There are still thousands of Trekkies out there. Star Trek has an almost cult following even 40 years after the show was canceled. This pattern is for true believers of the science fictions show from the 60's.
I my opinion The New Scroll Saw Handbook is the finest book ever written for the hobby. Patrick Spielman is a true legend in the community. He wrote many fine books before his death in 2004. this is not a pattern book but if you want to study the hobby in all it's detail click the picture above and buy this book. You will not regret it.
Friday, December 31, 2010
True Believing Trekkies.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Xtreme SK8 skate board scroll saw pattern.
Skateboarding is an activity enjoyed by more than 20 million people in the world. Mostly made up of males under the age of 18 according to Wikipedia. The sport started out in the late 40's or early 50's probably as a spin-off of surfing in California.
If you have a skater in your family I'm sure he would appreciate this project. The pattern is a little over 5.5 inches tall and 9 inches long.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wave Rider Scroll Saw Pattern.
I have been reminded more than once that I ignore several different sports. Here is a pattern for all the surfers out there.
Baltic Birch Plywood is a fantastic product for many scroll saw projects. It's reasonably priced, easy to cut and comes in a variety of thicknesses. This variety pact from Woodcraft includes 1/8", 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" thicknesses. For many scrollers it's difficult to find lumber in these dimensions. It's not the first choice for some projects but for many it looks great. Ornaments, fretwork boxes, fretwork clocks all look nice cut from ply.
Baltic Birch ply is a very high quality plywood. Don't confuse it with plywood you find in the big box stores that carry construction grade ply. This stuff is virtually void free and holds up great even with intricate fretwork. If you are interested in giving BB ply a try click the picture above and check out this variety pack from Woodcraft. As a disclaimer, I am an affiliate for Woodcraft and will receive a small commission from any purchase.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Lucky Dragon Scroll Saw Pattern.
Scroll Saw Blade Holder TV. What? Geek alert!
I hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas. My family and I had a wonderful time. We had Christmas at home and visited relatives in Indiana. It was a beautiful white Christmas day here. We had just enough snow to cover the ground but not so much that travel was bad.
One of my presents was a Slingbox Solo. For those of you not familiar with the product it allows you to watch your cable TV from any place you have an internet connection. You can watch it on a computer or many different cell phones and the Ipad or Ipod touch. It works great and even lets you access your DVR. You can view the TV guide, change channels and even record a show to your DVR.
I have an Ipad and an Ipod touch so I came up with the idea of using the Touch to watch my TV while I scroll. I know, I'm a geek. It let's me watch TV, play my music collection and watch my internet podcasts.
I wanted a stand to hold the touch and keep it somewhat protected from the dust. A dowel rod some MDF and clear Plexiglas and I was all set. It also lets me easily move it to where ever I want to watch it.
I know this is an expensive way to get cable TV in your workshop but if you want to take your cable or satellite TV on the road when you travel then the Slingbox is a great solution. A side benefit for me was having portable wireless cable TV in my workshop.
In the picture above you see the holder with the Touch connected to some external speakers.
Here is the side view of the holder.
A close up view showing the Plexiglas front for protection. I plan to seal the end with fabric with a slit to keep more dust out and still be able to get the Touch in and out easily.
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Friday, December 24, 2010
A Christmas Wish.
I made a Christmas wish for you,For a holiday full of pleasure,
Friends and family all around,
And memories to treasure.
I wish for you a Christmas filled
With joyous holiday cheer;
I wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a very Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Key Chain for the Geek in your life.
Mention the three finger salute to any computer geek and they will smile and shake their head. The CTRL , ALT and DEL keys are the best friend and worst enemy to every Windows user.
This key chain will make a nice stocking stuffer for a geek. I used 1/8 inch contrasting woods. I stack cut the outside cut then separated the pieces and used a #2/0 blade to cut out the letters. I also made a couple of score cuts to show a separation of the keys.
Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen Scroll Saw Pattern.
This pattern is a table decoration for a girls sweet sixteen birthday party.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
He's Got Game!
Basketball season is in full swing right now. If you have a young man playing the sport show him you think he has "Got Game". This pattern book has three different styles of players and the number stencils to customize the jersey number.
Rhythmic Gymnastics Scroll Saw Pattern.
This pattern requires a 1 7/16" mini clock insert or picture frame.
Free stand if ordered before Christmas.The Excalibur 16" variable speed scroll saw is a slightly smaller version of the 21” Excalibur scroll saw. The unique “Tilting Head” design provides a stable platform when cutting straight or on an angle. Unlike other scroll saws where the table is tilted for angled cuts, the entire head of the Excalibur tilts 45 degrees; to the left or the right. This allows the user to better control the work piece on a flat table surface, for a more safe and accurate cut. Solidly built upper and lower parallel arms keep the blade straight with minimal blade deflection allowing for precise cuts, making this the most sought after scroll saw on the market. Changing blades is a snap - No tools required – it utilizes finger operated blade clamps. Excalibur’s upper arm lift is ideal for threading the blade through fret work. Easy access speed and tension controls. Features a 120V, 1.3 amp constant torque permanent magnet motor. Large 12” x 18 1/2" table surface. Onboard dust blower. Specifications: Throat: 16" Maximum cutting depth: 2" Variable speed: 400-1400 SPM Dimensions: L: 28" W: 15" H: 17". Weight: 53 lbs. Uses standard 5” straight scroll saw blades. Includes operation manual and 2 year warranty.
