wood

[bronco]

Hello,
I just bought a delta 250 scroll saw and am ready to saw.
I am going to make crosses for christmas gifts and would like
to know what is the best type of wood to buy for this
project and where I can buy it? I have not been scrolling for too long and need advice from you experts.
BB

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Re: wood

try this site...http://www.sloanswoodshop.com/default.htm they have all kinds of wood for scrolling, plywood and different types, prices seem very reasonable as well, my neighbor bought a huge stack of it from them and highly recommends them.

[3_M]

Re: wood

Don't forget to check this site: http://www.heritagewood.com/ They have evrything you are looking for.
I made a lot of crosses over the years and people always liked the once made from oak and I used Danish oild for finish.
Mike M

[bronco]

Re: wood

Thanks guys,
I visited both web sites and both seem
to be great places to buy wood. When I lay my
pattern out do I need to set it up to cut with the grain
or cross grain?
BB

[jttheclockman]

Re: wood

Bronco

I too use oak for many of my crosses and I think plywood is too cheap looking. I too finish mine with Danish oil. You can get oak at any home center like Home depot or Lowes. but you can also check with the cabinet shop near you and see what they do with their cutoffs. Maybe you can strike a good deal. If you do not have the resources to thin the wood if you are using other than 3/4' then you will have to buy from one of the outlets mentioned and there are others. I just thought with shipping it would cost as much at a home center. You ask about grain orintation. If the piece is longer than wider the rule is run the grain up and down but if it is wider than longer run the grain sideways. There are exceptions but then it gets into a matter of taste. Good luck and post some pictures when done we would be glad to see them. Good Luck!!

Don't know why I can't get pictures to come up but here is a link to my site and a couple of crosses I did.

<img src='http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/CopyofReligiousCrosses.jpg'>

[3_M]

Re: wood

John T is right about the grain and where to get wood, like home centers and cabin builders. You can ask them and take a nice cross along as a gift and they will give you all you need. There is one more place to look and that is called 'Dumpster diving'. Go where they are building new homes. The last face of building a home is trimming. You can find a lot of niece pieces for making crosses.
Mike M

[bronco]

Re: wood

John I talked to some cabinet makers shops today
and they said they had lots of scraps. Mike I think I'll go dumpster driving tomorrow. Thanks for all the tips. I'll
post my pictures as soon as I finish. BB

[randy48]

Re: wood

One other thought on free wood. Take a drive around the night before trash day, you'd be suprised on what some people will throw away. I live near an Army post and before 9/11/2001, I used to take around the post housing area just about every Tuesday night. I've picked up oak and maple tables and chairs, mahogany desks and wall units, half sheets of plywood, tons of wood. Back in 1996 I picked up 10-12 old bicycles, bought a few tubes and tires, tightened a few bolts and gave them to the kids in my neighborhood.

Stupid **** terrorists really screwed up a good thing! You wouldn't want to get stopped just driving through the housing area without living there or going to visit someone theses days :'(

[tony_a]

Re: wood

Try e-bay, and do a search for lumber. I have bought some nice cherry, walnut, red oak, sassafras, etc at reasonable prices from various vendors. 8)