Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Maze Ball Puzzle Scroll Saw Pattern.


This puzzle is deceptively difficult. The goal is to move the steel balls from their start position to the center position by tilting and the disk and rolling the balls. 

The maze is eight inches in diameter. I used 1/4" Baltic birch plywood but the thickness is not that important. Use what you have available. 

One of the features that make this puzzle more difficult is that the openings in each ring get smaller. All three balls will not fit through the center opening at the same time. 


The balls used in this puzzle are 1/2" in diameter. You can buy them at the link above if you don't have an alternative. Small marbles will also work. 

One feature that I added to this prototype is the holes to hold the balls in the start position. If I were to make another one I would eliminate the holes and use a marker to indicate the start position. They interfere with the rolling of the marbles too much.

This is a very simple project to cut. I completed the entire project in under an hour. Just try to be accurate when you cut the circles. If you use 1/4" thick wood you can easily stack cut four at a time if you wanted to give a few away as gifts. 




Correction and Information:


In yesterdays rotating jewelry box post, I mentioned that I had used Ambrosia maple for the boxes. That was inaccurate. It was actually spalted maple.  A couple of readers pointed out my error but I also had several readers ask about the wood. It really is a beautiful piece of wood.

Ambrosia Maple and Spalted maple are not two different species. They are both maple that has been altered by outside influences. 

Ambrosia maple gets its discoloration from a fungus carried on the legs of the ambrosia beetle. These beetles bore into the wood causing the holes that are so prominent on the board. 

The discoloration of the spalted maple is also caused by a fungi. It is my understanding that the dark lines in spalted maple are caused when the spores from two different fungi intersect while growing on the board. The lines are called zone lines. I am getting a bit out of my knowledge base here so don't count my words. 

Several readers asked where they could buy this wood. In general, you need to find a local hardwood dealer. You will not find these boards in your big box hardware stores or many lumber yards. I have seen both of these boards in my local Woodcraft store. Woodcrafts price will be very high so beware. The board I have came from Woodcraft several years ago.

Another source for these boards is Ebay.
I do not endorse any of the sellers on eBay. Use your own judgment when selecting a seller on eBay. I have purchased many boards on eBay and never had a problem but that may not be your experience.

You are going to find large swings in the price of these boards. Highly figured spalted maple goes for around $15bf. Give or take several dollars. More figure generally means higher price. The best boards are often held back for VIP customers at hardwood dealers.  

My experience is that Ambrosia maple goes for about half the price of spalted maple. I am no expert here so your results may be different.

I keep these boards for specific types of projects. I like to use the highly figured boards in boxes and other projects that do not have much fretwork. It makes no sense to cut away the beautiful figure with fretwork. The beauty of these boards is in the figure and not fretwork.

You will see beautiful turned vases and bowls made from spalted maple. Check out some of the ones in this Google search link

Sorry for my mistake in identifying the wood in yesterdays post. The good news is that it gave me the chance to talk about these beautiful boards. 

Personalized Christmas Ornaments:

For several years I have offered personalized Christmas ornament patterns for sale. Every year the sales have been better than the year before. This year was no exception. Sales were outstanding and I appreciate it very much. 

The money I earn from these patterns goes a long way to financing what I do here at the Scrollsaw Workshop. Like all businesses, my expenses go up every year so the increase in sales is very helpful.

Now that the Christmas season is coming to an end I want to thank all of you who placed an order. 

I will keep taking orders for another week in case you have last minute orders.

One thing that happens every year is that I get requests for ornament patterns from a previous year. At the end of the season, I retire that years patterns. Once I stop taking orders they are no longer available.  




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Email Newsletter Readers: Remember that the Newsletter is just a copy of the daily blog post. To see the post in it's proper formatting click this link. If you ever misplace a pattern or any item you see here you can always find it on the blog. Everything stays on the blog forever. 

Products for your consideration:


Scroll Saw Pattern Design Tutorial: DVD
Let me teach you to create a beautiful wooden portrait pattern. I will show you everything you need from start to finish. The video will show you the free software program you can download for Windows or Mac OS. I will show you how to install the program and configure it for best results. 
Then I will show you the technique to take your photograph and make a pattern from it. When the pattern is complete we will go in the shop and cut it.
The DVD is $10 plus shipping. This is a data DVD that you will use on your computer to watch the video tutorial  



Every Scrollsaw Workshop Pattern from 2007-2017 in DVD
Purchase the entire Scrollsaw Workshop pattern catalog for offline access.

This DVD has 2,300 patterns published from 2007 thru 2017.
The DVD is $20 plus shipping. Ships to 60 countries around the world.

If you use the DVD on a Windows PC there is a simple viewer program to browse through the patterns.

The DVD also works fine on a MAC. The viewer program is not MAC compatible but there is an included PDF with all the patterns shown as thumbnails for easy viewing. 

Unique Wooden Vases:
Want to create beautiful wooden vases on the scroll saw?
My two "Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw" books make it easy.

The books are $12 each and available for instant download after purchase. Click for Video Demonstration.


