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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: Danny on September 24, 2012, 11:12:50 am

Title: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: Danny on September 24, 2012, 11:12:50 am: Well I have been Scrolling for many years and have big inventory or various portraits.
Can remember way, way back yonder with the leaning times. I have learned and have always used 1/4" stock. Always cut stack of two. Finished cutting a portrait of my Mother last month and wanted to have copies for sister n brothers and myself, so I used 1/8" BB. All FOUR copies came out OUTSTANDING. Of course its due to using Flying Dutchman Blades. Yea! My Question.... What is the preference among everyone on this subject? Danny :+}

P.S. Oh yea.... In my feelings I think the 1/8 BB looks much better when framed than
any of the portraits I have used the 1/4 BB.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: GrayBeard on September 24, 2012, 12:11:01 pm: Dan...my blade of choice is the FD New Spiral 2/0....
I love them for portrait work.

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: dgman on September 24, 2012, 12:23:14 pm: I agree with you Danny. Four layers of Baltic Birch. I make sure the table is perpendicular to the blade, and all four layers come out perfectly.
Unfortunately, I still have not been able to master spirals like GB, So I use mostly Olsen 2/0R blades. I use FD UR1 for the larger areas but the 2/0 blades work good for me for the small detail areas.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: daliclimbs on September 24, 2012, 02:53:31 pm: Thickness will often depend on the subject and the recipient. Sometimes I like to use 1/4 on projects that I feel need a little definition. But I always stack cut! 4 deep for 1/8" and 2 for 1/4". I generally use FD spirals but on smaller portraits I like to use FD ultra #1. I can effectively use spirals but when I can I would much rather use ultra reverse for good crisp lines. Then I finish with BLO and a final finish of deft.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: Keefie on September 24, 2012, 05:10:43 pm: like dg, I use mainly FD UR #1 blades as I cannot get on with spirals (you cant get a crisp point/corner with a spiral) for really small areas I also use the Olsen 2/0 R blades, as you can see by the pictures I can get some nice cuts with those blades.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: rob roy on September 24, 2012, 06:12:23 pm: Hi Keefie. Those are two beautiful pieces of work,you must have the patience of a saint. Thanks for showing them.
Rob Roy.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: Barry on September 25, 2012, 12:47:54 am: I prefer the 1/8 BB over the 1/4. And I usually use a FD UR#1. The most I have stacked is three. As dg said make sure your blade is at 90 degrees.

I have never got the feel for using spiral blades. There are certain patterns that seem to require them. I sometimes have to adjust the pattern to fit my skill level. I have been scrolling for some time and consider myself a decent scroller. But spirals just frustrate me and I am all about a relaxing hobby. :)

Barry
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: julief on September 25, 2012, 06:05:54 am: FD new spiral for me. I only use the 2/0 size.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: edward on September 25, 2012, 08:54:31 am: I use FD 2/0 for all my portraits, can't get use to spiral. Edward
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: maritimer on October 02, 2012, 08:59:07 pm: I use 1/8" oak ply and stack cut 4-5 and use Olsen 2/OR. I have some spiral blades but haven't tried them yet...it's to find the time to have a practise day!
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: countryscroller on October 02, 2012, 10:03:10 pm: Since I got my my Dewalt 788 blade change in and out was so simple that I became hooked on doing a lot of portraits. My blade of choice is the #3 SR.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: ChuckD on October 04, 2012, 02:25:24 pm: On portraits you do not have to be stuck using only one kind of blades. I have used 2/0 spirals, # 5 new spirals, #3 UR, and #7 UR all on the same portraits. All Flying Dutchman of course. Here is one I used all four on.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: countryscroller on October 04, 2012, 03:11:33 pm: Great portrait Chuck!
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: BigPete on October 05, 2012, 03:04:28 am: I am with GB on this one as i mostly use FD new spiral 2/0 ! some of my portraits are quite big so it would be impossible to use anything else ! I do agree with Keefie about not being able to get a crisp point / corner with a spiral but if he would like to let me know where he got the owl pattern i will cut it with a spiral and post it as i think you could also do it justice with a spiral:D
Great cuttings Keefie and also ChuckD Really awesome ...Pete
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: Keefie on October 05, 2012, 03:51:56 am: Thanks for the comments Pete. The owl pattern is "BI068 Elf owl" and I got it from Sue Mey "Scrollsawartist" hope that helps.
Title: Re: Cutting Portraits.... :+}
Post by: Al W on October 05, 2012, 08:55:51 am: Been doing some of the portrait work, and I am finding I use both 2/0 styles, regular and spiral, guess for me it depends on the work, the detail I am after, and of course the direction of the wind at the time 8) . Like other hobbies / tasks - more than one way to get the job accomplished.

Have fun, keep learning.