Hi, I apologize if this info should have been easy to find, I couldn’t find it. First I am not yet a woodworker, but trying to get there, have a shop almost ready to use, now I gotta learn WHAT to do. Got about 12 side jobs (I’m an electrician) I gotta do for family and friends, can’t find any time right now for the basement. The powers of the universe have decided to get involved. A very good friend of my wife has a son, very introverted. Parents are very (how do I put it, terrified he’ll get hurt, no matter what it is) protective. Kid is kinda not growing up, doing typical boy stuff (or at least what this 58 year old guy remembers as boy stuff). They came by the place today, and I mentioned to mom, that if her son would like to make something on the scroll saw, I would love to set it up. She talked to him about it, and the reply was “Please, Please, Please” So long story short, (I know, too late) I have a Shopsmith, mostly still unused. I have the scrollsaw attachment, and will figure out how to set it up and use it. The thought I’m having is to see if he would like to make a cursive example of his name (Everett), and maybe a MOM, and DAD for the respective Mothers, and Fathers Day, coming up. So where can I get a pattern, or stencil of cursive writing? I am assuming you match the pattern/stencil size to wood size? He also likes planes and I’m thinking that getting plane plans online should be pretty easy. I’m just thinking that starting with the names would be within his limits, and not so difficult as to turn him off, but the end result would be nice enough to feel good about making it. Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions welcome, please remember that experience wise, I’m only a half step ahead of Everett. LOL 

I can barely use my scroll saw but I think for his name you could probably use a computer and a word processing program to write his name is extra large bold fonts. Print them out and glue them to some 1/4" plywood. 

 

Certainly there is a better, more professional way but I'm just thinking out loud.

 

Some of the other scrollers will be along with more refined ideas.

A few ideas in these links

 

http://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/2008/08/free-font-template-book-from-charles.html

 

http://www.freewoodpuzzles.com/letters.html

 

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/resources/index.php?search=FREE AIRPLANE PATTERNS

 

 

Also, Pinterest has a bunch of scroll saw ideas

In my post "Early project" I have a picture of lettering that I cut out. I used a word processor and the font Kaufman BT. In most WP you can type the point size that you want and go beyond the sizes that are listed. While all fonts have different sizes for their respective point size, Times New Roman is exactly the decimal equivalent, i. e. a 25 point font is .25 inches tall, a 100 point font is 1 inch tall. 

Artie, I have (3) scroll saws mostly gathering dust so I can't be of much help there but I'm sure some our SME's will come along and help you in that endeavor.

BTW...Good on you for seeing the need and to be willing to help out not only with woodworking skills but more importantly, life skills. Blessings will return to you for your kindness.

 

I did a quick search "Cursive Writing of the Word Mom (Dad) and came up with these. Images can be saved, pulled into to Paint Brush or whatever programs you have, resized to your liking, then printed.

 

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cursive+writing+of+the+word+mom&atb=v92-6_g&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

 

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cursive+writing+of+the+word+dad&atb=v92-6_g&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Edited February 27, 20188 yr by Grandpadave52

How old is Everett?  What do you plan to use for the wood?

For a first couple of projects I would choose a much simpler block letter like Times NR, or Interstate.  If you have a Michaels hobby store, or similar, they have 1/4" baltic birch plywood and sometimes other thicknesses.

What about for a project the word MOM scroll sawed out and attached to a piece of 1 x 1 with some cup hooks to hang keys on?

@Artie when you get the scroll saw going, tell me how you like it. I might get one.

Everett is 10’ish? I have some 3/4 x 3 inch, and 3/4 x 5 inch poplar I was gonna use (since I already own it LOL). I was thinking of setting him up to make his name, in a one piece finished product, something that will stand on its own. Kinda why I was thinking cursive, where all their letters are attached.  He’s a good kid, just very introverted, and shy. When he first came to the house I asked him the joke I ask all little kids. “Do you have any holes in your underwear?”   “ NO!” “How do you get your legs in?” Till Everett, every kid I asked that question of, laughed uncontrollably, and ran around the room looking for someone else to ask that question of. Everett apparently had a hole in his underwear, thought I was picking on him about it, and wouildn’t come near me for 2 years. So I’m trying to get him comfortable with me now. If he likes working with wood, or in the workshop, I’ll have no issues with having to learn fast enough to stay one step a head of him. But before I go all in, I want to make sure he likes it, so that’s why I was thinking of some fairly easy stuff on the scroll saw to gauge his interest. Gene, from what I understand, with the new power head for the Shopsmith, you can’t use a foot pedal for the scrollsaw, so it’s probably a bigger pain to use than a scrollsaw with a foot pedal. One of my interests with the scroll saw is I want to make a Celtic Cross some day. I saw one online that was stunning, and really caught my attention. I really am green to the hobby, mentally I understand all the logistics mechanically, but where the rubber meets the road, no clue. So I’m thinking that Everett is the Fates way of making me find the time to be in the workshop, and learn me some stuff. I’m home sick from work today, so I hope this reply isn’t as rambling as I’m afraid it might be.  

