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Introduce Yourself. / Re: new
« on: November 10, 2015, 06:17:49 pm »
Welcome to the forum! You'll find this forum to be friendly & helpful, & there are scrollers here with all levels of experience. I'm Brad from Kansas.
News: Had a couple issues with the forum today. 1/19/2017. I believe I have them corrected now. Let me know if you have any trouble. Thanks.
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77
Introduce Yourself. / Re: Hello from Arkansas!
« on: October 13, 2015, 09:03:56 pm »
Welcome to the forum! You made a wise choice on a saw for a beginner, Sir! You won't regret a minute of it! The folks at Hawk are more than willing to help you with all your questions. They also have a vast parts availability for repairs to the saw. I've got a 220 VS myself. My name is Brad. Enjoy your ventures!!
78
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Excalibur or DeWalt DX788
« on: October 11, 2015, 02:37:14 pm »
Take a look at the Hawk line of scroll saws. They are built here in the states, unlimited tech & parts availability, & the saw is a phenomenal machine! Quiet, smooth running, easy to operate, tension is easy to adjust & keep. I picked one up on eBay last Christmas for $350. They retail much higher, but can be traded in. The folks at Hawk are more than willing to whatever necessary to help in any way. I might add, they are simple built, & easy to work on. The cutting ability of my saw is by far the best of any saw I've had experience with.
79
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: JUST A FUNNY
« on: September 28, 2015, 11:39:16 pm »
Good one!!! I like it!!! 
80
Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Blades for cutting silhouettes
« on: August 25, 2015, 10:29:36 pm »
My apologies, after rereading your post, I see you're in the UK.
81
Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Blades for cutting silhouettes
« on: August 25, 2015, 10:25:19 pm »
First off, & no offense, but, not knowing your location, Flying Dutchman blades are available from many online sources. I use Wooden Teddy Bear. They recently bought Mikes, & sell Olson blades, too. As far as cutting your friends portrait, the first question I'd ask is what type of wood are you using? Next, as a rule, spiral blades are designed for widening, small detail work, small opening work, that type of work. Without much experience with spiral blades, you'll do more harm than good. They take some practice to learn to use. Some will disagree, but that's my .02 on that. I use FD & Olson blades for the most part myself. Ya might try a #3 polar blade for the portrait work. The reason I'm suggesting that, is because the polar blade makes a clean, smooth cut, & is easy to maneuver. Good luck with your venture.
82
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Help with Baltic Birch splintering
« on: August 23, 2015, 11:02:39 am »
That was one of my thoughts too, Miss Nancy. And your blade could be out of alignment. Rather then me try to explain that process to you, go to you tube & look up scroll saw blade alignment. Out of curiosity, what breed of saw are you running? Something else, are you taping the entire face of the wood, & the complete back side? If not, try that. Adjust your speed some, & try a smaller blade.
83
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Hot Blade and Hot Wood
« on: August 21, 2015, 12:27:04 am »
Roger & sawdust, ya don't mind me asking, what's your point in runnin' a blade so hard & so long, that it turns black & starts to smoke? 
I'm curious. And you've done it all? My apologies if I ruffle some feathers, but, just because you're to cheap to keep an inventory of blades, or trying to get all ya can for your dime, whatever the case may be, ask yourself this, ya got deep enough pockets to replace that saw because you're "cheap?" Ya like the looks of your project after you've cut to far with a dull, hot blade? Personally, I don't. I can feel it when the blade is shot. Myself, I'm a perfectionist. And I do enough custom work that my clients expect the same. I'm tighter'n dicks hatband myself, but I won't ruin high dollar wood, or a project with several hours invested on runnin' a blade to that point! I've been scrolling a day or two, & maybe it could be I don't run my saw as hard as it'll run, but several days I spend 8 - 10 hours a day sitting at the saw. But, my blades run til they throw in the towel, & they're done. I do quite a bit of stack cutting, fretwork, signs, & 100% of my work is done with hardwood of several types. As far as hot wood, I ain't able to comment on that one. All my lumber is kept in my shop, which I keep at or close to 72 - 74 degrees, summer & winter.
I'm curious. And you've done it all? My apologies if I ruffle some feathers, but, just because you're to cheap to keep an inventory of blades, or trying to get all ya can for your dime, whatever the case may be, ask yourself this, ya got deep enough pockets to replace that saw because you're "cheap?" Ya like the looks of your project after you've cut to far with a dull, hot blade? Personally, I don't. I can feel it when the blade is shot. Myself, I'm a perfectionist. And I do enough custom work that my clients expect the same. I'm tighter'n dicks hatband myself, but I won't ruin high dollar wood, or a project with several hours invested on runnin' a blade to that point! I've been scrolling a day or two, & maybe it could be I don't run my saw as hard as it'll run, but several days I spend 8 - 10 hours a day sitting at the saw. But, my blades run til they throw in the towel, & they're done. I do quite a bit of stack cutting, fretwork, signs, & 100% of my work is done with hardwood of several types. As far as hot wood, I ain't able to comment on that one. All my lumber is kept in my shop, which I keep at or close to 72 - 74 degrees, summer & winter.
84
Pattern Requests. / Re: wheat head patterns
« on: August 15, 2015, 11:21:27 pm »
Thank you! I like that one. I'll give the search a try.
