Messages

316

The Coffee Shop / Re: Tidbits

« on: June 26, 2014, 11:24:35 am »

I liked the one about the Swine flu vaccine causing more deaths than the disease it was intended to cure.

You can tell that the government was involved.   

Rog

317

Brag Forum / Re: Three Blind Mice

« on: June 19, 2014, 06:05:41 pm »

I have a quick idea.
Use some pine (maybe southern yellow pine) or any wood with a yellow-ish  tint about 3/4" or thicker. Cut out a triangle with one curved side.
Drill random holes of various sizes all over the top and sides an 1/8" deep or so. Then glue the mice on the top of the cheese.

Rog

PS. Another cute idea is "hickory, dickory, Doc the mouse ran up the clock". I found a pattern of that one a long time ago but, I'm not sure where I found it. It may be one of Steve's patterns from a long time ago, check out his patterns.

 

318

Brag Forum / Barber shop

« on: June 19, 2014, 11:42:48 am »

Today's pattern from Steve Good and him telling about how much he liked his barber, brought to mind a project that I made about ten years ago.

I have been going to the same barber shop since 1970. It has been through several owners in that time but, it is close to my house and all the owners have been very nice guys and do a good job of keeping me looking fairly human so I keep returning. 
When I first got started in scrolling, I was making all kinds of things for everyone I knew and having a ball doing it.
One day before Christmas, I got to thinking about making something for the barber shop so, on my next "Trip for a trim" I started asking my barber a few casual questions about the history of the shop. He told me that it has always been known as "The Larkland  Barber Shop" and it has been open since the strip mall was built in 1956.
So, home I went with a possible pattern in mind and did a bit of sketching and cutting on the saw and came up with a Christmas gift for my favorite "Story Telling Place"     




These days, my son-in-law and grand son get their cuts at the same shop.   
A nice presentable hair cut cost $10.00 these days. 
The plaque still hangs on the wall near the cash register, saw it again just yesterday. 

Rog

319

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: branding irons

« on: June 18, 2014, 06:30:44 pm »

I don't always do it but, in the past, I have written on a piece with a pencil and then used a vibrating engraver to trace over it for a permanent marking.
I have an old cheap engraver that I've had for years and if you retrace the grove with the pencil after the fact, it looks like a brand  (kind of) and the finish won't smear it either.

Rog

320

Brag Forum / Re: I've Done A Little Scrolling

« on: June 18, 2014, 09:55:07 am »

Great job! 
I'm so glad that you have discovered that scroll saw work can be used in a variety of other wood working projects! As an add on or embellishment or even complete projects.
Last winter, I did a full size electric guitar body out of cedar. I robbed the neck and electronics from a cheap guitar but, I cut the shape of the body out with my scroll saw. 








Rog   

321

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Oh dear - I'm lacking knowledge for this ....

« on: June 18, 2014, 09:43:02 am »

As for sealing the wood before painting, I don't think it is necessary for most woods. However if I really felt the need to seal the wood, I would use a strip of double sided sticky tape on a piece of cardboard, stick the letters to the top of the tape (to keep the letters from moving around) and spray it with a coat of shellac and let it dry for 30 minutes or so.
As for gluing the pattern down to the wood, you did exactly as I would have done it. I wonder if you may have sprayed both surfaces which would cause the repositionable glue to become permanent. Usually I spray only the paper pattern and let it set up for a minute before applying it to the wood. I some times have a bit of trouble removing it but, most of the time, it peals right off.
Otherwise, I agree with Julie.

Rog

322

Brag Forum / Re: Walnut Whistles

« on: June 17, 2014, 09:34:54 am »

I need to make one for my Grandson so he can drive my daughter crazy!  Very nice job on your whistles.

I made a BUNCH of train whistles at Christmas time one year and gave them to the grand kids (5) and the neighborhood kids (5 more). The whistles gave me a very bad name for a long time.    Parents are NOT impressed with the sound of a railroad yard in the house. 

Rog

323

The Coffee Shop / Re: Is YOUR American flag on display today?

« on: June 14, 2014, 05:02:15 pm »

Yep! Mine has been up since 7:00 AM and will stay up until 7:00 PM....If the wind doesn't blow it down first.
We are having 35 MPH gusts out of the south today. I was afraid it might rain this morning but, so far just the dog-gone wind has been giving us fits. 

Rog

324

The Coffee Shop / Re: Hope YOUR day goes better

« on: June 08, 2014, 02:36:06 pm »

That day started off bad and went down hill fast.....literately! 

Rog

325

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Rusty Nails

« on: June 08, 2014, 02:01:31 pm »

At first, I thought you wanted to CLEAN UP rusty nails and was going to suggest using "EVAPO-RUST". 
Then I realized that you must have newer nails and are looking to MAKE them look old.  In that case, I would just soak them in salt water for a day or so and then toss them into an old tin can to dry out for a few days. Yes it will take some time (maybe a week) but, believe me they WILL get rusty! 

