Most valuable lesson

[Back2Jake]

As a beginner in the art of scrollsawing, if you could have an experienced scroller demonstrate one thing to you, what would you like to see?

[BobD]

Techniques to cut straight lines
Techniques to cut smoothly curving lines
How to get back on the line (smoothly) when you get off the line
Changing and tensioning blades
Backing out of a cut
How to choose saw speed


Hope it's not too many!

Bob

[Back2Jake]

LOL, Think you covered all of the things I had been asked in workshops and then some!

[3_M]

Bob,

Why do you have so many carver moderators on a scroll saw forum?

Mike M

[Back2Jake]

Um, I am not a carver.....
My Thanksgiving turkey with attest to that!

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Mike - I'm not a moderator on this forum, just the caricature portion of the carving board. Unfortunately the tag tags along with me where ever I go. Probably one of those system idiosycracies. While I'm here, I'm just a normal user (well maybe a little abnormal at least that's what the wife says).

[3_M]

Hi Plain Ol Ed,

Thank you for explaining that to me. Bob should have answered that a long time ago.

Mike M

[goobydoosdad]

Mike - I'm not a moderator on this forum, just the caricature portion of the carving board. Unfortunately the tag tags along with me where ever I go. Probably one of those system idiosycracies. While I'm here, I'm just a normal user (well maybe a little abnormal at least that's what the wife says).

I was just wondering if ANY of us are normal.....at least us guys......................funny that my wife says the same thing Ed. LOL

[BobD]

Sorry Mike,

I was in meetings yesterday until 5 p.m. (Whenever my computer is on it says I'm on the board. Then I went home and went to bed with a sinus infection. Today, I just got up (called in sick) and checked the board.

Here's how it goes: When we converted the boards, we wanted to make sure all the people who log on to the carver's forum could still log on to the scrolling forum with the same login information and password...so we imported to both of them independently. That means there is identical information in the database for both forums, so if you change one, you change both. We are trying to find some way to separate that, but haven't yet.

So far besides Rob, Amber and I as administrators, Toni is the only moderator. She is one of our contributers to SSW...Check out her article in an upcoming issue! So the carvers are not moderators on the forum...they just look like ones!

Hope this helps. By the way mike, if you send me a private message I can usually responde quicker because I have it set up to shoot me an e-mail whenever I get a private message. When I get an e-mail, I get this annoying message pop up, so I check it right away.

Bob

[arbarnhart]

blade choice!

I think the choice of blades is a big one.

[Back2Jake]

Thanks for gettting us back on topic!

One thing I am asked often in workshops is to demonstrate how to turn the wood so you have nice sharp tight corners.

[3_M]

Hi Tony,
Here is a little article I have on my web site:
How about cutting corners?

Some people just spin the blade around, this will leave a round corner. I don’t like that. If you do spin the wood, make sure you stop cutting, but keep the saw running. Then, turn the wood with pressure on the back of the blade so it won’t remove any wood while turning.
I like to do it different. There are two lines: line “A” going into the corner, and line “B” going away. Cut on line A all the way to the corner. Then, back out about a 1/4” and turn the blade with the teeth into the waste, start cutting a curve towards line B and then to the corner. A small piece will fall out. This gives you room to turn the blade, put the back of the blade in the corner and start cutting on line B. Try to have the open space to the left of the blade. The right side of the blade has this little burr and will grab faster into the wood. Be careful that it does not get off the line. With some experience you can even utilize this burr to do some sanding if you have a little bump. Some people like to round the back of the blade. This is done by running the saw while holding a wet-stone against the back of the blade.
Mike M

[suzie71400]

As a beginner in the art of scrollsawing, if you could have an experienced scroller demonstrate one thing to you, what would you like to see?

How to bevel cut and to what degree, etc!! I keep doing the trial and ERROR method myself!!

[Back2Jake]

Suzie, I use a lesson sheet in my workshops to demonstrate to students how the impact of angle changes on bevel cuts. You can do this lesson and keep it handy near your saw for reference.

Take a circle template and draw 10 circles (2 rows of 5 circles, leaving space between each one) on a 8x10 paper.

Drill a pilot hole at the bottom of each circle.

Tilt your table 1 degree, left side down, and cut the first circle in a counter clockwise direction. Then do the same thing again on the next four circles while increasing the tilt of your table by one degree each time until you have cut the fifth circle at 5 degrees. You will see the difference each degree makes in the bevel.

Now start again on the second row of circles. Put your table back to 1 degree and go in a clockwise direction. With each circle, increase your tilt by 1 degree. Again, you will see the difference each degree makes in the recess.

By keeping this board for reference, you will have an easier time planning your next bevel cut. Hope that helps.

[Forester21]

A note on your Circle lesson - try tilting the table to the right!! LOL
Oh, and write the degree and the direction right on your wood piece too, along with which way you tilted the table.

Theresa