Messages

31

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Torn between Dewlt or Excaliber

« on: December 22, 2013, 11:13:48 am »

I started with a 16" hitachi, and it is a nice saw. I was getting saws for my high shop and decided to get 2 dewalts. They are nice saws, but when I decided that I needed to upgrade my home saw I knew I wanted better and went for the Excalibur.
My husband is a tool guy, so I didn't really need to justify the purchase of the better saw but the way I explained it was that if I bought the dewalt, I would still want to upgrade sometime to the Excalibur. I just skipped a step. Although if you can get a good deal on a dewalt used it might be an better option. I see more dewalts on craigslist then Excaliburs.
I believe on the motor it will say if it is a type 1 or type 2

32

Pattern Requests. / Re: Fly Fishing Ornament

« on: December 09, 2013, 09:02:24 pm »

The daughter of one of my most repeat customers is an avid fly fisher-woman. I can't wait to cut this for her!!

33

Pattern Requests. / Re: Snowman Plaque

« on: December 08, 2013, 01:24:09 pm »

I made a few of these, and got lots of compliments. I also have an order for 4 with grandchildren's names cut in place of Noel.
Thanks for the awesome pattern!!!!!

34

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Best scroll saw to buy

« on: December 07, 2013, 07:14:52 pm »

I agree with EIEIO. I really like the porter-cable for a budget saw. I bought it for my middle school shop, and I have a similar model at home.  I have a couple of Dewalts in my high school shop, but I upgraded to the Excalibur. I will probably never have to upgrade again.

Hawk and Hegner both come standard with blade changing that requires tools. I believe both can be modified with after-market blade clamps, but if I spend that kind of money I shouldn't have to buy after-market parts.

A friend of mine has an Eclipse, and loves it. It cost a ton, runs smooth as can be, but looks big and bulky and blade changing isn't fun.


Another thought I have on the subject is that not everyone will use their scroll saw enough to notice the difference between a porter-cable and an Excalibur. 

35

Pattern Requests. / Re: Moose and hunter

« on: December 07, 2013, 06:59:40 pm »

Cool Pattern!!! Any chance you could swap out the moose for a deer/buck. My students most common request is for deer and hunting stuff. They would love it!

36

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: My first try at stack cutting

« on: December 05, 2013, 05:41:39 pm »

very nice job!

37

General Scroll Saw Talk / I got mine!!!

« on: December 04, 2013, 08:46:01 pm »

First, I have to apologize to all of my Canadian friends (and others who have sent me ornaments), but my son has a new favorite country.
This year as we were setting up the Christmas tree, my son helped me put the ornaments that I had gotten from exchanges in the past. He was amazed at all of the fun places that I have friends. (sorry Cherie, but British Columbia was way cooler the Missouri) My son was also amazed at the quality of ornaments that I have received "wow, these are really nice. Your's are ok but these are really nice"
For the last week or so, Canada has been The Location for all cool things. However, today in the mail I got the most beautiful ornaments from Marge in Australia. We had to have a little geography lesson, he was pretty much convinced that Australia had no electricity, food or mail. He was mixing up the African missionary from church with Australia. The Christmas card had a bunch of cool Australian animals that were fun to look at. Once we got that figured out we could really look at the ornaments. There was even a cool ruler with different Australian woods. Noah was really confused about the ruler, there are no inches on it just millimeters.
Needless to say, Noah has a new favorite country for a while. I will post a picture when I can get the photo re-sized on my computer.
Thanks so much!!!

38

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Why baltic birch?

« on: December 03, 2013, 09:03:54 pm »

I teach woodshop, and do a lot of stuff about material properties.
Baltic Birch true plywood comes in 5'x5' sheets, not 4'x8' like most other sheet goods. I don't know why it is a different size, I tell my students that it is a weird European thing (no offence guys )
Baltic Birch plywood has lots of layers, and all of them are the same material. A 3/4" thick piece can have 7 or 11 layers, making it more stable then other plywood. Also, the added glue layers make it stronger then other plywood. Even with the added layers, the layers are thicker then the finish veneers of other plywood, so it chips less and the chips are less noticeable because they are all the same material
I believe that true Baltic Birch Plywood has no voids, but other forms of birch plywood does have voids. This might not be entirely accurate, but the guy at the lumber yard said it was true.

