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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: Bill P on May 27, 2011, 08:54:31 am
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I asked this on another thread, but I can see it's most pertinent here.
I've always taken my time with my cutting, and was always wondering how I compare with others. When I see vidoes of other scrollers, it looks like they're buzzing through faster than sh....er....very quickly.
It took me between 40-45 hours to do the chess set and board. For those who've done this project before, how long did it take you?
TIA,
Bill
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Don't worry about speed unless you are scrolling to make money. Time doesn't matter if the end result looks like you want it to.
Careful cutting and finish are alot more important than how fast you cut it.
I used to spend 2 hours in a row cutting, now I will cut for 15 minutes and stop for a coke or go to the restroom and not worry about it. Of course, I'm retired and I feel that getting intrupted with a phone call or a friend stopping by is more important than a project. If I get it done today great, if I don't finish it for three days it is OK if it ends up looking like it should.
Rog
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Roger has the right idea...
ENJOY the process and forget about the speed!
If you start putting time constraints on yourself you lose the satisfaction of doing the project.
Unless of course you are in the 'hobby' to make a fortune in which case my understanding is.......... you will not!
~~~GB~~~
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I never worry about how long I spend on a project. I am just having a great time. :)
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Sometimes I do do some cuttings for a few ladies who teach tole painting. So naturally I want to get then done and out of the way as soon as possible. But for everyday cutting, I cut at a moderate speed. Sure I want to get it done ASP, but I always want it to look nice, so I take what ever time it needs. It never fails, If I'm in hurry, I make mistakes!
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Things to remember as a scroller
1. Scrolling =fun ,relaxtion, and a goal to fiinsh a great pattern
2. Scrolling will never make you a fortune EVER!
3. Scrolling = the great feeling yuou get when you hand the finished project to someone and they get the biggest smile on their face when they ask you how much and you say nothing it is a GIFT to you and they can't thank you enough or hang/sit it in a place for all to see and tell everyone who see it that you made it for them.
4. There is no time limit on a great project if you want it to look good enough TO YOU (that is a biggie for me if it doesn't look good to me I won't give it away it becomes firewood and I start over)
5. As you become more comfortable (with the skill and the saw then you will find yourself turning up the speed little by little) your speed will increase till you are maxed out
6. The ones that do the videos on you tube and sell the products on websites all started out the same way you did (comfort with the saw speed and turns can not be taught) they have been doing it for years so give it time and you will be there one day yourself.
if there is anything that I may have missed please add them to the list I skimed over the parts that relate to this topic.
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I'm just more curious than having any concern about speed and productivity. Lisa says slower is better.
Bill
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I think Chachi has it right. Take your time, enjoy and relax. I and so relaxed in the shop scrolling. I usually go real slow with most of my projects because I like the sharp corners. For some reason I am real picky about how my corners look. Straight line...........who cares, as long as my corners are square.....I think if you are happy with your progress you are doing it right. If you are not happy then you are going to slow or too fast. Both of which can lead to mistakes and frustration.
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I agree, slower is better. I usually can't go more than 20 min without the dog nudging my leg or flopping the frisbee on my feet. "Let's go play!" Go out and wear her out, then come back and do some more.
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I'm just more curious than having any concern about speed and productivity. Lisa says slower is better.
Bill
hey Bill my wife told me the same thing LOL ;) :o
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I'm just more curious than having any concern about speed and productivity. Lisa says slower is better.
Bill
hey Bill my wife told me the same thing LOL ;) :o
My wife doesn't say anything at all! ::)
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Mine's way past slow .... he's at stop :o :o :o
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OK let's get serious now.
Back to sawing. LOL
I've watched those same videos and marveled at how quickly they make tight turns, and I wonder if saw speed is the main contributing factor to those quick turns? I don't try to go very fast on the lines and curves because I really have to concentrate on keeping my eyes focused on that teeny tiny little blade. I would like to know though just how in h-e-double toothpicks to make tight turns without breaking my blade?
I'm beyond stop, I'm in reverse, it sucks to get old.
Gabby
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Here's a simple technique to make a sharp inside corner. Cut into the corner to just past the line. Back the blade out just little. turn the wood 180 degrees so the blade is cutting into the wasts side. Then back the blade back into the corner. From there it's easy to just turn the blade into the next line with a sharp corner left behind.
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OK so if I'm reading this right you end up backing into the kerf you've just cut and just spinning the material around. That's when it goes BANG and you dig out another blade and cuss. This still didn't answer my question about whether or not blade speed makes a difference during those turns. I suspect it does but I'd like to know for sure. After a while I'm going to run out of blades and money to buy more, and the bookkeeper is going to snip my purse strings. I must be missing something here so please be patient with a slow learning old fart.
Maybe they are doing all these things on the fly in the videos, but it sure doesn't look like it.
Thanks,
Gabby
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Gabby, The only time I can do a 180 spin move is when I have a very small blade like #2 or something. If I try it on the larger blades then yes, BYE BYE blade. But with the small ones do it just like described above, back out just a bit so you're not cutting forward, spin 90, 180, whatever and go, I do it all the time. RPM doesn't seem to matter much from what I have experienced.
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For me, the main purpose of scrolling is pleasure so I never scroll at full speed. D what is comfortable to you.
