My new eStore

I have opened an eStore as an Amazon affiliate. If you would like to support The Scrollsaw Workshop Blog please visit the eStore. You will find a great selection of books and tools. Make sure to set a bookmark.

Thanks Steve

eStore Link

PS Wood Scroll Saw Blade Rack

Product Description
Rack holder plus 24 tubes with lids. Rack holds 24 tubes max. Rack measures 5 5/8" x 3 7/8" x 2 5/8". Tubes are approx. 5 7/8" long.

Cool Tool

Product Description
8 angle gauges measuring from 0 degrees to 7.5 degrees in 1/2 degree increments; made of durable plastic; stand 2 1/4" high; easy to read numbers; bright yellow color;

Great portrait Book by Gary Browning

From Library Journal
Scroll saw books are often just a monotonous rehash of the same old patterns, but every once in a while a truly original title comes along. This one is sure to perk up even the most jaded woodworker. Browning has developed a method of scroll-sawing images from photographs using thin plywood. The results are remarkable his likenesses of famous people or family members (shown with their photos) are uncanny. While those with access to a scanner and photo software will have greatest success, Browning also shows how to trace or draw patterns. In addition, he provides 55 patterns for animals and people (including Christian and historic images). Sure to be of interest to most woodworkers and the public libraries that serve them.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description
How to turn a photograph of a loved one, pet, or movie star into a strikingly accurate portrait in wood is detailed in this woodcutting workbook. Guiding readers through converting an image via computer into a woodcutting pattern, this book provides strategies for creating a wood portrait that maintains the essential attributes of the original subject. Tips are provided for investing in computer software, finishing and framing a portrait, and cutting a piece without weakening the wood. This second edition charts current advances in software and provides fascinating patterns of many famous faces for readers who do not wish to design their own.

Scroll Saw Car Prototype Demo

As the patterns you create for the scroll saw become more complicated the errors get more difficult to see on paper. I build a prototype of the project out of scrap or inexpensive material first to catch these errors.

In todays video I will build a prototype of a pattern I just designed in Corel Draw. The pattern is a model of an old car. The pattern has several pieces that need to be assembled together to complete the car. In this video we will make sure all the parts fit as expected and there are no bad surprises.

If you would like to build this project the link to the free downloadable pattern is included at the bottom of this article. Watch the video for tips on cutting the pattern.

I will complete the prototype tomorrow and post a picture so you can see what the car looks like in its finished state.

The project would look more impressive built with several different species of wood. You might also consider looking online for pre-manufactured spoke wheels. It would require 2 inch diameter wheels. The wheels in the pattern are very basic but with a little sanding and shaping they will look ok.

Enjoy the video and look for a picture of the finished prototype tomorrow.

Free Pattern

The Scrollsaw Workshop CafePress Items

I created The Woodworker Guy the other night and thought I would share him with all my friends here at the workshop. Buy one of these unique products for the woodworker in your life. They would make great door prizes for club meetings or just buy one for yourself. A small percentage of the price goes to support The Scrollsaw Workshop. The products are printed by The Cafe Press. They will process your order and ship the product to you. Thanks for tolerating this blatant bit of commercialism. I plan to put any proceeds into the Workshop so I can continue to bring the community the information they are looking for.

The Scrollsaw Workshop CafePress Items

Blow-up of the graphic

Thank You

Steve

Free Downloadable Pattern Book

I have not done a very good job of adding patterns to the blog. To try and make up for that here is something to keep you busy for a while. Twenty one clock patterns for you to cut. These patterns require the 1 -7/16 mini clock inserts. Check the links on the blog for places to purchase the mini clocks. Use a 1-3/8 inch forstner bit to cut the hole for the clock. I hope you enjoy these patterns.

You can do anything you want with the finished projects just don't reproduce or distribute the patterns for personal profit. You may pass the patterns along freely as long as the file is not changed in any way.

If you like this pattern book and would like to support The Scrollsaw Workshop Blog please consider a donation to the site by clicking the donate button at the top of the page.

