Messages

166

Brag Forum / Re: 1st Intarsia

« on: March 10, 2016, 09:01:31 am »

Just finished my first one and would like to attach to this post but I keep getting a file size error.  Any ideas on how to resize my pic?  Should would like to brag to you pros!   

     I have all my pictures set to open using "Paint" .  Paint is on most computers I think.  I then resize and crop photos there and then post.

167

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Air hose upgrade

« on: March 09, 2016, 09:36:43 am »

I grew tired of repairing the dust blowing system on my scroll saws and tried other options.  I used air from my compressor but still had issues with the hose directing the air similar to your problem.  I tried a vacuum cleaner for dust removal and it worked OK but I killed more than one shop vac this way.  I now have an $8 hair dryer pointed at my saws, mounted on the bench or on a floor lamp and that works very well for me.

168

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: "sand flea" or a flat sanding machine

« on: March 09, 2016, 09:30:53 am »

Northerner:  I like our "electric Hammer"  I have made a few of those and sold them.  I even made a few with a plug-in that fits a cigarette lighter point in an automobile. <grin>

169

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Hello All

« on: March 09, 2016, 09:17:23 am »

Welcome from another Texan.  I tried spiral blades at first but found that they leave a horrible edge.  I was making toys and had to sand every edge to get it smooth.  I switched to plain blades and the cut when using them is better than  a cut after it is sanded.   Spiral blades may work well for fretwork where the cut surface does not have to be smooth but all other ways to use a scroll saw do require a smooth cut.
      I suggest you try doing different things with your saw including : Fretwork, Inlay, Compound cutting, toy making, lettering, intarsia, bowl making, basket making and segmentation.

170

Brag Forum / Re: 2 part project

« on: March 09, 2016, 09:08:23 am »

Very  nice!

171

Ask Steve a question. / Re: Software for compound scroll saw patterns

« on: March 06, 2016, 02:41:19 pm »

I will try to post some photos here of a pattern I just dreamed up although I am sure others have done it but I did not find this pattern.

172

Intarsia / Re: White for intarsia

« on: March 01, 2016, 06:49:50 pm »

I use basswood. The whitest wood I have found and pretty cheap.

173

Introduce Yourself. / Re: Hello, everyone!

« on: February 28, 2016, 09:15:17 pm »

Greetings from Texas.  Look into all the various uses of a scroll saw.  Most just do fret work but there are many other ways to make sawdust with a scroll saw including:  Lettering, Intarsia, Compound cutting, Toy making, Double bevel inlay,(My favorite) Segmentation,  and bowl or basket making.

174

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: simple drying rack

« on: February 22, 2016, 10:17:41 pm »

I have made a number of drying racks 36" long by 6" wide.  I use 1/2" or thicker plywood and put two inch long nails from a nail gun in them about two inches apart.  Cheap , quick to make, and disposable.  Works well for spraying and  drying my boxes.
     When spraying the walking canes I make, I screw a cup hook into the bottom end and hang it up to spray and to dry.

175

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: My last sale of the year was great!

« on: February 22, 2016, 10:11:48 pm »

I make them in two sizes this one is 28" across  and I make one that looks the same that is 18" across.  I woods used are oak or ash for the light color  and walnut or cedar for the dark wood.

176

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: My last sale of the year was great!

« on: February 21, 2016, 07:45:09 pm »

Only problem with great sales like that is now you have to replace the inventory...  The good thing is you have time before the 1st show of 2016.  Congrats on a successful year.

Update.........Here it is, nearing the end of February and I have replaced almost all the items I sold all last year.  I still have about thirty boxes to apply finish to and have started doing some of that on warm days.  Today I finished making the second batch of wooden stars.  I now have thirty of them made. 15 are 18" across and 15 are 38" across.  Not scrolled but still fun to make  I found a sale that will be in April this year.  I will be ready by then.

177

Tutorials, Techniques and Tips / Re: Easy way to cut a stack of wood. hot glue gun

« on: February 19, 2016, 09:06:20 pm »

Excellent tip!  I use my hot glue gun to hold the two pieces of wood together while doing double bevel inlay.  After doing the inlay cut,I cut them apart with a razor knife.

178

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Pricing your work for selling.

« on: February 17, 2016, 09:40:29 am »

I'd have to kinda go along w/what cowboy said. I'm not going to sit here & tell ya I scroll for "fun" necessarily, more like an addiction. My work has to help pay its way, or I couldn't do it. I've found the #1 secret to selling your work is making things that folks like & want. Not just lookers, but fascination. Catch the buyers' eye. Once you have their attention, then educate them if they are curious. Your price can reflect several things. Don't blow smoke if you have no idea what you're talking about. Your workmanship will show it! If you're higher than most, folks kinda get the impression you're better than they are. If your prices are in the affordable range, folks are more apt to give you a chance. Make an attempt to recoup your material costs.

     I agree.  I make and sell small cedar boxes with maple inlay.  Images or lettering.  I sell at street fairs and festivals and found that $20 items sell well but more pricy things do not.  I make about 300 boxes a year and sell them all.  It takes me about two hours to produce a box ready to sell.  I do not make a lot of money but I do have a self funding hobby, plus a little.

179

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Project storage

« on: February 17, 2016, 09:30:25 am »

I bought "mailer" boxes from Uline and store my boxes in them.  Cost me 89 cents each.

180

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: "sand flea" or a flat sanding machine

« on: February 17, 2016, 09:22:54 am »

I am in Canada and the cost of a Sandflee plus shipping in US$ was crazy.

I just bought a Flatmaster from Stockroom supply

http://stockroomsupply.ca/shop/drum-sanders.html

 Stockroom are in Canada and do ship to the US as they are very close to the border.  They also go to a lot of shows in the US. Check their web site.

You have to buy and install your own motor.  Which can be good or bad.  I got one from Amazon for about $100.

The Flatmaster does not have the outboard attachment but that was not a big issue with me.

Setting up is a little time consuming but once set up it works well.  They send you videos to follow.

I have only used a little bit but I had a large intarsia piece that I wanted to take down by 1/8 and it took a number of passes but it was right on.  I also have used on a few boxes that I have cut off the lid and then it was not perfect as I did on the table saw.  Few passes and a perfect fit.

Overall I am quite happy.

     I have this "V" sander also.  An 18" one.  I use it  to flatten out the edges of my boxes before gluing the tops and bottoms on them.  I also use it to remove band saw marks after cutting the lids off of the assembled box. Just about five passes is all that is required.  This is the only use I have found for this tool.