keeping your work piece intact

[bubbantenn]

I don't know how many may actually benefit from this but I sure wish someone would have shared it with me. It would have saved me a lot of difficulty. So here it is...
In the past when I have cut multiple images from the same work piece, I would always start at the edge and cut my way into the image. When the image came free, it left a very jagged and hard-to-hold edge. It also left me with a much smaller piece to work with.
What I've learned is, if I drill an entry hole near the point where I want to begin cutting and then cut out the image, it leaves my entire outside edge intact, resulting in much better stability and control. I hope the picture of my current project helps to explain this. Doing this also adds to the safety factor as you don't have to hold your project so close to the blade. It also decreases chatter because you have a better hold on your project.
This is probably something many of you may have learned from experience, but maybe there is someone just starting out that may benefit from this.
You'll notice I also cut multiple images from my 8 !/2 X 11 paper so that they fit on an 8 X 10 piece of wood (sometimes smaller). This makes less waste of my wood

Thanks for letting me share.

[wood-n-things]

Although this is the way I have done it for quite some time it is a valuable tip. Thank you for thinking about sharing it. I have recently found though that this is not a good way for me to do compound cuts as it makes it much more difficult to release the prize inside.

[Spirithorse]

Nice tip, Bubba. Let me add that, it is usually best to do the interior cuts first on
projects such as the ornaments you pictured and then cut the perimeter.
Less chance of breaking anything than if you cut the perimeter and then try to cut
the inside cuts.
God Bless! Spirithorse