Popular Post Smallpatch Posted October 9, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 (edited) I use to buy all my patterns from Wildwood Designs and now they have merged with The Teddy Bear. Teddy Bear has so many patterns you will leave that site wondering. I have a 20 dollar printer from Walmart and my wife loaded Rapid Resizer years ago for her stained glass doings that now if I see something on Pinterest or anywhere I can click on that picture and send it to rapid resizer and store the picture. Then later if I want to make something with the scroll saw I bring up resizer and have it print some copies what ever size I want to make... I think Duck Soup is leading you right on blades..My go to blade size is a #5 and you just as well get the ones with the reverse teeth on the bottom of the blade to start with... They do have a quirt about them for they want to kick the wood up from time to time and this is because you are bending the blade and not keeping it straight up and down... Let the blade do the sawing, all you have to do is keep some wood against the blade but don't force it... I am dead against spiral blades for any one for it take lots of learning on operating the saw and you are not getting of the right kind of learning using a spiral blade... I can do every cut the spiral blade can do but the operator of a spiral blade can not do all the things I can do with a straight blade....This takes years of running a saw... I noticed in the picture the knob to adjust the tension is on top of your saw in the back...Maybe not the best place but you will get use to it for if it is like my saw, I have to slide the tension adjusting lever each and every time I lock a blade in. My saw has numbers I can remember so I can set the tension the same each time before I click the saw on. I keep my blade tightness about 3/4 of the scale. I slightly run a piece of sand paper over each side of the blade ends that will be tightened in to the holder. My way of thinking it helps the saw grip the blades?? I use a cheap box fan with a used home filter..you can build a holder on the intake side of the fan and it stays over on the right side of the saw which is the direction the built in blower pn the saw is blowing... I built my table 20" high for this is the right height for this swivel office chair I use.. and I do go back and forth about six foot to a work table where all the accessary things for the saw is buried underneath lots of un needed stuff keeps multiplying... I have a swivel magnifying light from a garage sale I use at times. Use to I would spend five or six hours sitting in front of the saw. I still spend all my free time there but the outside seems to have a louder horn that keeps me busy out doors.... All my wood carving starts with the scroll saw and the way I cut things up to carve takes lots of really hard work away and ends up with me holding one of them ole heavy Dremel grinders which weights about five or six ounces and thats including the bit. Also most all my work is done sitting it the swivel chair..... I don't bolt my saw to the table for some things are so long I have to slide the saw around to a different angle to finish my sawing. So if your saw vibrates too much and you think it needs to be bolted to the table why not use those clamps that has a locking lever with the quick release . You will see that your body needs to be positioned to the right of center for all sawing. All the blades are made that way with a slight lean. When ordering blades a gross at a time will save you money. Flying Dutchmen and Olson blades are what I have ended up with after ordering some of every thing that was listed for scroll saws... The Olson precision ground blades might last a hair longer and are way more aggressive that the other blades but for you Flying Dutchmen #5 reverse tooth blade is what I use most all the time.. The reverse teeth on the bottom is to keep from splintering the wood on the back side of the board... Any time you are cutting 1/8 or 1/4 or even 3/8" thick wood it helps to stack saw two more pieces together and this is to slow the s awing down and will let you be more accurate. I use small number drill bits and pre drill holes so its easier to remove the pieces when finished sawing. All you are there for is to guide the wood and the blade will tell you when its time to change blades.. Some lumber yards stock Baltic Birch plywoods but all around here only stocks the complete 5x5 sheets and does make it harder to get home but I have a 98 long bed Ford pickup with a camper shell and the 5x5 will slide in slanted so I can shut the back. Just another reason I won't even look at the newer rigs. I started out to say the baltic birch pywood is the only ply I will use. This is one place America has let us down.....and especially letting this totally junk plywood in to the US. I can't remember the number of the blades I like, but they are the Flying Dutchmen #5 and they have two little wavy kinks at the top of the blades so a person knows which end goes up by the feel of them. I will find a number and print it. Johnson's paste wax works great on the table top. You can mix and match a gross if you think you need a variety.. Some of the things I cut I use a very thin Olson blade with no reverse teeth and are almost paper thin so I use the metal cutting blades and they have no bottom reverse teeth which make it easier to control Edited October 9, 2020 by Smallpatch DuckSoup, Artie, Cal and 4 others 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Larry Buskirk Posted October 9, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 ...Can't give you much advice on blades or saws. My saw dates from the 1930's. The blades I have are from the 1930's-40's, I probably have enough to last the rest of my life. Al B, Gunny, Artie and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Al B Posted October 10, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 (edited) Smallpatch, Thanks for all that information. Think I'll print it out and keep it handy in the shop. Expecting delivery of the saw tomorrow, but it's not likely I'll get to try it outright away. Will be building the doors for my little addition and then I have 