Other types of plywood have a variety of cores, some better suited for scrolling then others. A lot of 1/4" stuff has a particle core with two thin face veneers. This typically doesn't hold up well to thin parts that are often in portraits.

The grain of BBP is pretty plain, so it doesn't distract from a design but is just enough to make it still look like wood.

The lack of voids, stability, strength and size make Baltic Birch Plywood an awesome material for scrolling.

39

Pattern Requests. / Re: Star Wars Portrait

« on: November 23, 2013, 11:22:03 pm »

Do a search for "Star Wars stencil" or "Star Wars pumpkins carving patterns" many things to choose from.

40

Pattern Requests. / Re: Snowman Plaque

« on: November 19, 2013, 08:30:31 pm »

I like this a lot.

41

Pattern Requests. / Re: Simple scroll saw patterns

« on: November 15, 2013, 11:27:35 pm »

Like the guys said, don't be intimated by portraits. Most of the time once you take the pattern off it won't matter if you were on the lines or not. (Eyes and letters are about the only exceptions)

42

Pattern Requests. / Re: Christmas Ornaments (with PDFs) - The Nativity Story

« on: November 15, 2013, 11:25:20 pm »

I love this set of ornaments!!!! you are so awesome!!! I am going to give a bunch of these for Christmas gifts, I can think of at least 5 sets that I "have" to give this year. Maybe stack cutting is in order.

Thanks again!!!

43

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Cutting thin brass

« on: October 28, 2013, 08:43:44 pm »

when cutting metal I always sandwich it between two thin pieces of wood and cut using a normal blade. It has worked with aluminum, steel and brass.

44

General Scroll Saw Talk / Minneapolis Area Scrollers (or anyone who wants to travel a bit)

« on: October 28, 2013, 08:40:23 pm »

I posted this in the get togethers forum, but didn't get any replies. I am pretty sure I am not the only Minnesotan (or western wisconsin) on the forum. I hope that someone here can make it!!!!

On November 2, 2013 the NorthStar Scrollers are hosting a seminar by Dirk and Karen Boelman (of The Art Factory) The meeting will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington (1114 American Blvd, Bloomington, MN 55420)

In the morning we will have a short business meeting at 9:30 followed by a seminar by the Boelmans. We will break for a pot-luck lunch and then the Boelmans will be putting on a hands-on scrolling seminar until about 4:00
Members attend free in the morning and pay $20.00 for the afternoon. Non-members pay $5 for the morning and $20 for the afternoon.

Visit our website http://www.northstarscrollers.org/ for more info, or message me

It will be an awesome day to meet and socialize with scrollers, and learn about our hobby!
Katie Nielsen
Vice-President NorthStar Scrollers

45

Get togethers, shows and swap meets / Minneapolis Area Scrollers (or anyone who wants to travel a bit)

« on: October 19, 2013, 06:02:46 pm »

On November 2, 2013 the NorthStar Scrollers are hosting a seminar by Dirk and Karen Boelman (of The Art Factory) The meeting will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington (1114 American Blvd, Bloomington, MN 55420)

In the morning we will have a short business meeting at 9:30 followed by a seminar by the Boelmans. We will break for a pot-luck lunch and then the Boelmans will be putting on a hands-on scrolling seminar until about 4:00
Members attend free in the morning and pay $20.00 for the afternoon. Non-members pay $5 for the morning and $20 for the afternoon.

Visit our website http://www.northstarscrollers.org/ for more info, or message me

It will be an awesome day to meet and socialize with scrollers, and learn about our hobby!
Katie Nielsen
Vice-President NorthStar Scrollers