Messages

106

The Coffee Shop / Re: hypothetical but could be possibility

« on: February 26, 2015, 02:58:32 pm »

Before a planer you likely need a jointer to get a flat surface to plane against.

There was an article, I thought in Scrollsaw Woodworking magazine that reviewed laser cutters but there was a lot of complaint by the readers (they are scrollers, not programmers, etc.). If I find it I'll send a link, but their search engine doesn't produce it - I suspect it was pulled.

You can Google or search in Amazon for Laser Cutters and see several that are low cost (<$1k). I don't have sense of their quality or reliability. I'm sure an $8k machine would be good. I'll look for a review and report back.

107

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Bandsaw

« on: February 24, 2015, 08:49:45 am »

I alo have the Craftman and it cuts well after it's adjusted right. But it has an odd table layout - the slot to remove the blade points at the sawyer so you cannot mount a fence guide on that edge (the guide will block blade removal). I use a magnetic fence.

It would alo be nice to have the quick-release lever to loosen and tighten when changing blades.

Look for a video on setting up the saw - it make a big difference.

108

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Sawyers' Day 2015

« on: February 24, 2015, 07:15:25 am »

If anyone else on the list did not see the email, please check your junk folder. If it's still missing, let me know and I'll re-send.

109

The Coffee Shop / Re: hypothetical but could be possibility

« on: February 23, 2015, 05:53:34 pm »

if you want a real wow factor, look into the laser cutters and some pattern software. I know we're scrollers here, but for a business needing productivity, it's hard to beat those CNC cutters. The cost is below $2k and will kick out near-perfect duplicate parts in minutes and for pennies.

110

Pattern Requests. / Re: torre eiffel

« on: February 23, 2015, 05:47:22 pm »

I am out of town, but when I return I'll send you one I did for Toneman in Paris Tx. He posted a photo of it if you want to do a search.

111

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Pricing

« on: February 23, 2015, 05:45:33 pm »

A woman from church asked for a scoll portrait of a grand-nephew for his baptism. She wanted a cherry frame to go with it. I made the pattern, portrait, and frame - it took about 4 hours. She has a part time job - maybe at minimum wage? - so I told her the price was what she would get paid for 4 hours on her job. I expected to get $30-40, but she paid me $96 (she said it was the number of words in the prayer "Our Father"). I didn't check her count - too busy running to the bank to deposit her check just in case.

I like the work so I'm happy to get enough $$$ to cover materials an new blades once in a while.

112

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Sawyers' Day 2015

« on: February 23, 2015, 05:33:26 pm »

I sent the grab bag by email on February 19. Let me know if you did not receive it.

113

Pattern Requests. / Re: ARC?

« on: February 22, 2015, 11:09:00 pm »

You can do that in Inkscape. You can make a circle or elipse, or just draw a curved line. Then go back and use the Text tool ("A" along the left edge or F8) add text somewhere on the page (not on top of the curve yet). Then with the Select button (Arrow at top left or hit F1), click on the curve, then shift-click on the text so both curve and text are selected (surrounded by a dashed line and arrows). Now go to  the top menu to [Text][Put on path]. This moves the text so it follows the curved path.

NOTE: with the Select tool, click once to get the sizing arrows, then again to get the rotation arrows. This will let you rotate the curve and move the text.
NOTE: kerning is done by selecting the text, then the text tool, then using the controls at the top of the page to change spacing. As you increase spacing, the text flows along the curve.

114

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Don't Put Up With it!

« on: February 22, 2015, 10:56:15 pm »

I had the same issue with my adjustment screw. It is not an easy adjustment and the manual does not describe it very well. The arm would not stay up so I turned it in, but it was too far. I didn;t realize that I had friction holding it up rather than the spring loaded ball bearing. I also had the body of the screw hitting the frame and rubbed a big gash into it that eventually became a squeak. I wish it had been adjusted correctly before the saw was shipped to me.

115

Ask Steve a question. / Re: soft Ware

« on: February 22, 2015, 03:50:22 pm »

Drini - I attached my process for converting a photo to a pattern using GIMP and Inkscape. I hope you can follow it in English.

116

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Problem

« on: February 22, 2015, 03:46:30 pm »

If you're saying that your blade strays off the line, it's not a surprise when cutting by hand. The blades are made by machine and will tend to wander to the right if you try to cut straight. Combined with the uneven pressure of hand sawing, you will likely have some small errors. It's easier with a scroll saw doing 1500 strokes/minute and we just guide the wood past the blade.

117

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Don't Put Up With it!

« on: February 21, 2015, 09:04:55 am »

Can you say what the problem and fix were? If my EX-21 does the same I'd like to know what to try.

118

Brag Forum / Re: Gift Tags

« on: February 20, 2015, 03:54:06 pm »

What help did you need with the text? It seems good to me. If you want a scrollable font, try Scroll Beach Italic - it has a similar casual look but is not script.

119

Brag Forum / Re: Word Art for my parents anniversary

« on: February 20, 2015, 01:27:31 pm »

the spirals are great for portrait work, or if you're cutting from a coloring book or cartoon figure - they look like a natural pencil mark and small deviaiton from the line won't matter. Also good for veining on a bigger image. But they seem to me too jittery for crisp lettering work where you need to look like printed type and can't vary fron the line. And they are tough when cutting a line that is a little wider than the spiral diameter (<2 diameters). Cutting both sides of the line with a flat blade gives a cleaner result.

I like the spirals when cleaning up the clearance in a thick puzzle. If the wood is hard and the curves are tight, the blade won't stay vertical. The puzzle pieces will come out one direction but jamb in the other direction. A spiral can be used like a thin rasp to clean up the space and let the piece move both directions.

120

Brag Forum / Re: Word Art for my parents anniversary

« on: February 19, 2015, 06:23:16 pm »

Very nicely cut and finished. Congratulations to them both.