Download Pattern Book
Get you clock inserts form Clockparts.com now.
Click the banner now.

Happy Scrolling...

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer Update 1.1

For those of you using Scroll Saw Pattern Printer here is another update. Version 1.1 has a slightly different user interface. The interface is cleaner and will now work with an 800x600 desktop resolution. I am continuing to work on more fonts and features but wanted to push this update out for those who were having problems with the 800x600 desktop.
I think I have the code cleaned up enough now that I can focus on adding more fonts which is what everyone is asking for.
You can simply install the update over the existing version. No need to uninstall.
Download Version 1.1

Recent Visitors

Larger map
Here is a map of the last 30 visitors to this site. I thought I would post this to show the interest around the world in the scroll saw. I have regular visitors from around 10 countries. I was told the scroll saw community on the web was dead. I guess not.

Soldier Scrollsaw Portraits club

I know we have talked about this subject before but I want to help a fellow scroller with a good cause. I received an email from a disabled veteran who is participating in an effort to create a scroll saw portrait for the families of all the fallen soldiers in the war on terror. Larry has been a scroller for a few years and would like to be able to help create the patterns for this cause. He has Photoshop 5.5 but because it is rather old he has been frustrated finding good tutorials to help. I thought I would use a freeware program to explain the steps involved. Hopefully this will help Larry as well as provide a source for this free photo editing software that others can use to create their portrait patterns. You can find this software at the following link.

PhotoPlus 6 Download link



Good luck Larry and all the scrollers involved in this project. If anyone is interested in details of this effort I will ask Larry for more information the next time we talk and have a follow up post.

Polymer clay inlay

I have been experimenting with polymer clay as an inlay material for my scroll saw projects. I am satisfied with the results and thought I would share them with you.


I used the Fimo brand of polymer clay. I purchased it from Michaels on sale for $1.00 a pack. It is usually $1.99 a pack but a little goes a long way for scroll saw projects.

Polymer clay is a manmade material that remains pliable for long periods, but bakes or "cures" to hardness at fairly low temperatures. It can be sculpted, carved, stamped, textured, sanded, buffed, painted, and used to create sculpture, accessories, figurines, dolls, or jewelry, or to embellish other surfaces.



The process is very easy. In the case of the hand mirror I cut the project. The areas for the inlay are cut out and the clay is pushed into the voids. I try to get the surface of the clay fairly flat but it does not have to be perfect. The piece with the inlay goes into an oven at 265 degrees F for about 30 minutes.



After letting the piece cool for a while I use a belt sander to smooth the surface and make the inlay even with the top of the wood. Then sand to at least 400 grit to smooth the inlay. After I complete the project I coat the wood and inlay with lemon oil and spray with lacquer. I can think of many projects that could be embellished with this technique.

Wooden boxes, hand mirrors, Jewelry, crosses, the list is endless. If you mastered this technique I am sure you could do very well selling these projects because they would be unique.

One problem you might face is warping of the wood as it bakes. I found 1/4 inch wood warped too much but 1/2 inch worked fine.

Give this a try. It looks good and everyone will want to know how you did the inlay.

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer Update

The response to Scroll Saw Pattern Printer has been very positive. I decided to add a couple more fonts and a page preview. You can download and install the program over the existing install. I hope you like the update.

The demonstration video below shows the original release but the program is so easy to use I don't think it needs updating. The new features are fairly obvious. The page preview on the right now shows what will be printed on paper. I have included two more fonts. I'm still learning how to make fonts so these are not that great but I hope to have some better ones shortly.

Here is the download link.

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer Download

Scroll Saw Pattern Printer

This program does one thing. It prints ready to cut name patterns. The program is donation-ware so you can download and use it free. If you feel generous simply click the donation button in the program and donate $5. This program contains no malware of any kind. It installs two files on your system, an executable file and a font. You can easily uninstall from the control panel if you wish to get rid of it.
I have included a short demo video below for you to watch. Below the video is the download link. Enjoy.

Steve Good




Scroll Saw Pattern Printer Download