The Scrollsaw Workshop is primarily supported by donations. If you enjoy this Blog and would like to make a donation please click this link. Your support is greatly appreciated.Make A Donation
Thursday, December 16, 2010
3D Christmas Ornament.
This is a 5 inch tall tear drop 3d Christmas ornament. It is cut from 1/4 inch thick soft maple. I used a Flying Dutchman #3 scroll reverse blade.
The following video is just to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. The day is getting close. I hope you have all your holiday scroll saw projects well under way.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Simple Business Card Holder.
I have written in these pages before how important it is to never throw good wood away no mater how small the scrap is. The scroll saw is the one tool in the shop that gives you the opportunity to use up these cut offs. Not every project we make has to include intricate fretwork or take hours to cut.
Sometime the project can just be about the wood and not the design. I had some small scraps of beautiful curly maple. The 3d rays in this stuff can't be seen well in a picture but in person it's truly amazing. I contrasted that with some hardwood walnut dowel and made a very simple business card holder.
If you sell your work at craft shows it's important to have products that everyone can afford. A piece like this made from scraps in only minutes can have a higher percentage of profit even thought the price is relatively low.
If I were selling this at a show I would put a tag on it that said "Beautiful handcrafted business card holder. Hand cut from highly figured curly maple and contrasting walnut. No old growth lumber was cut to make this product." Depending on the location of the show I would charge in the range of $9.95. Let's say you could only make four of these an hour which would be no problem. Your gross is going to be $40 and hour minus low expenses. Even if your expenses reached 25% you are still making $30 an hour. Try to make that much selling highly detailed fretwork pieces. It's almost impossible. It is true that you may have to sell ten of these to make the same money as one fretwork clock but sometimes these will be the only thing that sells and can make the difference of a bust or successful show.
I'm not trying to say that this project would necessarily be a good seller. It may or it may not. You have to try projects out sometimes to find out what sells. My point is that sometimes selling many small projects can make up for not selling a large one and the percentage of profit per time invested can be even better. Just something to think about if you are considering jumping into a craft show.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Online Free Catalog Update. Hundreds of free patterns.
The Scrollsaw Workshop free online catalog has been updated. Now with 665 pattern books many with multiple patterns. This is every pattern book I have put on the blog. While I was updating the catalog tonight I realized that I have uploaded a new pattern book on the average of one book every two days for three and a half years. I'm not sure if that's dedication or I just need to get a life. :) Either way I'm still having fun with the blog so I hope you enjoy looking through the catalog.
The catalog can be found by visiting the blog and looking for the image of the catalog in the left column. Click that image and you will be taken to the catalog page one. There are three pages. You will find the link to the next page at the bottom of each page.
If you have visited the catalog before make sure you refresh the page. This insures you are seeing the latest update.
Christmas Train Scroll Saw Pattern.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Magazine Box Scroll Saw Pattern
Want to store your Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts or Creative Woodworks magazines in style. It just makes sense to store a scroll saw magazine in a fretwork magazine box.
The box is designed to store a magazine that is 8.5" X 11". I cut this one from maple but it might be easier for you to use 1/4" Baltic Birch plywood. You will need a board 9" wide so plywood will be the easiest choice.
I stack cut the two sides and saved a lot of time on the saw.
I did not count but the box should hold 3 or 4 years of of a quarterly magazine.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Walter Melis shares his addition to my dragon box pattern.
I have talked and demonstrated using polymer clay as an inlay material in the past. I received this picture from Walter the other night and he used the technique to inlay the dragon box pattern I posted a couple days ago.
I think it adds a great deal of value to the box. Walter did a great job and I know this hand made box will be treasured by someone for years to come.
FIMO is one brand of polymer clay.If you are interested in using this inlay technique the following video from earlier this year will give you the details you need to make beautiful inlay projects.
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The Scroll Saw Work of Howard Boyd.
Here is a two part video I found tonight that I thought was worth sharing. I don't know the gentleman in the video but I would like to. He obviously shares my love for this hobby and seems like a nice guy. He shows several nice projects he has completed and talks a bit about his life and experiences. It's a little long but I enjoyed watching it and i hope you will also.
If you are reading this in the email newsletter you may not be able to see the video. Please visit the blog and watch it in the daily post section.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The E3 Sentry Scroll Saw Pattern.
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an American military airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based on the Boeing 707 that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications. It is used by countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, and NATO air defense forces. It is distinguished by the rotating disc-shaped radome above the fuselage. Production ended in 1992 after 68 had been built.
Lemon Oil? Really?
Lets talk about lemon oil. This subject gets me more email questions than just about any other subject. I think that's because I am the only one on the planet that uses the stuff for scroll saw projects. Maybe I'm the crazy one here.