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I agree with all the posts about relax, it is a hobby.
However when not enough speed some have a tendency to start pushing too hard into the blade. This might make the blade start cutting with a bevel and you also might lose control over the blade. That is why I like high speed and I still relax.
FD Mike
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OK so if I'm reading this right you end up backing into the kerf you've just cut and just spinning the material around. That's when it goes BANG and you dig out another blade and cuss. This still didn't answer my question about whether or not blade speed makes a difference during those turns. I suspect it does but I'd like to know for sure.
Gabby
OK, Try this. When you get to the corner, back the blade out just a little, then cut back into the kerf and make it a little wider. This will give the blade a little more clearance to spin the wood. Speed should have nothing to do with it. I suspect you don't have enough tension on the blade. If that is not the problem, then go ahead and speed the saw up a little and see if that helps. If that doesn't help, Take two asprins and call me in the morning!
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Bill I have been/am where you are, "am I being too careful and being overly cautious going too slow or even going too fast like when I find I've just gone off the line *&##@& - what helped me was to watch some of Steve's videos, watch his speed and adjust if possible normal is what normal is for you - like with prunes ;D Pete
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Yum I love prunes, Metamucil too! ::)
LOL
I guess I'm just a little impatient regarding my learning and skill curve. I'm used to picking up on it faster than I am now. Old SUCKS big time, but I guess it beats the alternative.
Thanks guys for all your input. Bill P. thanks for starting the thread.
Gabby
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Just had to reply. Steve put out one of his 60 secs. tips a long time ago about turning corners and keeping a sharp look. I have been using this way ever since. I normally keep my Hegner lil over half speed. Never use a blade bigger that a UR5. When you come to the corner just lightly pull the wood towards the corner and make the turn. Speed is not a factor in doing this. Works for me everytime. Later.... Danny :+}
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I have found the great basketball coach John Wooden's advice "Be quick but don't hurry" to be verry good. Be quick means make those tight curves and corners a good quick turn using your finger as a pivot point. Hurry is what causes you to over cut and under cut and creat a sloppy project.
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Some great advice guys thanks.
Danny do you have the link to that particular video, I probably saw it in my past life, but it wouldn't hurt to refresh my hard drive, just got through doing a defrag on it. LOL
Gabby
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Gabby it has been a long time and Guess....If you ask Steve he might be able to send yas the link. Later.... Danny :+}
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OK Dan I'm following your instructions sorta, just can't make myself spin that wood yet, but by doing it little by little I'm finally able to make a tight corner. Once I'm done with this plaque I'll do some more of Bill P's practice sheets. Should get there in another month or so. LOL
Every time I use the saw I learn a little something, last time I learned how to turn it on and off, so maybe I'll even learn how to cut wood, ya think?
Thanks for the tips.
Gabby
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I asked this on another thread, but I can see it's most pertinent here.
I've always taken my time with my cutting, and was always wondering how I compare with others. When I see vidoes of other scrollers, it looks like they're buzzing through faster than sh....er....very quickly.
It took me between 40-45 hours to do the chess set and board. For those who've done this project before, how long did it take you?
TIA,
Bill
A friend of mine does compound cutting of chess pieces and tells me it takes him about 1/2 hour per piece. = 16 hours I make the chessboard with storage drawer for him and it takes me about 24 hours so our total is about the same as yours.
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Gabby, The only time I can do a 180 spin move is when I have a very small blade like #2 or something. If I try it on the larger blades then yes, BYE BYE blade. But with the small ones do it just like described above, back out just a bit so you're not cutting forward, spin 90, 180, whatever and go, I do it all the time. RPM doesn't seem to matter much from what I have experienced.
I have never broken a blade while I cutting a corner. As you come to the turn, place your finger next to the corner right beside the blade, Hold the back of the blade (you know, the side without teeth) against the wood until the blade is facing (you know, the side with teeth) and then feed the material into the blade. Fast or slow, this works. The more you do it, the faster you will become. I can cut a sharp corner at nearly 180 degrees up to a #5 blade. Above that (very seldom) I use the back into the corner trick.
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Speed kills!!!
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I use the speed control to make depending on the thickness of the wood and the hardness, it seems to me that some wood cuts better at a higher speed than others
Jimbo
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Jimbo, that is true, and some blades cut better at a high speed. You just have to watch how fast you are feeding it.
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I use the speed control to make depending on the thickness of the wood and the hardness, it seems to me that some wood cuts better at a higher speed than others
Jimbo
OK so you have found different speeds for different woods!
How about some examples and their thicknesses etc..
Inquiring newby minds want to know?
Thanks
Gabby
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Gabby, the only way to find that out is to practice. If you want, you can keep notes. After a while you will know from experience.
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Chuck your recommendation make good sense, but that means all us newby's have to plow the same ground. I don't have an unlimited access to the different woods available, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that regard. So if some could share their experiences it would be helpful, which is what I was hoping for when I made the request.
Thanks,
Gabby
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I forgot to tell you about the information I have on my site. Click on Q & A and you will find a lot of help, like turning corners. Let the blade do the cutting.
FD Mike
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Thanks Mike I'll check it out.
Gabby
AND I did, here is the link to Mike's informative page.
Thanks again Mike!
http://www.mikesworkshop.com/Q&A-FP.htm