Do you have a rock guitarist in you family? Make them a flying rock guitar.
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Information: My Boards are warped.
I want to take a few sentences to talk about wood. When a tree is harvested for lumber it is full of moisture. Before the lumber is used it is either air or kiln dried. Kiln drying can take from hours to days. Air drying can take months. They take great pains to make sure the lumber dries evenly otherwise they risk wood movement. Wood movement means cupping, twisting, checking etc. They lay the rough lumber on what they call stickers. Stickers are just spacers that separate the boards to allow air to move freely between each board. They only get the lumber down to a moisture content of something like 18% to 25%. When you get the board in your shop it still has moisture.
We can use these same techniques when we order scroll saw ready boards. These thin and wide boards have a nasty habit of cupping when we get them in our shop(picture below). As the board takes on or releases moisture more on one side than the other it can cup. That's what happened to the board in the first picture. I opened it in my shop and placed it on a flat surface. The moisture escaped faster on the top than the bottom and because of the structure of the grain it cupped.
I could have possibly prevented this by stickering the boards like the picture below. This would have allowed the boards to dry evenly.
Now let's say you have a cupped board. Can we make it flat again? The answer is often yes. We know that the board cupped because it dried quicker on one side. What would happen if we reversed that process. Hopefully it will cup back the other direction. Here is a trick to try.
We need the cupped board and a flat surface. We need several water soaked paper towels. We need some heavy objects.
Apply the water soaked towels to the cupped side of the board. Edges curled up. Let the water soak in for a few minutes.
Now flip the board over on a flat surface so the edges curl down. Wet side down.
I placed a piece of mdf to even out the weight on the board. Then a heavy block and gallon of glue. Hopefully as the wet fibers expand back the board will flatten out.
There is a science to this but we do have control over every variable. This makes it a little hit or miss to get the board flat. We may have to repeat the process to get what we want. This is a case of prevention being better than the cure.
Okay I have put myself out on a limb. Will it be flat tomorrow? Check back for tomorrows post to find out how I did.
Click to enter the
Bear Woods $75 gift certificate giveaway. Nine days left to enter.
Speaking about scroll saw ready boards. Check out
Heritage Wood Specialties for a great selection species ready to cut.
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Purchase the entire Scrollsaw Workshop pattern catalog for offline access.
This DVD has 1,964 patterns published from 2007 thru 2016.
The DVD is $20 plus shipping. Ships to 60 countries around the world.
Want to create beautiful wooden vases on the scroll saw?
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New information on composite materials, adhesives, and finishes brings this book into the 21st century, while more than 300 photographs bring important visual information to life. This edition covers the nature of wood and its properties, the basics of wood technology, and the woodworker's raw materials. Understanding Wood was written for woodworkers by a scientist with a love of woodworking. It will be sought after by craftsmen and collectors alike.
Hooah!. It will get done. No, is not an option. You can use this pattern for a vet or cut the bottom section off and make it for current soldiers.
Information:
I received two emails today that made this thought come to mind. One email was from a new reader of the blog and she had just bought her first scroll saw. The second was from the owner of
BearWoods. (Sponsor of our monthly giveaway)
Christine wanted to know if I could give her any tips to get started. Stephen, the owner of
Bear Woods wanted to know if I would do a testimonial for one of his products that I use. (Pegas scroll saw blades)
The two questions were linked in this way. The first tip I gave Christine was to buy the best blades she could get for her machine. It was an entry level machine. I explained to her that high quality blades will help with technique and they last longer so are actually cheaper in the long run. Scroll saw blades are cheap compared to wood. It's silly to mess up a nice piece of hardwood because of a dull blade.
I was still thinking about the tip I gave her when Stephen's email popped up.
I was more than happy to do the testimonial for the Pegas blades because I have used them for the last several months and I know they are high quality. I have to be comfortable with a product before I tell someone else to try it.
Are Pegas blades the only high quality blade on the market? No. Are they as good as any and better than most? Yes.
Like I said in the testimonial. If you want to do the single most important upgrade to your scroll saw, buy high quality blades. It really is that important. I don't really care if you buy Pegas or another high quality blade. If you are struggling with your new scroll saw and want to hit it with a hammer just do this before you get violent. Buy some high quality blades and see for yourself how much better you can cut with accuracy and ease. You will also find out they are cheaper in the long run.
Ten days left to enter this months
Bear Woods $75 gift certificate giveaway. Don't get left out enter now.
Heritage Wood Specialties. Your source for scroll saw ready boards.
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-
Purchase the entire Scrollsaw Workshop pattern catalog for offline access.
This DVD has 1,964 patterns published from 2007 thru 2016.
The DVD is $20 plus shipping. Ships to 60 countries around the world.
Want to create beautiful wooden vases on the scroll saw?
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.
Ad: Affiliate
I have been in the market for a new stud finder. I started doing my research and this one stood out. After watching a few review videos I looked it up on Amazon. The reviews there were very good 4.5 out of 5. It's not cheap but I want something easy to use. My last one was okay but frustrating to get accurate results. I think this is the one I will order.
- Advanced Multi-Sense Technology senses the wall in multiple locations simultaneously
- Bright LEDs lights illuminate to indicate the position of hidden objects - making it very easy to visualize the position of studs
- Identifies the width of hidden objects so that you not only know the position of hidden objects, but so you also know the size of them
- Can identify the position of multiple studs simultaneously
- Deep Scanning is always active (up to 1.5")
This is the end of the daily posts. Keep scrolling for lot's more scrolls saw fun!
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.
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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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
