Best Types of Wood to Use

[rob171171]

Hi

I'm looking for some advice as to the most suitable wood to use out of the following to use with a scroll saw and also the optimal thickness. The two options currently are Pineboard or Birch Plywood at 12mm, 15mm 18mm or 25mm. If there are other alternatives please do suggest.
The project is to cut out countries of the world and then mount a board with 1 inch gap to allow lights under each of the continents.
So what I'm asking really is what is the best type wood I could use for this that will give nice grain affect when finished and stained and also which is the optimal type wood to use with the scroll saw.
All help, tips, prompts of all constructive natures welcomed to this scroll saw novice.

Regards

[dunk]

Well if you are going to stain it, I'd stay away from Pine for certain unless you want to add shellac finish first to help with the blotching, Pine is notorious for blotching when stained.

[GrayBeard]

From the dimensions you gave I am guessing you are not in the U.S.

Are those your only choices?
As far as thickness that could be anything from 1" down to 1/32".
The thickness will determine your saw speed, feed rate and the type of blade you use.

Give us a bit more information and we can better help with your choices.
Also include the make and model of your saw!

~~~GB~~~

[king310]

If I understand this you are going to use plywood and not solid. As for the thickness it would be your preference and how you would display your project. Everyone has a preference about types and thickness.
I prefer solid woods. I am currently trying different woods for some of my few projects I am working on with my scroll saw. I am what you would call in my R & D phase (research and development) in my scroll saw projects.  I have used different veneer plywood for projects over the years. I liked oak for the book cases I have made, cedar for outdoor projects and birch for some other furniture.
Sorry I was not much help.

[rob171171]

Thanks all for your responses to date. Let me try and answer your questions as best I can
Dunk - I’m really looking for a wood that will stain up nicely once finished and will be suitable to use with a scroll saw. When I refer to staining here I really mean varnishing so as to really bring to life the grains in the wood.

GreyBeard - No I'm based in Ireland and I vaguely remember measuring things in school with an old 12" ruler. Alas my friend the EU Bureaucrats took over and imposed the damn Metric system upon us. The thickness I gave in my initial draft refer to 12mm = 0.47", 15mm = 0.59", 18mm = 0.70" & 25mm = 0.98".
Those thicknesses I provided are based on the typical different ones I can get here in Ireland. I'm willing to import in order to get the most suitable type. As regards more information I’m not sure what I can give really apart from what I stated originally. I have an acetate print that I will project onto my sheet wood whereby I will sketch out the map of the world. I will then use the scroll saw to cut out the different countries / continents which I will then mount using a 1" gap between country and mounted board. I will then insert some low voltage bulbs under each country to illuminate. I really want to get a wood that will show the grains when stained so that along with what is the most suitable type of wood really is my main question.
My scroll saw is Ferm Scroll Saw Fretsaw 16" 400mm Fret Craft Bandsaw Table however I really am a novice with it.

King310 - I don’t have a preference of plywood currently. I just suggested them as potential suitable types. Regarding thickness I think anywhere around the 1/2" mark would be suitable.

Hopefully this will throw some additional light on my requests & Thanks again in Advance
Rob

P.S A tip on most useful blades would also be most beneficial

[rob171171]

Also
Just wondered if you anyone can help in telling me which one of these are best cut with the scroll saw and if Red Oak is a favorite when cutting with scroll saw?

Oak Character European
Oak / FAS European SE
Oak Pippy European
Oak Prime North American Red
Oak Prime North American White
Oak North American White No. 1 Common

And if anyone could give advice on the best type blades to use and what TPI I should use for hardwood like Red Oak

[Becky]

With 1/2" material, I would use a #3 or a #5 blade (I pretty much always use Flying Dutchman reverse tooth blades and they should be fine for this project).  Start with the #3.  With all the wiggles in maps, you'll probably have an easier time with the #3.  If it doesn't cut well enough, you can always switch to the larger #5.

I've never done much with oak. I tried some a couple-few years ago and had a harder than usual time with it as I recall.  A dark wood like walnut (which I really like to cut, lol) might look cool with the backlighting you are planning. Or if you used the plywood you could paint the pieces any color(s) you want.

[Marcellarius]

because you want a 1" gap between country and board I would use at least 1/2" (12mm) thick wood so you can make some kind of pins in it to keep it " hover" above the backboard.

both ply and solid would will work fine, but plywood has glue so it will dull your blade faster then solid wood.
how are you going to finish the wood, with colors or paint? or just with lacker?
if you are using lacker I would try to get all kind of different wood types so each country has an other type of wood.

my advise, go to a floor company and buy all kind of different types of wood.
solid wood floor panels are almost 1" thick. maybe the can plane them down to 1/2"?
I have a wood floor company that does that for me.

I would use the Flying Dutchman UR#1 for detailed lines but the UR#3 will do just fine also.
also can use the TC#1 blade, but I think the UR just makes small turns easier.

can't wait to see pictures

[rob171171]

Thanks Guys for your responses and advice however suggesting using different types of wood for the different countries has now posed, and rightly so, more decisions to make. Just while I thought I had the project nailed down I can now see the merits of this suggestion..To mix or not to mix!!

Oh and one last thing which I just need clarifying and Marcellarius touched upon in previous post. Will plywood work OK on the scroll saw? Was getting the impression it would splinter a bit.

[Keefie]

Plywood works extreemly well on the scrollsaw, I use it 90% of the time. But you must get Birch ply (Baltic Birch Ply in USA) as it is best quality wood right through the layers with no voids (spaces in the middle). I cut it with Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse blades usually a #1 or #3 size blade, it leaves it with an almost perfect finish with little or no sanding required on the cuts. (I always sand both front and back surfaces before cutting as this means not much sanding after its cut)
Hope this helps.
Keith.

[rob171171]

Great thanks Keith. Does this Ply come with a nice grain to finish?

[Keefie]

Usually it is a fairly plain wood with a little graining on it, but I think I read somewhere you can get it in the USA with with oak, cherry ,maple and other woods on the top surface (like a veneer), but here in the UK we are limited to plain Birch Ply. I have attatched a pic of the Cornwall Air Ambulance made from plain Birch Ply and finished with Blo/ thinners and 2 coats of lacquer to show you what it looks like. (if you finish it using a stain it brings out the marking more)