Sometimes we need simple patterns to make last-minute gifts. It can also be nice to have projects that can be produced quickly for craft sales. I think this pattern fits those requirements. I kept the detail very low. There are only two interior cuts in the whole project.
The pattern book includes the pattern for three different thicknesses of wood. 1/8", 1/4", and 1/2" thick. You can see in the picture below that the 1/8" pattern is very small. It is 2" tall. This one is the most difficult to cut but it is also the most unique just because of its size.
The small pattern definitely calls for stack cutting. I would cut at least three at a time. The cost of the material is almost nothing. You can cut the stack in 30-60 minutes including glue-up. Use CA glue and activator for speed. I would charge a minimum of $5 per Nativity. That gets to $15 or $30 per hour. If you can get it to $30 an hour that is very high for a craft product.
Lasers:
I know many of you come here to find patterns for your laser cutters. This just might be one that you want to grab. I cut the Nativity below on my 45W laser. Total time for the cut, glue-up, and spray acrylic finish was eight minutes. That did not include sanding because I used blue painters tape over the board. There was no sanding.
I know the laser folks will know what I'm talking about here but for my scroll saw people let me discuss the burnt edges. I will often talk with scrollers who comment about the burnt edges of the laser as a negative. Here is the truth from a guy who loves the scroll saw as much as anyone.
If you set the one above from the scroll saw and the one below from the laser on a sales table at a craft show, the laser-produced one will outsell the scroll saw one by a wide margin. The burnt edges give the project more definition.
If you ever find yourself competing with laser-produced goods at a craft show then you need to stand out in other ways. You have to play up the hand made, one of a kind angle. You need to produce the product in a higher grade of material. This nativity cut from 3 or 4 different species of wood would be absolutely beautiful. It will also be a little more expensive to make.
I can tell you this. My subscriber base of people who use a laser is growing more every year. Lasers are continuing to get cheaper and that trend will probably continue. You can get a decent laser for under $3,000 now. You can get a bad one for under $500. The cheap lasers are a royal pain to use and maintain but if you can keep them running they can put out decent work.
Okay, enough of this laser blasphemy. I will always produce patterns directed at the scroll saw crowd. That is what I enjoy doing. It is much more fun for me to sit at the scroll saw than it is to watch the laser gantry go back and forth. I do want to recognize my readers who use the laser and say thanks for your support.
Personalized Christmas Ornament Patterns:
I am still making good progress on ornament patterns. I should be able to get caught up today. If you have orders in the queue, keep your eye on your email inbox.
The price is $1 per name with a 5 name minimum. I keep the price as low as possible
because I want everyone to have a chance to make these ornaments for family and friends.
You only pay after you have received the order and are
100% satisfied with the patterns. Invoice included with
the pattern email. Pay by credit card(secure Paypal), check, or cash.
The patterns will be emailed to you after they are completed.
Please allow up to a week for delivery.
You can use last names on the ornaments if you like but remember that the more letters the more
difficult they are to cut. Ten letters and up gets pretty small. If you need to you can enlarge the patterns by 10% to make the interior cuts larger. No special characters are supported. I can get a hyphen in there but it looks odd. It has to connect the two letters so it does not just fall out.
$12 per sheet of 12 coins plus $3.50 shipping
Inlay with a 1" Forstner Bit.
The perfect way to sign your work.
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:
Every Scrollsaw Workshop Pattern from 2007-2018 in DVD
This DVD has over 2,600 patterns published from 2007 thru 2018.
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.
All the same file but in an easy to use a thumb drive. The USB thumb drive option is $23 plus shipping.
Now Available on USB Thumb Drive
Don't have a DVD drive on your new computer. No problem. Buy the catalog on a USB thumb drive.All the same file but in an easy to use a thumb drive. The USB thumb drive option is $23 plus shipping.
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.
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