I Wanna Cut 1/8 Walnut as is. Suggestions?

[karen12]

Yea I know I'm stubborn {If I only had a brain lala} and I heard I should use something under it like a piece to stack but I dont have stuff I can just cut up. We dont even have cardboard around here. So I'm wondering if I can cut the picture out if I use a 2/0 blade and maybe slow the saw speed down??? Well that's my best guess at what to do. I still saw really slow and still have to work my fanny off concentrating to stay on the line. Its a 7x7 piece with some birds sitting on branches with a couple berries and flowers. Not a hard piece but I did remake the free pattern that fella makes for free and does vids and a blog. My birds will have veining in them for detail.
Sooooo am I gonna wreck this cuz its so thin????

[Bill Wilson]

It's not a foregone conclusion that you will wreck it, but the probability is significantly greater with very thin wood like this. 1/8" walnut will offer little resistance to a sharp blade and it will be very easy to over cut the lines. Also, if the blade catches in a tight corner, you could have breakage. This thin walnut will be very fragile across the grain.

Don't slow the blade speed down too much. This could cause it to grab. I would suggest not necessarily using a fresh, sharp blade. You may have better luck and control using one that is slightly dull, not completely dull, but one that has been used a bit.

It's not impossible to cut, but you have to understand the risks and use caution to try & avoid them when cutting.

[Woodworking Plus]

For walnut that thin I would use a crown tooth blade. Less chance of snagging on turns and makes a very smooth cut.

[karen12]

Maybe I could dull one of the new 2/0 or a 2r's on a scrap board piece. I've been trying to learn how to edit pdf files in this new drawing software and it's been a nightmare. i gave up trying to draw with it or even scan my own drawings in cuz I can't for the life of me figure out how to edit stuff in there. So finally I did manage to get those simple birds out of there and then figure a way to get the new birds into the pdf after three days of reading and trying stuff cuz of course it never worked like they said lol. I just wanna have some fun now and cutttttt <grin> Glad you were around to ask. After I posted I had to smack myself cuz I forgot E1 is doin holiday stuff. Hope you arent isolated. Thats how it is here most the time, but usually it doesnt matter unless I get down or too antsy lol. Have a nice rest of the day and thanks for being here Bill. Boy I sure can talk sometimes..hmm maybe most the time lol

[karen12]

For walnut that thin I would use a crown tooth blade. Less chance of snagging on turns and makes a very smooth cut.

Thanks I've got one of those too but I dont know if I have a real small one. To carry on my thoughts with Bill maybe I should try out all the ideas on a piece of plywood. I know it's not the same as walnut cuts but it is 1/8. Better than a poke in the eye with a stick as mom used to say lol. Thanks for the suggestion. You have a nice day too!

[wood-n-things]

You already have excellent advice so I'll just say keep us informed on your progress and good luck.

[karen12]

You already have excellent advice so I'll just say keep us informed on your progress and good luck.

Hiya Mike, I will try to let ya all know how it goes, but as you know with me,,it takes forever to get something cut. Then I have trouble with finishes cuz I want more darkness than I get so I put it all off. Then I hate polycrylic top coats{ I stink at brushing it on} but I'm allergic to everything...I bought a full mask and gloves and if it gets nice out I'm spraying poly on it. Out of 3 projects I made since jan. One needs another coat of brush on poly, one fell apart cuz glue sucked cuz daughter wanted it painted, and last one needs some touch up on gel stain and a poly spray. Might b done by christmas lol. this one is getting oiled with tried and true cuz of no voc so maybe it will b done first out of all. I know the walnut wont b dark enough to suit me though. well after u get this delete it. I doubt anyone needs to know every little prob I have lol. It's not the whole story anyways. That would take forever lol
Have a good one Mike!

[wood-n-things]

Wow. This is not a hobby for you. This is an adventure...ROFL. Keep the faith it will get better with time and practice.

[karen12]

Thanks for all the empathy lolol

[wood-n-things]

It's not like I've never been there. GRIN!

[karen12]

Gee I knew I liked you for some reason lol. Hard to tell when usually it's all business. I just can't be ask question get answer person. I gotta talkkkkk cuz this stuff can drive me crazyyy sometimes lol

Talk to ya later. Gotta do stuff around here or it doesnt get done.

[markdavd]

Some good advice has been given, but you must ask yourself this - How frustrated will you be if you ruin the piece because you didn't find something to back the wood up with? What if you get 90% done, and a major portion shatters because the grain was too weak to hold up to the saw blade?

[Forester21]

Hey? Where in NE Michigan are you?? I'm in northern lower-
Theresa

[karen12]

Well if ya don't have the bucks to have the extra wood. You don't have it. If it breaks of course I'll commit myself to take care of the nervous breakdown I''l have after all that work but then it will go nicely with all the other nightmares in my life. I know you are right about backing up the wood but when I posted I already knew I was taking a chance and the others were giving me my best options under the circumstances. Thanks for your concern but the only ones that have to live with my hysteria over my project being destroyed are me and hubby and he will just go hide lol

[keystonecop]

Good Luck

I have had very poor results with thin hardwoods, but I am a block head and learned the hard way. UFF-DA and good luck. Please post your results.

I sure would back it with 1/8 baltic birch and cut with a Flying Dutchman Penguin Silver Reverse #1