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General Category => Introduce Yourself. => Topic started by: Candi_D on December 05, 2012, 12:17:13 pm
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Hi Everyone!
I'm Candi, a stay at home / homeschooling mom to two little girls who lives in Michigan. I've always enjoyed creating, fixing things, figuring things out. Thanks to google and the desire to never pay someone to do something I can do myself I've learned many things (I can replace a sink, faucet, & disposal now with my eyes closed... replaced the belt on my dryer at 9 months pregnant, etc). Any tools (power or otherwise) in our house belong to me as my husband has no interest in even changing a lightbulb let alone more LOL
My creative outlet for some time has been paper crafting, mostly using a digital cutting machine. However I wanted more (and some decorations that wouldn't get squished in storage like paper does <wink>) so recently I've decided to learn to do some woodworking, I'd like to build frames, basic furniture, shelves etc. I bought a miter saw and I might actually get the courage to plug it in and use it this week. Same with my jigsaw (my first project is going to be one of the 2x4 basics work benches). This sounds interesting to me but really wasn't what I was looking for, then I discovered scroll sawing (as in this week) and immediately knew it was what I was looking for. Instead of a machine cutting designs out of paper I could utilize the scroll saw and cut things out of wood myself. I can't wait to make home decor items for myself and as gifts and especially to make items for my daughters.
I'd love to start with a Dewalt or similar but figured it was safer to spend less until I see how I like the hobby. I have a Craftsman scroll saw arriving today and ordered my Flying Dutchman blades this morning. If I like the hobby as much as I suspect I will I can look to upgrade after tax returns and then donate the Craftsman to a school etc.
I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone here and I'm sure I'll have 101 questions as I make the jump from paper to wood :)
Candi
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Welcome Candi! I'm Dustin from Ohio.
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Hey Candi, Welcome to the forum! I'm Dan From Southern California. You have found the right place as there are folks here from all over the world willing to help out. Feel free to ask questions. Remember, the only dumb question is the question not asked! So come on in and join the fun!
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Welcome to the forum Candi.i'm Todd from NL Canada
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Candi Welcome to the forum Yes you will have questions and Yes you will get answers Glad you found us.
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Welcome to the Scrollsaw Forum Candi. Hi I'm Russ from Florida, I am glad you found us. A day without saw dust is like a day without sunshine. :)
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Saw just arrived, while I wish it was a nicer one I'm still pretty excited... can't wait to pick up some proper wood and for my FD blades to arrive!
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Wecome Candi !! I am Tony,aka,Toneman from Paris, Texas.
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Welcome to the forum Candi, I'm Keith from Cornwall U.K.
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Hi Candi, I'm Roy from Scotland,welcome to the forum. You couldn't have come to a better place. All the information and encouragement you could want. Come in and join in the fun.
Rob Roy.
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Hello Candi, I'm Sheila from Texas.. I'm sure you will be hooked the first time you use your saw. I was. Welcome to the group and happy scrolling.... Sheila
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Hi Candi, welcome to the group. There's nothing wrong with a Craftsman saw, many of us including me, use one, or have used one in the past. Ask anything please.
Pete from Minnesota.
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Hello! I'm Scott from West Virginia! Welcome aboard...
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Thank you everyone for the warm welcome, loving it here already!
So here's the million dollar (or maybe closer to $450 LOL) question. My Craftsman arrived today but I can't bring myself to opening the box, I keep flashing back to all the posts I've read saying to buy the best you can afford even when starting off, and that the lowest people would recommend is the Dewalt 788. It's quite a bit more money then my $100 Craftsman but not out of my limit (I sold my Cricut, a paper cutting machine, a couple weeks ago for a very nice amount). From what I've seen I think I'll really like scrolling, I know I'll want to do patterns where I'll have lots of interior cuts and will need to be unhooking the blade to thread through holes... I just watched a video on doing that with the Dewalt and then one with the Craftsman... wow, what a difference in speed and ease.
What would you do? Would you get started with the Dewalt and hope you like the hobby or "play it safe" and stick with starting with the Craftsman? Ugh I just don't know what to do.
Thanks for your honest opinions!
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Hello and welcome Candi.
Congratulations on homeschooling your two children. My wife still homeschools our two children (12th and 10th grade - Switched on
Schoolhouse) and still finds time to get on the saw every so often.
Good for you on reconsidering. I'd say if you can afford it - do it. You'll appreciate it now - and later!
Karl
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Thank you Karl, I think I'm going to do it. Also congrats to you and your wife on homeschooling also, my girls are only 2 1/2 & 8 1/2 so I still have a long fun path ahead of us... I suppose the 2yr old is too young for a wood working lesson <grin>
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Hey Candi, If you are thinking of reconsidering your saw choice, I definitely would go with the DeWalt. When I got my first scroll saw some eighteen years ago I hated it. It was an entry level saw. It vibrated badly, and the blades were hard to change and move from hole to hole. So if you can afford it, go with the DeWalt or the Delta 40-695. It will be one less obstacle in your learning curve.
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Candi I started with a craftsman and its still running, that was back in the 90's.. I now have a Porter Cable and love it. The point I'm making here is, if you like scrolling you can always upgrade. I would love to have a dewalt but at this time what I use is great. You can see some of my work in the picture gallery. I'm not perfect but you can see that you can make lovely things with a cheaper saw as well as a high dollar saw. Its all in the learning.. Good luck on your choice and happy scrolling... Sheila aka SheGold
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Hi Candi welcome to the forum. I'm Marg from Australia. I have a DeWalt and I love it, but when I started it was with a 16 inch Delta and that was great too and when I was able to afford it I upgraded. Do what your finances dictate and as long as you like/love scrolling that will be your main thing and you will become good no matter what the saw.
Marg
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Hi Candi and welcome to the forum. I'm Julie from Texas. Glad to have you.
The nicer saw makes it more enjoyable and helps with the learning curve but an entry level saw is still a saw and you get used to using what you have. I started with a Dremel and moved up to an EX21. I never regreted the upgrade but was still able to produce some really nice projects with my Dremel. As a single mom for 21 years, it helped me get my kids through college. No regrets. What ever saw you end up with, you certainly made the right choice with ordering the FD blades. You blades matter more than your saw, I think. Even with my old Dremel, I entered a whole new world of cutting when I started buying better blades.
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Greetings from South Dakota. Welcome to the addiction. Either saw will get you started, I started with a $20 saw from a garage sale - it still sits in the garages ready to go - just in case or for the really quick cut and I don't want to change the setup on the DeWalt.
Do what feels right for you! Whatever you decide - enjoy it!
Al
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Thanks everyone! I picked up a couple books this week and have been reading and watching videos. My Dewalt (yes I went for it) arrives today from Amazon. Heading off in a bit to pick up some started wood so I can hopefully try it out this weekend (I need to build my 2x4 basics work table first and get things organized in my unfinished storage side of the basement turned work room ;) )
I'll be back to show you my first attempts once I've tried it out, I expect my FD blades soon too so that should definitely help as well.
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Welcome to the group Candi, I'm Al from Calif. I grew up in Michigan and still travel back to visit family every few years.