BB plywood, graphite paper & Olson files

[Minnesota scroller]

Tried a lot of new things today. My baltic birch plywood came in today so I was anxious to give that a try. Talk about having to slow down. I was used to 3/4" pine. This 1/4" ply cuts so much faster and me without more than 1 speed on my saw. I guess it's just a matter of slowing down to first gear. I had to move much slower and make the turns much faster. It was a real challenge.

I also received some graphite paper and thought I might as well see how that works. I like it. As you can see by my horse head, I didn't try it on a real complicated project. I didn't have to mess around with tape or spray and it sanded off quite easily. I think I will be using this for all my more simple patterns.

I also received a couple Olson files and I like them also. They are especially nice for someone like me that doesn't always stay on the line. I can just put the file in the saw like another blade and it really rounds off the places that should have been rounded in the first place. Is this cheating? I just wish they were a little thinner for the really tight places. All in all it was a productive day. Unfortunately, my wife wants to paint or stain everything I cut. I told her these first few are just for practice. By the way, I got the files along with the plywood from Sloan's Workshop.

I'm still thinking about a Dewalt for less vibration and more importantly for the variable speed. I can see a lot less ruined work with a slower speed. I know Ozarkhillbilly has a Dewalt and just puts his into high speed for everything.

I have also managed to improve my blade chage time, in other words switching to different holes, from 1 minute to 20 seconds or so.

Have a great one sawyers and start sharing a little more of your work.

[CanadianScroller]

Great job, there will be no stopping you now.

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Guess you're into it now

That's a nice mare you made there (try saying that ten times while changing blade )

regards,
Marcel

[ozarkhillbilly]

Looking good!! Sounds like you had a great day.

Here's a suggestion, get your wife to try cutting a simple piece, she'll see how much fun it is and TA DA! You get your new saw and she gets the present one Everyone wins! Everyone is making there own saw dust.

[lucky788scroller]

First, see what a little practice can do. you cut your blade change time to a third already. Your wandering off the lines is improving to I'm sure, as is everything else. I am sorry that I didnt mention this to you, but on the next project, use 2 layers of the 1/4th inch bbply. I always stack my plywood layers. Not only does it double your productivity, but it helps tremendously on your control. Give it a try. I generally will stack two layers of 1/4th , wether its hardwood or plywood, or both. On 1/8th , I always stack to at least 4 layers thick, and up to 8 layers if its something I need a bunch of, and fairly simple lines to follow.
As for the carbon paper vs. the tape and spray adhesive on the pattern, I disagree with you. I will take the tape on the wood with the pattern spray-glued on anytime. I have no trouble removing it at all from the wood after I cut.In fact, the lion and the tiger quilt squares I posted, I was able to remove the whole (lots of holes!!!)patterns in one piece, and a few swipes with 220 grit and they were finish ready, no glue residue at all.
I rarely run my saws at full speed. That depends a lot on the type of pattern you are cutting, as well as your wood, and blade. Keep on cutting stuff , your on a roll now. I too will offer an idea... Have your wife pay for each thing you cut, put the money in a jar, and at the rate your going, you will have earned enough to buy the big yella saw quickly Dale

[Minnesota scroller]

Thanks for the tip Dale, but how will stacking the wood double my productivity if all I want is one cutout? This sounds like a waste of wood. It makes sense to me if I were making a few to sell but at this point it's all for fun and if I use 2 pieces of wood when all I want is one, I'm doubling my expense.

As I mentioned, the graphite paper will only be used for simpler designs. I used the tape and spray on my first 2 projects and agree that it will be better in most cases but when the design is extremely simple, the graphite paper is just as quick.

As far as the last idea goes, If I asked my wife to start paying me for my art, she might insist I start paying her for a few things.

[ChuckD]

Don't worry about wasting wood. There will be a time in the near future when someone will see what you did and say "I would really like to have one of those) and volia they got it. Plus it is a lot easier to cut more than one at a time. I stack cut 5 or six at a time (1/8 inch thick) and I don't have any lying around..

[lucky788scroller]

Like Chuck mentioned, you wont have extras laying around. Cut one if one is all you want, but you will find control much nicer when stacking, creating a better finished piece, and you can scroll it at least as fast as doing one, because you dont have to baby the saw each time an intricate section comes along to stay cutting where you want to.I guess its a personal preferance thing. Dale