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This is a sample. You can make it as long as you needed.
Yes, we are going to cheat.
Hand carving a wooden chain from a solid block of wood is fun, challenging, and time-consuming. I have carved chains and I have used a technique to make them partially on the scroll saw.
I was in an email conversation with a reader the other day who needed a six-foot wooden chain. She had seen the video I did years ago on how to make a chain from a solid block of wood with the scroll saw. Obviously, that was not going to work very well for a six-foot chain. Hand carving would also have been too time-intensive.
My suggestion to her was to cheat. If you are looking for the end result and not the challenge then why make it difficult. The links in the photo above are half links glued up. With some careful glue-ups and sanding they can look pretty convincing. Yes, close up you will see the joints but from a couple of feet its hard to tell they are not solid.
The two links above show two of the joints. Number 1 shows a joint that needed a better fit or more sanding. Number 2 is a successful joint. Even close up number 2 looks good. Not perfect but good enough. Even the number 1 joint will be fine for many projects. I believe the project my readers was working on was a nautical themed anchor display. This would be fine for a project like that.
You want the edge of the board to be nice and true for the best joints. Each link is cut. Obviously, you need to cut two for each link. The links on the 1/4" thick chain are two inches long. You lose a half-inch for each length because the links interlock. You would need about 50 links to get a six-foot chain. You could cut that is one sitting. The assembly and sanding will take some time.
I used this stair-step jig to help with the glue-up. It held the pieces in place while I glued the next link into the chain.
I did not use clamps. I just held finger pressure for a couple of minutes until the glue tacked up. One solution would be to have a number of small rubber bands. Wrap one around each link after it tacks up. Just be careful that the link halves stay aligned. Now just continue the steps until you get the desired length. CA glue eliminates the clamp problem but if you get squeeze out it is harder to sand away than wood glue.
Several years ago I did a couple videos showing how to make wooden from solid blocks of wood with the scrollsaw. The links below are to those videos. The video quality is pretty bad but that is what YouTube was like back then. The technique is basically the same as is used by woodcarvers to make the chains.
Part One. https://youtu.be/_b0-9Lyd6NQ
Part Two. https://youtu.be/QblEPN1Ujyc
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Inlay with a 1" Forstner Bit.
The perfect way to sign your work.
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Products for your consideration:
Every Scrollsaw Workshop Pattern from 2007-2019 on DVD
This DVD has over 2,900 patterns published from 2007 thru 2019.
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 thumb drive. The USB thumb drive option is $23 plus shipping.
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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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WEN 3410 3-Speed Remote-Controlled Air Filtration System (300/350/400 CFM)
This is the air filtration system I use in my shop. This unit is sufficient for a small workshop. Larger shops will need more than one. You have to be careful with your health in the shop. Wood dust can be very serious over time. This unit paried with a face mask is going to let you breathe much cleaner air. For $135 it is a great bargain.
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- Programmable timer automatically shuts unit off after set number of minutes
- Remote control allows users to set timer, change speed and power the unit on and off from up to 26 feet away
