyco's part is called a universal 1 1/4" adapter, and they also sell a small dust collector vacuum that it attaches to.  Look under scroll saws, and scroll down to see them.

Hope some of this helps.
Nancy

43

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Planing Boards

« on: December 13, 2016, 12:04:08 am »

Hi Dave,

This is a very common problem.  I find that the wider the board, the more it likes to warp. Not only are you making the wood thinner and easier to warp, but any time you cut a piece of wood, you release stress in the wood and movement can happen.  Not to mention that your neighbor's shop probably has different conditions as far as heat and humidity.

Quarter sawn wood tends to not warp as badly as flat sawn, but also doesn't show the nice grains as well, so there's a trade-off there. 

You can try adding some weight to the wood until it has time to re-adjust to it's new "home" and thickness, but it still may warp.  Just part of the fun of working with wood.

44

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Package thief

« on: December 09, 2016, 01:29:22 pm »

Great news!  Now they just have to find him so he can get what's coming to him.

45

The Coffee Shop / Re: Black Friday

« on: November 26, 2016, 04:08:49 pm »

I should mention that Ray said the 15% is only good through Monday, if you're thinking of getting one.  I received an email from Tools Plus that they were offering 15% off AND free shipping, but I decided that if I needed any help with the saw, they might not be much help, as opposed to Ray, who knows scroll saws backwards and forwards.

Once called an authorized  repair shop about one of my DeWalts and the guy said the roller guides must be out of alignment.  Roller guides on a scroll saw? I need someone who knows a bit more than that!
Nancy in Washington state