Making Bevel Sawn Bowl Patterns??

[harpone]

At least 2 of the reference books I have include a pattern for making bowls from a single piece of wood using concentric bevel cuts. I would like to make some patterns with different arrangements of the arcs (or undulations). Is there any freeware available to create such patterns?

[handibunny]

Harpone,

Check out Dave Van Ess's site, scrollmania.com. His program, PolyDraw, lets you create many different kinds of profiles that are suitable for scrolled bowls. He also has an angle calculator program, AngleCalc, that lets you determine the proper cutting angle for different thicknesses of wood and different ring widths.

[Terry Jay]

Yep, see Carole's comments above.

Have a look at the Tutorials. They help a lot in making wavy and other shapes Have used his programs for square, rectangle, oval, round and wavy oval and round.

[harpone]

Computer Problem with PolyDraw

I am using an Apple desktop with the older Tiger OS X operating system. I printed out all the PolyDraw tutorials to make it easier on myself. I then did the plan in Tutorial I and had a problem: the drawing is hard to see. I can make out the outer line in the drawing but anything else is very difficult to see. I printed out the drawing and it looked alright. Any suggestions for better screen viewing? I increased CONTRAST in System Preferences and that did not seem to make any difference.

Harpone,

Check out Dave Van Ess's site, scrollmania.com. His program, PolyDraw, lets you create many different kinds of profiles that are suitable for scrolled bowls. He also has an angle calculator program, AngleCalc, that lets you determine the proper cutting angle for different thicknesses of wood and different ring widths.

[handibunny]

I use the Leopard OS X system. I find that the pattern is light when I print it out, but I've never had a problem seeing it on the screen. Wish I could offer some suggestion--maybe you could ask Dave and see if he has any thoughts.

[harpone]

Will Muddle On....

Thanks for your input. I checked with Dave and he didn't know of any solution, A responder on the Apple Support Communities wondered if the problem was with the graphics board, something I know absolutely nothing about. I am going print a test pattern even if it doesn't show up well on my monitor to see how that works out.

I use the Leopard OS X system. I find that the pattern is light when I print it out, but I've never had a problem seeing it on the screen. Wish I could offer some suggestion--maybe you could ask Dave and see if he has any thoughts.

[harpone]

Giving Up on PolyDraw

The best (drawing) I could do on my Apple computer (Tiger OS X) was a single line circle. Tried to do the bowl from the first PolyDraw Tutorial on my daughter-in-law's laptop PC (Windows) and got no drawing at all!

I still want to try some bowls so I have internet ordered the book, Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw, after reviewing the local library's copy.

[handibunny]

Harpone,

I think you should find the book helpful, and there are certainly enough shapes to get you started. I tried to put enough information in the first chapter to give an understanding of the process, which will be helpful when you start creating your own designs. The Appendix has more info on angles and other stuff you might need.

If you run into problems, there are plenty of folks here doing bowls to lend a hand. If you need me to clarify anything, just post a question in the author's section of the forum, or drop me an email at [email protected].

And don't forget to have fun!

[harpone]

Wooden Bowls from the Scroll Saw

Beautiful designs and a lot of really helpful information in Chapter 1 for someone of limited experience (like me). I am looking forward to getting started! Thanks for your advice.

Harpone,

I think you should find the book helpful, and there are certainly enough shapes to get you started. I tried to put enough information in the first chapter to give an understanding of the process, which will be helpful when you start creating your own designs. The Appendix has more info on angles and other stuff you might need.

If you run into problems, there are plenty of folks here doing bowls to lend a hand. If you need me to clarify anything, just post a question in the author's section of the forum, or drop me an email at [email protected].

And don't forget to have fun!

[dar4300]

dar4300

New to scroll sawing, trying something new.