I re-posted the finishing video yesterday because of several questions and the video just prompted more questions.
First, let me say that I don't want to say it's the best way to finish a project. It's just the way I finish projects. It has worked for me for years and it might work for you also. Then again you might hate it. Use what works for you. There are so many ways to finish a scroll saw project that it would be nuts to say there were a best way.
The number one question I get is about cost. At first glance lemon oil looks expensive. A small 8oz bottle cost from $4 to $8. It takes 3 or 4 bottle to fill a medium sized container deep enough to dip a project. The thing is a little goes a long way. I am not a production cutter but I probably make more scroll saw projects than most of you. In the last 3 years I have purchased no more than 6 bottles of lemon oil and my dipping container is still full. After I dip the project I let the excess run off back into the container. There is very little waste because the stuff has a very slow evaporation rate. I don't even bother to cover the container most nights.
The next question is why use lemon oil instead of tung oil. There in not a great answer to that question. Lemon oil has a thinner viscosity than tung oil so it is easier for me to dip the project which is the reason I use lemon oil in the first place. Tung oil is a nice product and I consider it a wipe on wipe off finish. Tung oil gives better protection to the wood and does not dry out like lemon oil does. I have no problem with tung oil it's just not what I use.
For me the primary disadvantage of lemon oil is the slow evaporation rate. If you dip a project in lemon oil and leave it un-sealed it will seep oil for days even after it looks dry. You absolutely have to seal it with an acrylic or lacquer spray for any protection. If you sit in on a table cloth un-sealed you will come back and find a stain on the cloth. Tung oil will not do that. When it cures it's safe.
Let me say this again. I am not recommending that you use lemon oil. I am just showing you how I finish my projects. I like how easy it is to use. I like the low cost. I like the natural finish it gives.
If any of you would like to make a video about how you finish your scroll saw projects you could upload it to YouTube and I would love to share it with everyone. Just drop me the link and I'll post it.
I hope this answers a few more of your questions.
A special Christmas offer form Sue Mey.
If you have followed my blog for any time you know that I have a high respect for two scroll saw pattern designers. Sue Mey and Sheila Landry are in my opinion the most creative designers in the hobby. There are other designers out there making more detailed fretwork but no one is as proficient or creative as these two ladies.
Anytime one of them ask me to post a special from their web site I am more than happy to put it out there. The reason is that I know my readers will be thrilled with the product and service they get from either of them.
I received an email from Sue today and she wanted to pass on a special Christmas offer from her website. Do your self a favor and run don't walk to take advantage of this offer. Read what Sue had to say below.
A note from Sue.
Christmas is around the corner and as a thank you for all your support during 2010, I am presenting a special offer on patterns for the month of December. For every four regular-priced pattern downloads you purchase from my Website a similarly-priced free pattern of your choice will be delivered to you by email. To make use of the offer, simply note the chosen product code(s) in the ‘comments’ section of the order form. Choose from thousands of patterns in 35 Categories.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Dragon Plaque Scroll Saw Pattern.
I get many requests for dragon themed scroll saw patterns. I know this is not everyone's cup of tea but they make cool gifts for teens. This one is almost 10 inches tall. It's big enough to hang on the wall or sit in a stand.
Over the last few weeks I have received several questions about why I use lemon oil as part of my scroll saw project finishing technique. There are many ways to finish a project and I say use what ever you are comfortable with. I use oil because it is cheap fast and easy. I am reposting a video I did several months ago for all the new readers we have now. If you are interested in how I finisg my projects take a look at the following video.
If you are reading this in ht email newsletter you may not see the video. Please visit the blog and watch it there.
The Scrollsaw Workshop is primarily supported by donations. If you enjoy this Blog and would like to make a donation please click this link. Your support is greatly appreciated.Make A Donation
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
$4 motorized DIY Lazy Susan.
I like to tinker out in the shop. I try a lot of different jigs and shop accessories. When I decide I need something that I can't find in a store or it's too expensive I'll try to make one. This project came out of that tinkering.
I wanted a motorized lazy Susan to sit my scroll saw projects on while they dried. I am always in a hurry to finish a project because of the time line for the blog. Most of you know that I dip my projects in lemon oil. Let it dry then spray with lacquer. I use a fan to speed up the drying after both applications. It takes a while to dry even with the fan so every few minutes I would go out in the shop and turn the project so the fan could blow on the other side. Now I'm naturally lazy so I wanted something to keep me from having to make all those trip. This video shows how I made it for $4. It's not going to be a project that everyone will need but I thought I would share it anyway. I am planning to also build an electric motor version that turns at 1 RPM.
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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
Free Pattern Catalog. 1000's of free patterns.
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.
Wooden Vases on the Scroll Saw Book $12 Each
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.
Watch the following video to see how easy these beautiful scroll saw vases
are to make.
Order the $3 pdf Catalog
Stencil Printer 1.7
Scroll Saw Pattern Printer update 1.1
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.
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 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.
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