3/4 acre of land that is engulfed with maple, poplar and birch leaves, not to mention loads of pine needles. Got to get this cleaned up before the oaks start dropping their leaves. Acorns are piling up. Edited October 10, 2020 by Al B DuckSoup, FlGatorwood, Larry Buskirk and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted October 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 Artie, Just checked Craigslist, Saw the same craftsman saw you have, listed for $65.00. That could pay for a bit of wood for your shop or maybe a small tool. Gunny, Cal and FlGatorwood 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted October 10, 2020 Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 19 hours ago, Smallpatch said: Any time you are cutting 1/8 or 1/4 or even 3/8" thick wood it helps to stack saw two more pieces together and this is to slow the s awing down and will let you be more accurate. That is a new tip Jess, and I will remember it. Thanks for taking the time to give Al all that good info. Artie, FlGatorwood, Gunny and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Smallpatch Posted October 10, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 Not new to guys who think they are scroll sawers!!!! This is another reason I like to apply clear packing tape on the wood to be sawed then spray the stickum on to the tape then put the pattern on top of that...I believe the stickup lubs the saw blades and makes them cut better and last longer....and as I think that then it make me feel better as I am using up those blades. Then when you are finished sawing out the pattern just remove the tape and if you used Scotch Brand shipping tape all the tape sticky will still be on the tape and not the wood which will still be like it was when you sanded it to start that project.. I do get a smidgen of sticky here and there but it is where I sat there running the saw and not moving the wood which caused extra heat from the blade and it melted some of the sticky off of the tape.... Just my way of thinking and if it don't work that way I don't think I will have to spend any time in jail so I will keep thinking this is whats causing a little dab of sticky here and there...The pauses in the action is when I am scratching my head wondering if I should go back and redraw a couple of lines here and there or some dumb thought and I let my mind wonder away from what I am doing when I should have turned the machine off to do my thinking.... I find when I am drawing out a pattern I want to use the smallest pencil lead so the line will be about the same as the thin blade I am fixin to use... this way the saw cuts right down the line and ends up making the wood the same size as the pattern....This is if the cut out pieces are important to be an exact size for a reason... Okay, with the box fan sitting on the right side of the saw with the filter attached I also have over on the left side up about head high is a small fan I got out of an old computer tower and it starts the flow of air past me towards the scroll saw and then the box fan picks up the air flow from the small built in blower and it all goes in the bathroom down in the end of the building right in to the commode... Every once in a while I have to flush it any way so it all goes where I don't have to see it and all is well.... Every once in a while my wife walks in while I am sawing and causes all hell to break loose.. some how she single handedly breaks that silent line of saw dust as its going towards the commode and it goes all over my shop. Her 53 footer don't have a bathroom so she does this on purpose cause I won't stop and put her a commode in. I did plumb it with a big wash sink for her to wash the glass to remove the acid from the lead and I told her I would build her a ladder to climb up on so she could use the sink as a commode and she gets mad... You just can't please them all the time!!!!!! You got questions, I got answers........maybe not what you want to hear but hey FlGatorwood, Gene Howe, Harry Brink and 4 others 3 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted October 10, 2020 Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 18 hours ago, Al B said: Artie, Just checked Craigslist, Saw the same craftsman saw you have, listed for $65.00. That could pay for a bit of wood for your shop or maybe a small tool. Al the saw was given to me, and I’ve seen too many of them on CL for $25. I’d actually feel like a thief asking for anything over $25 for it. FlGatorwood, Cal and Gunny 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Danl Posted October 10, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 Wood Magazine, Nov. 2020 issue just arrived. It has a scroll saw article: Tips and Tricks. I have not read it yet, but it probably does say anything Jesse has not already told us. Thanks Jesse. Danl Cal, Artie, Gunny and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted October 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2020 37 minutes ago, Artie said: Al the saw was given to me, and I’ve seen too many of them on CL for $25. I’d actually feel like a thief asking for anything over $25 for it. Hey Artie, Ask $40.00 for it and go away a happy thief. I saw a second saw just like it on Craigslist. Seller was asking $50.00 for that one. Cal, Gunny, Artie and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Al B Posted October 22, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) Finally have the scroll saw set up in my shop. Built a small stand with scraps and included a drawer for blades. I added a Dirt devil vacuum that was looking for a use on a shelf below the saw. Sat in the desk chair and made my first cuts using a #5 pinned blade. Can sit right up to the saw, straddling the stand with my legs. Absolutely comfortable. Here are my first cuts. A little shaky at first but after getting familiar with the hold down things seemed to improve. Edited October 22, 2020 by Al B Cal, FlGatorwood, Artie and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckSoup Posted October 23, 2020 Report Share Posted October 23, 2020 Nice set up Al and having a comfortable chair makes cutting a lot more enjoyable. Those vacuums are perfect for these