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Woodworking Plans, Books, CD's, DVD's and
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Scroll Saw
Tips To Help You Work More Efficiently
I have learned all of
these scroll saw tips by trial and error. I would have
loved to find a place like this when I first started
scrolling (that is the word for people who do scroll
work). When I first started out I didn't have the
slightest idea what I was doing. After a lot of practice
it turned into a lot of fun.
There are many scroll saw
crafts that you can start as a beginner or even for more
advanced scrollers. There are some great books you can
also learn from.
The first thing you
need to do is position your pattern. You can either
make a copy of your pattern on your computer or else
take it down and have it copied. You can copy the
outline onto a piece of transfer paper which works quite
well unless your have cutouts in the middle. Then it is
best to have a copy made. Apply the pattern to the wood
with rubber cement, spray adhesive, or repositionable
spray glue. I usually use rubber cement. It comes off
easy and doesn't leave glue on the wood.
Remember to dust your
wood before you apply the pattern. Always apply the glue
to the pattern and not the wood. I have found when I
used repositionable spray glue that if I have a lot of
cutouts the pattern starts to come off. You don't have
that problem with rubber cement.
Preparing the wood for inside cuts. (The napkin
holder on the left has many intricate cutouts and is a
great seller at craft shows.) After you have your
pattern on the wood you can now prepare for inside cuts.
I use a drill press but you can use a regular drill. Use
the smallest drill bit that will let you get your blade
through. Drill through the wood in the center of each of
your inside cuts. You may want to lightly sand the back
of the wood after you have drilled because bits can
leave little hairs and you want it nice and smooth.
Should I sit down or
stand up? I have had a lot of people ask me this
question. When you first start out it is best to stand
directly in front of your saw. It is easier to feed the
work straight into the blade, so don't stand off to the
side. I got to a point that I bought a high stool so
that I could work for longer periods of time.
Most scroll saws have a
light but it it best if you have a fluorescent light on
one side of your saw. The light will help prevent
shadows on your cutting area. Please wear a dust mask
especially if you are working with exotic woods.
The importance of
using the right blade. My best scroll saw tip is
finding the best blades. Most of my work is with 3/4"
wood. I use a double-tooth #4 blade size. If you want to
work with thinner wood a #3 double-tooth blade works
best. Double-tooth blades will produce less chip out on
your wood and will last longer than other blades.
Make sure when you
install your blade that the teeth face front and point
down. A blade installed backwards won't cut wood, and an
upside-down blade will pick your wood up off the table
bed and slap it back down again (this scares the heck
out of you).
You must have proper
blade tension. Insert the blade and turn the tension
knob three-quarters of a turn past the point of
resistance. A blade that's too loose won't cut a
straight pattern line, and a blade that's too tight can
break and possibly damage your saw.
Remember to always keep
your blade moving when you are cutting curves. A lot of
people have a tendency to stop and this will cause the
wood to pick up and slap back down on your table.
Just let the wood pivot
by keeping your finger close to the blade (no closer
than an inch). When you're cutting out a circle, keep
the feeding speed constant. If you continually stop and
start as you make the turn, the finished edge will be
choppy.
Shirley Atkinson
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