Are they the old style "cut" nails?

Rog

326

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Foot Pedal

« on: June 07, 2014, 03:58:29 pm »

Bill....
It shouldn't make any difference if your saw is 220 v, 110 v or even 440 v. The paddle just depresses the STOP switch. It is the same switch that came on my saw (which by the way is 110 v) I just used a piece of plywood and a section of piano hinge and screwed it to the rail on the saw.

Chuck....
The switch is one that came on my saw. It is just a simple push button switch, with a green start button and a red stop that sticks out a bit further than the face of the switch. Then can be purchased after market at Rockler's   or other wood working stores or even at an electrical supply place. In fact, I would probably start my search at an Ace hardware store! I'm sure it could be attached to your saw and wired up with out much problem.

pddesertrat.....
I don't have a splitter on my saw either. I know that they are recommended and are a good safety device and have considered getting one. Most of them are mounted on the blade insert and I make my own "0 clearance" inserts and it just seems to be too much trouble to put one on.
I have about eight different inserts that I change out quite often. I have the "stock" insert that came with the saw ( that I seldom use unless I'm cutting an odd angle between 0 and 45 degrees), I have a 0 clearance for both a standard 1/8" blade and the thin kerf blade, I have two for (one each) for the dado sets, two for the box joint blade set (one for 1/4" and one for the 3/8") and one that is dedicated to 45 degree cuts. Not all of those even need a splitter anyway.

Rog

327

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Foot Pedal

« on: June 06, 2014, 08:15:54 pm »

Hey Bill,
I totally agree with you, paddle switches are the "cats meow" and probably one of the best "safety" items on a power tool!
I made one for my table saw and more than once saved my skin from a kick back. (probably the most common injury from a table saw despite what "Saw Stop" says.) I can keep both hands firmly holding the material and just lift my left leg enough for my knee to hit the switch and kill the saw. Just don't panic and don't move until the blade stops and you will be OK.
Some times I just reach down with out looking and just slap it with my hand so I can watch what is going on on top of the saw and keep the material under control.
Even if I should bump it accidentally, all it does is kill the saw and I can re-start it easily, and that is better than looking for the red button on the switch when you really need it any-day.



I have taken a chunk of skin and meat out of my thumb by hitting the blade after a board kicked back and hit me in the stomach but, that was BEFORE and the reason I made the paddle switch.

Rog

328

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Foot Pedal

« on: June 05, 2014, 05:48:49 pm »

Thanks all for your input.  Thanks also Rog for correcting me, it should have been obvious to me.  I think the "dead man is winning out, after all, I'm 70 now so it is a possibility.....  

No problem. I'm 70 years old also and have been using my dead man switch for the last eight years at least.
I ordered mine from Sloane's wood working I think. It says Olson on the bottom and is still going strong. I recommend it.

You know your getting old when the Government REQUIRES you to start withdrawing money from your IRA!   

Rog

329

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Foot Pedal

« on: June 05, 2014, 12:51:29 pm »

OK, I think you have your terms mixed up.
A "Dead Man Switch" is the one where you must keep your foot pressing on it to keep the saw running. (As long as you are alive, the saw will run, if you die and your foot falls off of the switch the saw dies with you.)
The other one is simply an "On/ Off" switch that is activated with your foot instead of your fingers.
I prefer a dead man switch for ease of use and some control over speed and quickness of stopping the saw. Other people have their preferences of course but, I can just see myself stomping all over the floor with my foot trying to find the pedal to stop the saw. 

The idea of a dead mans switch was a safety devise for big machinery that required a person to be in constant control and not have a "run away" with nobody controlling the machine. (Think train engines for example.)

Rog

330

Ask Steve a question. / Re: key chain thickness??

« on: June 03, 2014, 09:57:57 pm »

JUST A WORD OF WARNING GUYS.
Several years ago I did the same thing. I cut a few key chains for display...."BOB. JIM,SUE, NANCY" etc. and took them to a Flea Market. Intending to sell them for $3.00 each and take special orders for more to be mailed to the customer for $4.00 each. 
I made a sale! A lady wanted to buy eight key chains and have them mailed to her in another town. "COOL!" I thought   "Just write a list of the names you want on this paper with your mailing address" I told her. 
When I looked at her list, I just about fainted. She had written THE FIRST AND LAST NAMES of eight people with the longest names I have ever heard!  The shortest name was 13 letters long and the longest was closer to 25 letters!! 
I tried to talk her into just using first names but, she insisted on both names. I tried to explain that the key chains would be 6" to 9" long and not be very easy to use as intended to no avail. 
Yes, I cut the key chains and mailed them. Twelve hours of work, and postage for a (larger than expected) box not to mention the cost of wood all for $30.00 (she had talked me down for quantity before I saw the list)
The real kicker was that she wrote back that she had MISS SPELLED  two of the names and could I re cut them? 

Needless to say, after that, my key chains were priced at $1.00 per letter. 

Rog