The Scrollsaw Workshop is primarily supported by donations. If you enjoy this Blog and would like to make a donation please click this Button. Your support is greatly appreciated. 
https://www.stevedgood.com/donate2.html

My Sponsors:
Support the businesses who support our community.
Home of Pegas scroll saw blades.



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Is it time to add dust collection to your shop? This Delta 1hp unit gets decent reviews. 

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This is the end of the daily posts. Keep scrolling for lot's more scrolls saw fun!






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Bear Woods has been around since 1987 serving our hobby. They offer a wide range of craft products including Pegas scroll saw blades, clock inserts, toy parts, workshop supplies and much more. In my ten years of writing the Scrollsaw Workshop blog I have never received a complaint about Bear Woods. I get thousands of email a month so that's saying something about their customer service and quality products. Please support the people who support our hobby. Click now and visit Bear Woods.

Heritage Wood Specialties. Scroll saw ready boards!


Heritage Wood Specialties is a nationally recognized supplier of superior quality hardwoods to fine woodworkers across the US and Canada. Novice hobbyists and experienced enthusiasts alike can enjoy the high quality woodworking materials and kits available from Heritage Wood Specialties. Great source for scroll saw ready boards.

Seyco

http://seyco.com/
Seyco began business in 1986 with the goal to supply the best customer support and quality products in the scroll saw industry. I have worked with Seyco on many occasions and I can tell you they are simply the best. Please do yourself a favor and click the image above. Steve Good

Free Pattern Catalog. 1000's of free patterns.

http://www.stevedgood.com/catalog/

Thousands of FREE scroll saw patterns. No registration or signup required.

The projects form these patterns can be sold without restrictions. The patterns cannot be sold.

Click here for the Free Online Catalog.

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Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw Book $12 Each

http://www.stevedgood.com/woodenvases.html
Each digital book is available for download immediately after payment.
The books are $12 per edition and contains eight unique patterns each.
Watch the following video to see how easy these beautiful scroll saw vases
are to make. 

Order the $3 pdf Catalog

This is a PDF of all the patterns in my free catalog. It is for Windows only and has a program to automatically download the pattern to your computer. Please watch the video below before you order. Click the picture to order.
http://www.stevedgood.com/swpd/swpdorderpage.html
You do not need a PayPal account to order. At the bottom of the PayPal page is a button that will allow you to pay with a credit card. After successful payment click the Return to Merchant button for the download.

Stencil Printer 1.7

Stencil Printer Instruction Video.

The Scrollsaw Workshop Stencil Printer 1.7 is my latest software for creating patterns. It will create key chain fobs, desk name plates and more. Click the image above to download the latest version. It is free to use donationware. This software is for Windows PC only.

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer update 1.1

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer update 1.1
Download the Free Scroll Saw Pattern Printer Version 1.1. Create name patterns in seconds. Windows PC only.
Download Version 1.1
Please consider a $5 donation for The Scroll Saw Pattern Printer v1.1.

Scroll Saw Keychain Pattern Maker

Use the Scroll Saw Keychain Maker to start a small keychain business. Build yourself a nice display and make up severl keychains with common names. Sell at craft shows, on Ebay or at work. Everyone needs a keychain. Take custom orders. Heck just make them and give them away as gifts. It's all made easy with the Scroll Saw Keychain Maker. Watch the video demonstration then download the file below and get started with the fun.
The following link will start the download process. After the file download is complete just click the setup file and the program will be installed. Please consider a $5 donation for the program.

Download the Oval Keychain Pattern Maker.

Enjoy designing and printing these great personalized key chains. Give them as gifts, make them for fun or sell them at craft shows. It's easy, just watch the video demo then download and install the program. You will be designing these fun projects in minutes. Windows PC only.
Download the Free Oval Key Chain Pattern Maker. Create Oval key chain patterns in seconds.
Download Version .9a
Please consider a $5 donation for The Oval Key Chain Pattern Maker.

T-Shirts and More.

T-Shirts and More.
Show your love for the hobby and support the Scrollsaw Workshop. Safe and secure order fullfilled by CafePress. Take a look. You are sure to find something you like. CLICK THE IMAGE to visit the store.

The Lifter

Papa's Custom Patterns.

www.papasworkshop.net

Philip Lowndes Noah's Arc Pattern Available. Watch the video below.

This video is from Philip Lowndes. He is the designer of this beautiful Noah's Arc puzzle pattern. If you would like the pattern follow the link below.
Buy This Wonderful Heirloom Puzzle Pattern

Think Safety

Remember to keep the safety of yourself and others in your work shop in your thoughts at all times. Always wear eye and ear protection. Follow all the manufactures warnings that came with your power tools. If I demonstrate something on this web site that you don't feel is safe, don't do it. Your safety is your responsibility. Fingers are handy things, try to keep all of them.
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Disclaimer:
The Scrollsaw Workshop Blog is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts Magazine formerly (Scroll Saw Workshop Magazine) or it's publisher Fox Chapel Publishing.

Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts