Answers to a few questions and I would love a few of you to give this a go, believe me, the projects go quick, and it is addictive:
I used a Jewelers blades 0/4 for this coin, you can get FD blades (0/3) from Mike or
www.sloanswoodshop.com (all sizes) or
http://www.bensscrollsaw.com (all sizes). These blades are very inexpensive, but you will break a lot, so buy a lot as they are often sold by the gross). I personally get mine from Sloans, but am open to other sources. You might also try the 0/8 if you want to see just how small you can go.
I use a lighted magnifier on a stand, and adding to that reading glasses to see the pattern clearly. My eyes are not that good, so your own needs may vary. Even if you don't do coins, I would highly recommend buying one of these.
For a large coin (half dollar), I can hold the coin directly, but you may prefer to super glue it to a thin board. For smaller coins, gluing it down is a must. Drop it in a jar of acetone for an hour to dissolve the ca glue.
For this type pattern, you don't need the extremely small drill bits, so getting that hole will be easy. Then just cut it out. Now for the really big secret . . . remember how it took you when you first started this, to get the feel of the saw and cutting wood? It will take a few coins to get feel of them. Just don't give up on the first coin, it gets better in a hurry. Start with pennies, if you mess it up, it is cheaper than wood.
If you want to try this, and you see something I've done that you like, you can let me know and I'll email you the pattern sized for a coin in pdf format as long as the patterns are "free" and most of what I use is. If you can make your own patterns, I can send you the photoshop versions to leverage for your own designs (Photoshop is cost prohibitive but these files should open in the free version of Gimp as well)
So there it is, please give it a try, you won't regret it and your friends will love them.
----Randy