I would like to thank everyone who replied, there are some very good suggestions, that I need to see If I’m computer savvy enough to carry them out. Back in a previous life, when I had a boat, any time spent on the boat was therapy. Whether it was cleaning it, working on it, or out on it, all time on the boat was a joy. I’m seeing the same with the workshop. Any time spent there, whether cleaning it, building/adding to it, or making the one small project I’ve actually done so far, all time there has been fun. I bought some plans/hardware from  Meisal Hardware for a Pirates chest, where you twist the skull, on the skull and crossbones to open the chest. If Everett finds he likes the workshop I’m thinking that might be the first real project we’ll do. His mom likes that kind of stuff too, so she will probably come downstairs and watch/help out at times.  I appreciate all the help, thanks.     Artie

 

38 minutes ago, Artie said:

I’m seeing the same with the workshop. Any time spent there, whether cleaning it, building/adding to it, or making the one small project I’ve actually done so far, all time there has been fun.

With this mindset Artie, you're well on your way to being a very competent woodworker. Like anything else, the skills grow as you do more and more. The fact you enjoy being in the shop doing whatever is the main motivator.

Nothing else will teach and challenge you more than teaching someone else to do something. Looking forward to hearing more of this evolving mentor-ship.

 

Take a look at these great threads...similar story. @Lissa Hall has had an amazing impact on this young man. I see the opportunity for you to have like results!

 

 

 

 

 

Artie,

Will these work? They are 3.5 x 8.

Larry

 

 

Edited February 27, 20188 yr by Just Larry

Larry, that is awesome! You ever have an electrical question, you call/e-mail me! Thank you, so much. That is exactly what I’m looking for. Everett makes them, they stand on their own (we don’t have to make bases, and mount them), and we may even get some staining/paint on them the first visit. If he gets a thrill from doing this, we just may plant a seed. When I would take the little ones out on the boat, it was a necessity to catch fish quickly and often to fuel their interest. They didn’t have to be big fish, just plentiful. We would target mackerel when they were available.  (I hope Everett gets as excited about this as I am LOL).

7 minutes ago, Artie said:

I hope Everett gets as excited about this as I am

Don't see how he won't Artie; just being around your enthusiasm will be contagious.

Just have some cookies (or better yet donuts) and milk available to end each session. Everett can have some too.

Edited February 27, 20188 yr by Grandpadave52

Check out Steve Goods site. He has free patterns and how-to videos. There are a couple of programs to make "word art".

I use a couple of them for making things for the craft fairs.    http://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/

If you have microsoft 10 you have all the letters you could ever think of right there on you computer. Its called Word Pad.  Micosoft 8  it was called Microsoft Word. 

  You do need a printer.  If you don't have a printer I just now checked and a printer at Wallmart  can be had for 20.00. 

 You can make any size letters and numbers no matter what style you need they are right there on your computer..

 

6 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

If you have microsoft 10 you have all the letters you could ever think of right there on you computer. Its called Word Pad.  Micosoft 8  it was called Microsoft Word. 

  You do need a printer.  If you don't have a printer I just now checked and a printer at Wallmart  can be had for 20.00. 

 You can make any size letters and numbers no matter what style you need they are right there on your computer..

 

I mostly use an iPad, but we do have a pc. I’m gonna have to get my lazy backside upstairs and start playing on the pc (sometimes this leads to me throwing the mouse, I’ve found out that if you unplug the mouse first, you get much better distance LOL) Thank you, Artie

Artie, you need a wireless mouse.

Our local Home Depot has classes for kids, and 10 yo would fit right in.  There may be some local schools that offer shop classes (getting rare these days, tho).   Early aptitude test:  go to thrift store, buy used Lego set, see what the kid makes of it.  This will show interest in doing hand work and creative patterns.

Sorry, I'm a little late to the party, but here are some things that may help on this journey.

 

Steve Good is my go-to guy. He comes up with some pretty interesting stuff and is pretty prolific at creating patterns. Almost everything is free unless you choose to purchase a DVD or a sorted catalog for a couple of bucks.

 

Free patterns and a wealth of other information (Steve Good).

 

https://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com/

 

Once there, open the site, scroll to the bottom and you will find two excellent FREE programs to create the patterns for the gifts you want to make. They are very small, simple programs which function great

 

Here is some other useful miscellaneous information:

 

No_Fail_Blade_Chart_206122387.pdf

 

ScrollChart.pdf

 

The most common mistake made by beginners is not getting the blades tensioned properly...they will come loose, chatter/vibrate, and snap. Learn to get them tight.

 

If you choose to purchase materials, there are numerous sources of supplies specifically for scroll saw work. They are really reasonable and shipping is not as bad as you would think. If you choose to eventually go that route, just ask and I can supply some links, as I'm sure some of the others can, also.

 

I applaud you for doing this, happy scrolling.

 

 

Edited February 28, 20188 yr by schnewj

The 3/4" poplar is probably pretty thick to be using for a first scroll saw project. Thinner is better. 1/4" seems like a good thickness for this project. Plywood has the advantage of being resistant to cracking in the thin cross grain areas. Baltic birch seems like the best plywood for this project. It comes in metric thicknesses. Look for 6mm. They may call it 1/4" but it is 6mm. You will need to show him how to drill a hole and thread the blade through the enclosed openings. I hope he enjoys your efforts. Kids need this kind of thing.