machines. Some folks like to keep the blades in plastic test tubes, the hobby stores carry these. I cut the blade # and the maker from the package then slip it into the tube, this helps when reordering. I have removed my hold down from my saw because it always seemed to get in the way of feeding the blades into the piece. Every now & then when I get a little lazy holding the wood down the blade can grab the wood & bounce it up & down. This can get the heart pumping and reminds me to stay a little more focused. Straight lines are always the biggest challenge with these saws and the blades play into that. Some blades are stamped and then sharpened and that leads to one side of the blade being more aggressive, you'll notice this when cutting curves clockwise or counterclockwise. Cutting natural things like trees & leaves gives you time on the saw and get a good feel to what it can & can't do, plus when your finished you have something to show for your practice time. Once you peel the pattern off the wood no-one will know that you drifted off the line. Hope you enjoy your saw. Gunny, Cal, Artie and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted October 24, 2020 Report Share Posted October 24, 2020 13 hours ago, DuckSoup said: Nice set up Al and having a comfortable chair makes cutting a lot more enjoyable. Those vacuums are perfect for these machines. Some folks like to keep the blades in plastic test tubes, the hobby stores carry these. I cut the blade # and the maker from the package then slip it into the tube, this helps when reordering. I have removed my hold down from my saw because it always seemed to get in the way of feeding the blades into the piece. Every now & then when I get a little lazy holding the wood down the blade can grab the wood & bounce it up & down. This can get the heart pumping and reminds me to stay a little more focused. Straight lines are always the biggest challenge with these saws and the blades play into that. Some blades are stamped and then sharpened and that leads to one side of the blade being more aggressive, you'll notice this when cutting curves clockwise or counterclockwise. Cutting natural things like trees & leaves gives you time on the saw and get a good feel to what it can & can't do, plus when your finished you have something to show for your practice time. Once you peel the pattern off the wood no-one will know that you drifted off the line. Hope you enjoy your saw. +1, Yeah! What he said! Al B, Cal and FlGatorwood 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted October 24, 2020 Report Share Posted October 24, 2020 I had someone give me a hint (I thought it was Smallpatch, but he insisted it wasn’t him), to use red ink when printing out a pattern. I did find it easier to follow a red line. If you’re having fun, nuttin else matters. Gunny, FlGatorwood and Cal 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted October 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2020 (edited) Thanks Artie. I'll give that a try. Will try something simple for starters. Edited October 24, 2020 by Al B Cal, FlGatorwood, Artie and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted October 24, 2020 Report Share Posted October 24, 2020 Looks like a nice set up Al, should get a lot of enjoyment from it Al B, FlGatorwood, DuckSoup and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Al B Posted October 26, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted October 26, 2020 On 10/9/2020 at 7:43 AM, DuckSoup said: Al, Steve Good @ The Scrollsaw Workshop gives a great preview on the Wen 3922, https://youtu.be/1HjJTt1qpL8. Bob,I took the time to watch the video to the end.The saw in the demo is the 3921 model, and there are some differences . First, the pinless blade holders on the 3922 are attached to the saw, unlike those on the 3921 and second, the side panel that was removed on the 3921 is hinged on the 3922, making is simple to just turn a couple of locking knobs to open the cover making easy access to the lower blade holder. Guess WEN must have seen the video. My pinless blades are supposed to arrive tomorrow so I'll soon see just how difficult they are to install. Thanks again ffor the help Cal, DuckSoup, Gunny and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallpatch Posted October 26, 2020 Report Share Posted October 26, 2020 Artie I have tried all colors and the black is much easier to see for my aged eyes. I made a blade holder using 1/2" pvc sitting in holes of a 2x6 for at the time money was a concern..and happens to still be a # 1 concern! Also so the blade holders on the saw don't get in to a habit of letting the blade slip I hold the blade in my hand and ruff up each each end of the blade before inserting it in the machine. I been using 150 or 180 grit for that . I also save the saw dust to mix with glue. I save all the plastic bottles from the house for something in the shop. DuckSoup, Artie, Cal and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted October 26, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2020 (edited) Money is definitely a concern on a fixed retirement income. I had planned to use the kitchen zip lock bags for holding blades, at least for starting out. For model building I always made sanding strips using paint sticks cut about 4" long and 3/8 " wide. Sandpaper is cut 2" long and glued to both sides. Might work well for sanding the blade ends.That fine sawdust should be really handy in a glue mix. Thanks again for all these hints. Edited October 26, 2020 by Al B Cal, Gunny, DuckSoup and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted October 31, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2020 OK, one thing I learned, don't order blades from Amazon ! Ordered bladed on Oct 19 and delivery was supposed to be on Oct. 26. Now my delivery date is Nov. 2. I'll look into Teddy bear next time. Cal, DuckSoup, Gunny and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted November 1, 2020 Report Share Posted November 1, 2020 12 hours ago, Al B said: I'll look into Teddy bear next time. Teddy bear, Al? What is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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