Up & running, & looking for a pattern!

[farmer]

Howdy folks! Well, I am finally up & and makin' sawdust! I finally got the conversion kit on my Craftsman! Whew! What a job! We had nasty weather going on here today, so I decided to just stay home & get my saw going. I now have it on its' stand, and bolted down, & ready for a pattern. I am trying to decide on what to start with. I have looked at several patterns, and have had alot of suggestions, and from what I played around with tonite, it looks like I am going to have the right blades for most anything, I hope. I thought about using 1/4" plywood, for now, on my first project, and maybe doing a truck, or maybe a flag. What do you all think? I am always open to more suggestions. I have had a couple w/ something patriotic, something of interest, etc. I don't know. Help!

[Randy Huckeby]

Hey Farmer,
Glad to hear you are up & running. My suggestion is to get some 1" pine & do some simple puzzles. If you do a search for free wood puzzles there is a site with numerous simple puzzles & I think you will enjoy scrolling a lot more if you start with some easy ones. I would suggest a #5 or #7 blade.

[farmer]

Ok. Well, I have had a tough time finding pinned blades for this saw, so I bought four different sizes on ebay, but they are are plain ends. I can't remeber what the sizes are, but so far, just "playin'" with them, they cut a really smooth cut, and make excellent corners & curves! Thanks for the advice! Will look into it.

[Minnesota scroller]

The first couple things I ever cut were out of 3/4" pine. After that, I ordered some 1/4" Baltic Birch ply and have been mainly using that ever since. Pinned blades - never. You want to stick with plain end. Eventually, like most of us, you'll start cutting pattern with a lot of entry holes. Good luck feeding pinned blades thru tiny holes.

Make sure you show us your first completed project. My first one, back in June, was a simple hummingbird. Now I'm scrolling portraits with hundreds of cuts. It doesn't take long. So get going and make some sawdust.

[Carter-Johnson]

If you have 1/4" wood, try making a jigsaw puzzle. Just glue a picture or card onto the wood and start sawing. No pattern, please!

Carter

[workin for wood]

You need to build a tractor trailer intarsia style! I think Wildwood design has some big rig intarsia patterns. you could alter the drawing a bit and make the door or the hood into an american flag. I think the pattern I bought is a KW, but could be a Pete...I've been to busy to build it yet. Intarsia offers you an excuse to buy a bigger variety of woods as well...your wife will love you for that. I'll build anything if it allows me to buy more wood and more tools!

[farmer]

Cool! I like your answer, Jeff! You think like me! I like it when I have to buy more tools & wood. Is that a website you are siggesting for the truck?

[Buzz]

Wildwood Designs

Be careful if you order from Wildwood. They used to be a very good company to order from when they were from Richland, WI. Then they changed hands and moved to Janesville, WI. Now it seems they are not very reliable to deal with.

[workin for wood]

You can get the same patterns from cherry tree ...don't know if wildwood designs and cherry tree are the same company. I do like that Kenworth truck pattern...I like big trucks. These companies have a website. I just did a bit of surfing and couldn't locate that pattern. I'll dig it out tomorrow when I finally can go back in the shop. It should say where it came from or at least who made it so then at least that person can be located.

[Buzz]

Cherry Tree

Last I knew, both Wildwood and Cherry Tree are owned by the same people/person.

[workin for wood]

I dug out the truck pattern...it's called BIG RIG #134 ...don't quote me on the number. It is a pattern by Garnett Hall. I have no idea his web site but I'm sure some internet searching will find you the truck pattern...it's pretty cool, I'll have to push that back up to the top of the future pile.

oh, here it is, sawbird and it is #134

http://www.sawbird.com/plans.htm

[farmer]

Great! Thanks Jeff! I have a great interest in big trucks myself. I especially like the International Eagle! I drive a 1999 9900 Eagle! I would like to find a pattern of one. Also, I have another question. How do I go about about enlarging a small pattern to cut? THanks for your input & your time.

[workin for wood]

I just go to kinko's to do enlargements.

Did you see that pattern? It's tough to identify...certainly could be an older international. I drive a 98 Volvo myself. 1 million 30 thousand original miles, all just with me driving...and no rebuild yet. It's running the Volvo engine just over 500 HP and 6.7 MPG haulin dog food.