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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: geneVG on September 13, 2011, 07:45:02 pm
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I have never cut out Christmas ornaments before. My question is, do you use 1/4 or 1/8 inch material? Also do you use a light shade of wood or can you use a darker shade like Walnut? I guess lately I am just full of question. But like the old saying goes, if you don't know ask.
gene
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I use 1/4" wood for my ornaments, wood doesn't matter as long as it looks good
Jimbo
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I use both thickness and it depends on the ornament. If I plan on painting the ornament I prefer to use light shaded wood. If I plan on applying a satin or high gloss finish then I use walnut.
Mike
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Hey Gene, Don't worry about asking questions, that's what we are here for!
I use both 1/8" and 1/4"woods. I use what ever I have on hand. I have cut ornaments out of Baltic birch, Maple, Walnut, Alder, Mahogany, Cherry, Sapele and Red Heart. I will not use softwoods like pine because they tend to break easily.
I also stack cut my ornaments. For 1/8" woods, I will stack three or four layers. For 1/4" woods, I will stack two or three layers.
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Well, it looks like I can make some saw dust.
gene
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Last season I made mine from 1/4" native Missouri Ash!
I think they turned out very nice, but that is MHO!
~~~GB~~~
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Good to hear it Gene! Just experiment with what you have. If you don't like it, someone else will!
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I'm with Mike - it depends on the pattern.
If you cut out a lot the ornament becomes light anyway - Sometimes too light.
Larger Ornaments need naturally lighter wood.
I also make jewelry from 1/3" walnut which becomes really light.
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Try both sizes and see what you like the best and also different woods for different effects.
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When I do ornaments I use 1/4" oak, only use 1/8 BB when I paint them Edward
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I use a lot of 1/16 BB for ornaments. Stack a lot like 7 or 8.
I also use 1/4 redwood and oak. Also stack cut 3 to 4 it all depends how easy the pattern is.
The flour shop in town is going to have a big sale before X-mas and all proceeds go to the food pantry. Have made so far 225 and not done yet. When the tree is up will post a picture.
FD Mike
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Mine are mostly 1/4 inch of anything I can get a hold of, well except for the slotted ornaments. I cut most of them from 1/8 balitic birch ply.
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Depending on the pattern I use 1/8 or 1/4. But mostly I will use anything I can get my hands on. Last year I made a few out of 3/8" poplar that turned out really awesome, I was a little worried they would be too thick, but the pattern worked. Dying BB ply with food coloring is a fun way to get some color into simple ornaments.
I really like hanging my ornaments on a piece of ribbon. Last year I made a little jig to help cut ribbon, super simple but surprising how many pieces I cut before making the jig. It is just a scrap of 3/4" plywood about 10" long with a v-notch cut in each end just big enough for a pair of scissors. Wrap 1/4" ribbon around the jig a bunch of times then cut both ends. Really simplifies the cutting process, now if I can only figure out an easier way of tying all of the cut ribbons...
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Extra credit points for the kid that cuts the most! LOL
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Since I have a lot of stock of 1/8" BB, that is what I use most of the time. As others have said already....use 1/4 for more delicate pieces. I have also used walnut and cherry planed to 1/4" or slightly less.
Jim
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That's a really smart idea for the ribbon cutting, MrsN. I hope I remember it when it comes time to do the hangers for all the ornaments I am cutting now.