Harry I am just now starting a horse shoe good luck picture and hey you just asked why you can't stay on the line. These letters are about 7/16" tall. I am using a metal cutting blade, meaning all teeth face the same direction and are very small in size. The blade is .012 wide. I do all my cutting in one direction. I go very slow and when it comes time to turn I let the blade run in the spot I intend to turn in, I wait for a second or two then turn quickly. This is if you were forcing the blade, right or left, back and forth to end up straight up and down before you start your turn... 

 All my letter cutting is  black letters on white white paper. I run the blade in the black area. I didn't know until I went and started this next project. Very small hole, I will go look if interested. I use the same one all the time so I forgot the size. I found if I go the same direction all the time the lines are straighter.. Sure I might have to dress up some areas if I get too sloppy. I haven't on this project yet, but I ain't through either.    Starting in the middle of a long line I get bad results and if if you have to get to the other end and come back to an already line, it will show.

   From the looks of the tears in the pattern you are not using the right blade and if it is a spiral blade good luck, you will need it.

   Good to practice for as soon as you cut the letter out, it will jump out of the hole. The C came out in two pieces...Not good.

   The pattern should look as good as the hole when finished sawing...

Harry, the next time you are fixin to saw some small letters, try these blades, and try staying in the black all the time.

I took a picture through the magnifier on the scroll saw. Thats an Olson #3 on the right and an Olson metal cutting 48 tooth per inch blade on the left with no reverse teeth. These will let you turn sharp corners without jumping all over the place. Don't use much tension with them for you will pull them in two. On a Dewalt I tension up to 3.5 and no more.

Patch, good advise, thanks

Thanks for all the input!

I haven't been able to do any cutting for about 3 months. First  it was the Santa & Mrs. Claus visits and then I fell on the ice at the end of the last visit!

Doing ok now and just waiting for the shop to warm up enough to get back out there.

" then I fell on the ice "

 

Glad to hear you're doing ok now.   Don't need to tell you to be careful...but be careful anyway.  

9 hours ago, Harry Brink said:

Doing ok now and just waiting for the shop to warm up enough to get back out there.

Glad you've mended Harry...as you learned falling on the ice can be very serious...Take care of yourself...

Falling on the ice takes the starch right out of a fella. Glad you are getting better.

Herb