questions

[flagrl]

this might be a stupid question but on the patterns where do you cut? do you white part of the pattern or the dark part of the pattern? does that makes sense? and also where do you start cutting on a pattern? i have been looking at some patterns i have that i got from a magazine i bought and also the patterns on here and when im up at my step dad's and mom's house for christmas, i'll be there for 3 weeks, i am going to ttry and make the horse welcome sign that is provided on here. i will proabably have alot more questions as the time goes on so ill just keep asking them on this post so i dont post 100 different places

[wood-n-things]

Unless a pattern says cut the white you typically remove the black or dark. I usually start cutting near the center of piece. After time you will recognize the more fragile areas and will learn how to protect those areas. BTW the only "Dumb questions" are those that remain unasked...We were all novices once too.

[Bill Wilson]

Like Mike said, generally the black areas are waste areas. Look at the pattern and try ti visualize it as a finished piece. Waste areas will generally be those that drop out when cut, while the rest of the pattern should be connected together, so that everything stays in one piece when you finish cutting it. Once you get that visualization down, it will become much easier to figure out.

On any pattern with inside cuts, like Mike, I try and cut any of most fragile areas, in the middle of the pattern first. Then work my way toward the outside, cutting the outside perimeter last. Cutting those fragile, inside areas first means that you have the most material remaining in the piece to support it. It helps prevent breakage during the cut.

Please don't feel bad about or hesitate to ask questions. That is what this forum is for. A lot of this stuff isn't necessarily intuitive to beginners and will be especially difficult for those with no previous woodworking experience.

I will also add that I appreciate beginner questions, because I'm scheduled to teach my first scroll sawing class next Spring and I'm learning a lot about what beginners struggle with and it's helping me to develop the curriculum. Those of us who have been doing this for a while often take a lot of the techniques and methodology for granted because it's become natural for us. Also, reading all the different responses always brings out different ways of approaching a particular problem and even us old dogs can learn a new trick once in a while. So by all means, don't hesitate to keep posting those questions.

[flagrl]

thank you guys so much. i cant wait to actually get one. i apperciate all the advicce. it sure helps

[ubgoofy2003]

Welcome flagrl, & don't be afraid to ask. Like I'm going to do now--- I'm of the old school, Mike, & I don't always know what BTW means. I don't touch text messages either. flagrl, just keep reading & learn all you can before you venture into something like scrolling. I only say that, because, if you spend an hour cutting & cut the wrong line, then it may all be wasted. Hang in there & just enjoy doing what you like to do. I even cut the wrong line once in a while, yikes ! Good luck & enjoy your scrollsaw.

[ChuckD]

After I get the pattern placed on the wood, I will take a few minutes to study a couple of things. First, where should I drill the holes, next what order do I cut the holes. And how do I cut each hole, which direction do I cut and where are the tight spots that may require a little more extreme care. Plan your steps and you will find that all of a sudden you are finished and the "OMG's" begin.
Good luck

[wood-n-things]

BTW = By The Way.....

[flagrl]

ok i was looking at home depot and there is a porter cable 16" variable speed saw i could buy that know and try it and see how i like scroll sawing and then i could bbuy a good one with my school money later. is this a good beginner saw or not? i read the reviews and all but one said the vibration was good. its has pin and striaght blade types. so what do yall think
Shop PORTER-CABLE 16" Variable Speed Scroll Saw with Stand at Lowes.com

[Rolf]

Some times there is no black and white. After you have cut for a while you will be able to look at a pattern and know what gets cut and what doesn't. I cut a Wolf pattern last night that I have wanted to cut for years. This was the first time in years that I had to look at the pattern carefully to see what went away. I put a small x in each place where I was going to drill my entry hole. I know NPDH, WD I will post the picture tonight.
NPDH = (no picture, didn't happen)

[evilbadger]

You could start with that saw and upgrade but I would just go with the good saw and use the $200 you are basically throwing away on other tools like sanders or a drill press.

[flagrl]

well i bought a little scroll saw today, im not good at waiting, it was $120 from lowes its variable speed i havent turned it on yet it came with 2 blades one of which was put on the scroll saw already and one of which was bent. should i throw that one out or is that how they come?oh the brand name is skil it should hold me over till i can get a good one if i like scroll sawing.

ok started it up and tried to cut when i thought i was going in a straight line it went completly digianal. and it seemed like after i went a certain amount down the wood it would like stop cutting i guess thats a good way to say it. also how do you reverse. the vibration isnt that bad its better than i thought but proabably not that good . how do you keep from the wood slappping every once in awhile it will slap up and down. i need to make a stand for it. as right now it is sitting on the living room floor but im excited

[fireglass]

Flagrl, Any saw well go to the right, it's the way the blade cuts.as far as useing the bent blade I say go for it. Blades don't last long and when they stop there done. Learning your saw and what it can do is part of the fun of scrolling. I think soon you'll love it! Lance

[Catlyn]

well i bought a little scroll saw today, im not good at waiting, it was $120 from lowes its variable speed i havent turned it on yet it came with 2 blades one of which was put on the scroll saw already and one of which was bent. should i throw that one out or is that how they come?oh the brand name is skil it should hold me over till i can get a good one if i like scroll sawing.

ok started it up and tried to cut when i thought i was going in a straight line it went completly digianal. and it seemed like after i went a certain amount down the wood it would like stop cutting i guess thats a good way to say it. also how do you reverse. the vibration isnt that bad its better than i thought but proabably not that good . how do you keep from the wood slappping every once in awhile it will slap up and down. i need to make a stand for it. as right now it is sitting on the living room floor but im excited

Like a little kid in a candy store, huh? That's exactly how I was when I first got my bandsaw, and now I'm going to get a scrollsaw pretty soon.
You will love scrolling, I have no doubt about it.
When you get this woodworking fever you usually have it pretty bad so you may as well count on upgrading to a better scrollsaw. I'm thinking of the Excalibur.

[flagrl]

i learned why it would stop there is like a lip where you take out the center piece to get to the screw to get to the blade off. but i think i fixed that i hope. i have cut up all my extra wood scrapes i will find more i think ill love this. the light on it works ok will work for now. thou the blower on it sucks. will look more into that. i am going to build me a work bench. turns out that we do have electricity in the shed. so i got it all cleaned out today and will hopefully start this weekend on the bench. im thinking either a simple bench for the scroll saw then a workbench for my tools and all that stuff seperate from the scroll saw workbench. or have the scroll saw wrokbench a big one to put drawers and stuff for all my tools we will see. pretty soon i will have alot of questions as i play around the scroll saw. i almost cut a straight line today

[Catlyn]

i learned why it would stop there is like a lip where you take out the center piece to get to the screw to get to the blade off. but i think i fixed that i hope. i have cut up all my extra wood scrapes i will find more i think ill love this. the light on it works ok will work for now. thou the blower on it sucks. will look more into that. i am going to build me a work bench. turns out that we do have electricity in the shed. so i got it all cleaned out today and will hopefully start this weekend on the bench. im thinking either a simple bench for the scroll saw then a workbench for my tools and all that stuff seperate from the scroll saw workbench. or have the scroll saw wrokbench a big one to put drawers and stuff for all my tools we will see. pretty soon i will have alot of questions as i play around the scroll saw. i almost cut a straight line today

You go girl! Be sure to post some pictures of your work.
If you search online you can find some reasonably easy workbenches to make.
I have one in a magazine I bought for shop organization.