Of the two laundry detergent scoops above which one works better? Yes, it's the plastic one.
Which one comes free in every box of detergent? Yep, the plastic one.
Which one makes me happy? The wooden one. :) I like to make stuff. Sometimes it may not make much sense but who cares.
The project is not always the primary reason that we spend time in the shop. Sometimes it's just for the relaxation and enjoyment of using our tools and working with our hands. That is good enough for me.
This project is easily made from scraps of leftover wood. You can tell that I just grabbed what was at the top of the scrap bin. I used three different species and whos to say that was not my intention. Okay, your right there was no pre-thought of the wood I would use. Like I said I just grabbed what was available. No one needs to know. It's our secret, right?
Magnifying light for your scroll saw:
Some scrollers like to use a magnifying lens when they are cutting scroll saw patterns. I have one on each of my saws but I only use the magnification for some patterns. I mostly use them for the light. If you are interested in trying a magnifying lens here are a few things I have learned.
These things come in a wide range of prices. You can spend between $40 to well over $100. I purchased two from Amazon that were over $100 a piece and they both were terrible. The one I purchased from Harbor Freight was $39.99 and actually works very well.
You can get different magnification levels. I like the ones that are listed at 3 diopters. I tried a 5 diopter and it was too much magnification for me. A few of the more expensive magnification lamps have the replacable lenses so you can choose the level of magnification. These are often much more expensive.
You can get different sizes of a lens. I find that at least a 5-inch lens is best for me. You can get a round lens and rectangle lens. All of the lenses have some distortion near the edges. Some are worse than others. For the most part, this distortion is not a problem because you focus your eyes near the middle where the blade is cutting the wood. One of the magnifying lamps I purchased from Amazon had a terrible lens. It was distorted even near the middle and was unusable for me.
You can get fluorescent light or LED light. I thought I would like the LED light better but the two I bought were not bright enough for me. I have tried the one from Seyco and it is an LED. I used it in a bright location but it seemed to be bright enough. They are all different so it's very helpful to try it out first if possible. At the very least buy it from a place with a good return policy.
The fluorescent light on my Harbor Freight model gives me plenty of light. I like the white light from LEDs but this HF fluorescent lamp is acceptable. The lens on my HF model is only fair. It has more distortion than the one I used from Seyco.
The last important feature is the lamps ability to stay in place. All of the ones I bought have been decent. The one I have that had a magnetic stand and flexible gooseneck is a bit of a pain because it tends to vibrate more than the spring counterbalanced lamps. It's also harder to get into place.
I have only tried a handful of the available lamps but from my experience, there are two that I like.
For $40 the Harbor Freight lamp is a good deal. It's not perfect but I would buy another one if I had the need.
The second one that I would recommend is the one from Seyco.com.
It is over $100 but the lens is much better than the Harbor Freight model. I also prefer the white light from the Seyco model
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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.
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.
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.
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.
My Sponsors:
Support the businesses who support our community.
Home of Pegas scroll saw blades.
Ad: AffiliateDelta Power Tools 40-694 20 In. Variable Speed Scroll Saw
At the time of this post, this saw is still on sale for $314.63. That does not include the stand and light but it is a very good deal.
If you are looking to upgrade from an entry-level machine this just might be what you are looking for. This is a nice mid-level machine.
- Electronic variable speed can be adjusted from 400-1,750 SPM for a wide array of cutting applications
- Dual parallel link arm design reduces vibration reducing over and under cutting improving accuracy and quality
- Upper arm lifts and locks in the raised position during blade changes or while adjusting blade position for fret work
- Tool-free blade clamp allows for quick, easy blade changes in seconds. Bevels 0° - 45° left and right. Motor: 1.3 Amp