Thursday, January 28, 2010

Easy candle cup and how to get thin wood for projects.

I am always looking for ways to use up small scraps of wood. This project fits the bill. A couple small pieces of wood and a candle purchased for $2 and you have a quick and easy project.

I use a lot of thin wood in my projects. I receive email all the time asking where to get thin wood. The best answer is usually not what they want to hear. If you plan to make the occasional project then its fine to buy thin lumber online. There a several places that sell wood for scroll sawyers.

However if you are going to enjoy the hobby as more than the occasional gift for someone then there is really only one answer. You need to have the tools to dimension your own stock. It's cheaper to buy rough lumber and make it into what you need.

Here is what I suggest. Start with a planner. A planner will let you take a piece of rough lumber and make it any thickness you need. Sounds great problem solved. Not really. The rub on planners is that they are very wasteful. If you need a 1/8" piece for a project and you start with 3/4" stock then most of that board ends up as saw dust.

Let's solve that problem. A band saw that is powerful enough to re-saw lumber is the answer. Re-sawing lumber means taking a board, standing it on edge and making two boards. These two boards will now be what ever thickness you need. Okay if the band saw will make the boards any thickness we need then why start with a planner?

Re-sawing lumber is considered a rough cut and the board will need to be either sanded or planed flat to remove the cut marks from the band saw. You can use a flat bed sander for this but they tend to me more expensive than planners on the low end.

The best combination is to re-saw with the band saw to rough thickness then plan the board to the desired final thickness. This is the most economical technique in the long run and the tools will pay for themselves. Depending on how much scrolling you do they can pay for themselves rather quickly.

Ryobi makes a serviceable planner in the $200 dollar range. It's not built for industrial use by any means but most scrollers will find it adequate. DeWalt makes a very nice planner but you can multiply the cost by 3.

The band saw is going to set you back a bit of cash and that's one reason I say start with the planner. The band saw you buy needs to be powerful enough to cut through six inches or more of wood. That really rules out all the low end band saws. It's best to be able to re-saw up to 12 inches but that is a real wallet buster. Jet and Grizzly both make band saws that are capable enough to re-saw 6 inch boards. You are talking about spending $400 to $600 for an acceptable saw.

I know this is a bunch of cash and not everyone wants to invest this much in a hobby. Perfectly understandable. If you are planning to sell your projects at craft shows or online then the economics just make sense to keep the costs of supplies as low as possible. The only way I know to do that is to dimension the stock from rough lumber.




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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.

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