Messages

406

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Intarsia

« on: December 05, 2012, 07:34:12 am »

I use 3/8" thick stock for Intarsia.  I resaw one inch wood to 3/8"  I sometimes will add a little 1/8" Masonite to the back to raise a piece up a bit.  I use 1/8" Masonite for backing of the whole project also.

407

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Dewalt 788 question

« on: December 05, 2012, 07:29:02 am »

I once had a DeWalt 788 (Type 2) and it cut very well, blade changes are easy. It ran smooth.  The only thing I found is that it kept falling apart....literaly.  After the warranty ran out (about 20 months) I sold it and bought a more durable $aw. A Hegner.  I have used this Hegner every day for about 4 years, now, with no problems.

408

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Poplar

« on: December 05, 2012, 07:18:54 am »

I find that poplar machines well but is not a good wood to stain. It takes paint very well though.  I use the green parts for leaves in intarsia work. The white part works well for my inlay projects.

409

Intarsia / Re: New Intarsia Question. Frame or no frame?

« on: December 04, 2012, 07:46:59 pm »

I would not put a frame on it because almost all painted art or even prints are displayed with a frame.  Intarsia is unique and I think it should be displayed in a unique way.  Intarsia with a frame may look like painted art. No frame draws attention to it... Just my opinion.  Very nice job on the dog by the way!

410

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: My Annual Craft Show came to an End.... :+}

« on: November 16, 2012, 08:17:00 pm »

I was told years ago that ornaments do not sell well so I have never made any.  I am not actually interested in them anyway.  I have made some seasonal items but find that if I make four of them for instance I have to hold them for three years to get them all sold.  I no longer make seasonal stuff for this reason.
      I do about 25 sales a year , most of them are outside, so cheap rent.  I make things that women like ,kids like and even some men like.  I make boxes.  I make them of cedar, with an inlayed image on the lid.  Largest is 8"x11"x2".  Kids like them to keep there "treasures " in and women like to buy these boxes to give as gifts. I sell them for $15 each and sell a bunch. ( aprox.330 per year)  It took a while to figure out the most efficient way to make the boxes and took a while to learn to do inlay well.  I make these boxes about 20 at a time.  I also make rubber band shooters and sell them easily for $5. I make these about 20 at a time also.  I offer some intarsia and some lettered signs at various prices. I rarely sell anything for more than $40..................I do not do fretwork at all......not yet.

411

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: intarsia patterns

« on: October 19, 2012, 07:45:51 pm »

Thanks for the link.  I copied a few of those patterns that I plan to use to inlay into jewelry box lids.

412

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Which Ornaments Sell Best?

« on: September 27, 2012, 08:33:59 am »

I have been told that ornaments do not sell well at all.  I have not tried making any because of this.  I do find that seasonal stuff does not sell well for me and I do not want to hold things for a year or two to sell them.

413

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Paint Thinner

« on: September 26, 2012, 07:12:52 pm »

I am glad I read this thread.  I tried using paint thinner  in a spray bottle to remove the patter which I applied with spray adhesive.  Works great.  I had this spray bottle of thinner to spray  on a rag to use as a tack cloth.  Also works great.

414

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: HOW TO MAKE A PATTERN IN SECTIONS-TOO BIG FOR 8.5X11?

« on: September 16, 2012, 03:52:39 pm »

I use the program "Paint" to enlarge patterns to larger than 8.5X11.  Pretty simple that way.

415

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: use the whole blade

« on: September 04, 2012, 06:42:49 pm »

Yes...... there is this trick I  use on every blade.  My stroke length on my scroll saws are 3/8" and 3/4" so when a blade gets dull I remove it and cut off either 3/8" or 3/4" from the bottom of the blade and reinstall.  Now I am cutting on unused part of the blade.  I do not use reverse cutting blades so I do not know how it will work with them.  My Hegners allow me to use this shorter blade and maybe your saw does also.

416

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Soft wood or Hard wood

« on: September 03, 2012, 08:20:56 am »

     Fence boards are made of western cedar.  Try eastern cedar, the aromatic kind.  It is a bit harder.  I work with a lot of red cedar, I make boxes with it and inlay maple images into the lids.  I have tried to carve it and find that it splinters too much so I applied a coupla' coats of lacquer to it and it helps.  Maybe some type of finish on your wood before cutting would help. 

417

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Question

« on: August 31, 2012, 10:34:31 am »

I have two Hegner$ and a Jet and all cut well but I like the Hegnar polymax best.  I do not do any fret work...yet.  I do intarsia ,inlays and signs.

418

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: Sand Flee

« on: August 23, 2012, 06:45:32 am »

I have a "V" sander which is a similar tool.  I use it to smooth out the cut edges of a cedar box after cutting the top off in my band saw.  Works well for me.

419

Intarsia / Re: My plans for first project

« on: July 28, 2012, 06:47:33 pm »

I would use Maple or Basswood for any really white pieces.

420

General Scroll Saw Talk / Re: small problem with my EX-21

« on: July 02, 2012, 10:53:36 pm »

"..... saving for the ultimate saw, a Hegner." <chippygeoff>
      I have two Hegners and the clamping system is not quick to work but does not let go nor bend blades.