85
Pattern Requests. / Re: wheat head patterns
« on: August 15, 2015, 03:22:58 am »
Thank you Spirit Horse! That's just the ticket, Sir! 
86
Pattern Requests. / wheat head patterns
« on: August 14, 2015, 04:46:53 pm »
Howdy folks!😊 I recently completed a project that is a combine in a wheat field. Its cut in 1/2" oak. I decided to dress it out with a frame of some kind of darker wood, what its going to be, I haven't decided yet. But, in the mean time, I've been on the hunt for some wheat head patterns for the corners & sides. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time & help. Enjoy the day!😊
87
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Abandoning my beloved DeWalt 788's
« on: August 06, 2015, 11:39:32 am »
My condolences on your DeWalts, Miss Nancy. I have an acquaintance here in our community that's a farmer/rancher. The only time he has to scroll is in the calving barn in the winter time. But he's on his fourth DeWalt 788, & he has told me about the same thing you just did. I told him were it me, I'd be lookin at another breed of saw. I suggested Hawk, as I own a 220 VS & have had no problems getting parts, tech support, & questions answered by Hawk. I bought my saw used on eBay, and it is a 20 yr. Old saw, but it is an awesome machine!! I spend 6 - 8 hours a day on it, easily. I had to semi retire my Hitachi due to the fact of parts availability. Its still in use, just not as much. I've had it for 12 years. So I understand how you feel. Good luck with your Excalibur. Enjoy the day! 
88
The Coffee Shop / Re: Life downs and ups
« on: July 27, 2015, 08:05:23 pm »
Happy to hear you hung on, & kept the faith Troy. It sounds like we're not the only ones having a rough go. I know how you feel about every corner you turn, something else bad happens. We lost our middle daughter in March, & things have just went down hill since. The most recent disaster was Friday night. We had marble to ping pong sized hail for close to 30 minutes. Nearly stripped the siding completely off the south side of our house. Broke all four windows on that side. Totaled our roof. Again. Broke the windshield in our pickup. This same thing happened last summer about this same time. My faith is being tried, but we're doing what we can to keep going. Mr. Troy, I wish you well in your new venture, Sir.
89
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Using spiral blades
« on: July 25, 2015, 02:29:19 am »
I appreciate the warning, Miss Nancy. But after 35 years of it, I was forced to turn in my keys. My health was no longer fit enough to suit the laws' specifications. I reckon that's why I spend my time woodworking now. It keeps my mind & hands busy. You mentioned you were working on a picture frame. Ya don't mind me asking, what are doing with it? Cutting fretwork in it, or?? I've got a project I just finished that I'm trying to come up with a frame design for. Its a combine cutting wheat. And its cut in 1/2" oak. My client wants a darker wood frame, but I'm pretty limited to what darker woods I can get ahold of. Any ideas? Thanks.
But after 35 years of it, I was forced to turn in my keys. My health was no longer fit enough to suit the laws' specifications. I reckon that's why I spend my time woodworking now. It keeps my mind & hands busy. You mentioned you were working on a picture frame. Ya don't mind me asking, what are doing with it? Cutting fretwork in it, or?? I've got a project I just finished that I'm trying to come up with a frame design for. Its a combine cutting wheat. And its cut in 1/2" oak. My client wants a darker wood frame, but I'm pretty limited to what darker woods I can get ahold of. Any ideas? Thanks.
90
General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Using spiral blades
« on: July 24, 2015, 02:33:44 am »
Miss Nancy, sounds like you've been tossed a hat full of suggestions. If ya don't mind, I'd like to add my .02/worth. I don't consider myself an expert by no means, but, after a day or two of playin w/all kinds of blades, I figure out what works for me. I keep close to 30 different size blades & types on hand. I had some 2/0 spirals that I'd had quite awhile, & was getting a project ready that was going to entail the use of LOTS OF SPIRAL BLADE WORK !! At the time, I hadn't used a spiral enough to say I had experience w/them. So, being the simple minded country boy I am , I drew some lines on a few scrap pieces & started in. Broke blades til I was about to the point of using language us old truck drivers only use in traffic, & w/dispatchers! 
So, I dropped the speed to the bottom end of the VS, backed the tension off just a little bit, & started over. Bingo! It worked! :)As I got a little better w/them, I just kept adding speed & tension. Now I can do most anything I need a spiral to do. My apologies for the length of the explanation, but, it worked for me. Ya might try it. But they take ALOT of practice!! Enjoy & good luck!
I don't consider myself an expert by no means, but, after a day or two of playin w/all kinds of blades, I figure out what works for me. I keep close to 30 different size blades & types on hand. I had some 2/0 spirals that I'd had quite awhile, & was getting a project ready that was going to entail the use of LOTS OF SPIRAL BLADE WORK !! At the time, I hadn't used a spiral enough to say I had experience w/them. So, being the simple minded country boy I am , I drew some lines on a few scrap pieces & started in. Broke blades til I was about to the point of using language us old truck drivers only use in traffic, & w/dispatchers! So, I dropped the speed to the bottom end of the VS, backed the tension off just a little bit, & started over. Bingo! It worked! :)As I got a little better w/them, I just kept adding speed & tension. Now I can do most anything I need a spiral to do. My apologies for the length of the explanation, but, it worked for me. Ya might try it. But they take ALOT of practice!! Enjoy & good luck!
