Helmet

[Kevin ( Bear ) Froese]

Hello
I need some help here. I am new to the scroll world and love doing it. I am working on a Veteran memorial. I need to see if there is a way to make small Army helmet. About 1? high to 1 ? ?wide. I found a picture but its only the side view. I have been trying somehow to cut one side then the other way. Have had no luck. Right now I take a 1 1/2 rod and cut and sand to get the helmet. It takes about 2 1/2 hous from start to finish. Any help out there.

Kevin ( Bear ) Froese

[Russ C]

I have been thinking about your post and at first, I had no answer (not really sure I still do) and I have been scrolling/woodworking for over 40 years.

A question for you is, does it need to be hollow?

Either way the only suggestion I can think of is treat it like a bowl pattern cutting it in layers, then gluing it together to form a helmet. Still would require a lot of sanding so I am not sure it would save you any time. Sometimes there is no shortcut or quicker way. Just my 2 cents. 

[Kevin ( Bear ) Froese]

This is what I am looking at doing. I will drill the hollow part out.

[Russ C]

Then I repeat, the only suggestion I can think of is treat it like a bowl pattern cutting it in layers, (like in the example) then gluing it together to form a helmet. Still would require a lot of sanding so I am not sure it would save you any time. 

[Kevin ( Bear ) Froese]

Thanks Russ I have tried that and it takes longer. Thank for the help. I am new to this

[newfie]

may be someone can come up with a compound cut pattern of an helmet for you i think it would be a lot less sanding.

[EIEIO]

I'd thought of trying this as a 3-part compound cut but it still will not produce a rounded surface.

Since they wind up painted (not a finished wood surface) you might consider carving a mold, then using resin to cast a bunch of helmets. You didn't show a dimension here, but if they are a side to be cut on a scroll saw then they should be not too hard to cast.

[Kevin ( Bear ) Froese]

Thank you all for your help. I will come up with a way to do compound cut.

Kevin

[Gabby]

Bear do you have a dremel tool with the cutting tips? That might save you a bunch of time carving the shape you are trying to make. I think using a scrollsaw is like using a hammer to paint with, neither tool will do the job properly. I would also suggest getting some basswood or balsa both will shape and sand much easier and you should be able to get it at a local hobby or craft store. They are both easy to carve and doing so on the size you are talking about makes sense to me.
I hope this helps,
Gabby