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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: yyyyyguy on August 11, 2010, 08:04:55 pm

Title: christmas ornaments
Post by: yyyyyguy on August 11, 2010, 08:04:55 pm
I have a few plans for ornaments that I would like to try, never tried them before, 1/8in or 1/4in, how many at a time and blade size, thanks
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: dgman on August 11, 2010, 08:54:56 pm
Hey yguy, It depends on what size wood you have on hand. If you are using 1/8" Baltic birch plywood, you can go three or four layers. If your using 1/4" hardwood you can go two or three layers, but don't go any thicker than 3/4". As for blades I would go with 2/0R or 2R or FD-UR 1. As for what kind of wood, Well I like to use all kinds, Red Oak, Walnut, Cherry, Maple, and my favorite, Mahogany.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: Russ C on August 11, 2010, 09:07:52 pm
Such a vague question. First, what kind of wood are you thinking about using or what kind of wood do you have?  ???
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: yyyyyguy on August 11, 2010, 09:56:23 pm
I have some 1/8 in walnut and 1/4 in oak for starters, you wouldn't want to use any thicker right?
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: dgman on August 11, 2010, 10:09:28 pm
Well you can if you want, but they look better in 1/8" or 1/4".  Just understand that if using 1/8" solid hardwoods they tend to get very fragile. for me, 1/4" hardwood is ideal.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: julief on August 12, 2010, 07:12:06 am
Ornaments tend to show up better on the tree if they are cut from a lighter wood.  The walnut will blend in with the dark green of a tree where the lighter stands out.  Save your walnut for something else.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: Judy Hunter on August 12, 2010, 07:57:50 am
For Sheila Landry's ornaments I used 1/8 inch baltic birch and stack cut six at a time using spiral blades.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: yyyyyguy on August 12, 2010, 11:41:59 am
Thanks, with the heat here it may be next week b/4 I can try it, too hot in my shop.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: Marshall on August 13, 2010, 06:04:13 am
I'm a cool weather scroller myself , I myself love using the 1/4" Walnut . Ornaments made from this choice of wood is an added touch of pride . I have cut 5 at a time with this 1/4" material , but start ing out I would just try three at a time until you can control the saw better . I have made a lot of the ornaments from BB plywood and it does cut easier , I just love the way the Walnut looks finished . I mill up most of my own material from the saw-mill and air dry it - have a nice stock-pill build up also . And I also use the 2 or smaller Flying Dutchman blades , cannot beat them - I've tryed just about every blade on the market and none measure up to the Flying Dutchman blades , and no I'm no saleman either for Flying Dutchman blades ......my two cents worth.............Marshall
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: GrayBeard on August 13, 2010, 09:36:32 am
I just rec'd some 1/8" maple I am going to try for 'ormanents' (grandaughter's word).
But not until I can saw without leaving puddles of sweat on the saw table!
100 deg. yesterday and headed that way today!

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: yyyyyguy on August 13, 2010, 09:23:07 pm
I tried some today, seemed to go better with a spiral blade, just had some problems with adjusting the blades fit and tension, my spirals are #2, everything else is #5 or larger so will have to get some smaller blades to have a good comparison, I'm an hr. drive to the nearest blades so will work with spirals for a little while
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: bettyswood on August 17, 2010, 05:46:39 pm
Order your blades from Flying Dutchman (Mike). He mails them and you will have them in a couple days.
Here is the link
http://mikesworkshop.com
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: boxmaker on August 17, 2010, 07:43:55 pm
Definitely order the flying dutchmans, they are better blades than what you can get in the store and a lot better price. Mike ships them out fast also.

                                             Mark
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: yyyyyguy on August 17, 2010, 08:49:47 pm
why do i think this is so basic i shouldn't ask...but what do you use to hold the pieces together when stack cutting, I find a spot that I will cut last and drive a nail into it, though after a couple problems like trying to get the nail out!!! and breaking the piece,maybe i'll use a screw :-[
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: GrayBeard on August 17, 2010, 08:53:03 pm
I wrap mine with the Blue Painter's Tape (for delicate surfaces) and I know some folks run a bead of 'hotmelt' glue up the sides to hold the stack together.

~~~GrayBeard~~~
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: yyyyyguy on August 17, 2010, 09:27:01 pm
O.K. and you then cut all the inside pieces first? but you still have a problem when you get to the end with movement right, usually I cut the outside shape then cut the inside pieces to work with a smaller piece, luckily I'm not beyond learning a new thing or two...I can try this
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: dgman on August 17, 2010, 10:18:09 pm
I am one of those who use hot melt glue along the edges of the stack. When cutting ornaments I drill a entry hole next to the pattern to cut it out rather than cutting in from the edge so the stack stays together for the remainder of the ornaments.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: julief on August 18, 2010, 08:46:38 am
I'm with GrayBeard, just tape them together.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: Dawie on August 18, 2010, 09:00:47 am
I tape mine together with clear packing tape, butI do like dg's idea about the melt glue and making entry hole instead of cutting in from the side. Learnt something again today
David
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: julief on August 18, 2010, 12:33:08 pm
I'm with GrayBeard, just tape them together.
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: yyyyyguy on August 19, 2010, 09:18:18 pm
So, I've been taping them together and it works very well, much better than the nails I was using, I like the hot melt idea but then you have to plug it in, wait then glue, tape seems faster, thanks all!
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: Russ C on August 20, 2010, 08:09:15 am
I always taped the together with packing tape when I stack cut and I have never had a problem.  8)
Title: Re: christmas ornaments
Post by: Shirley on August 20, 2010, 04:26:15 pm
I always use clear packing tape. I have learned that clear packing tape helps lube the blade so it'll last longer and after cutting some thick purpleheart without the tape(I forgot to put it on!)I only got around half the blade life.