Scroll saw tips

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:24 pm

I just bought a book called "The New Scroll Saw Handbook", by Patrick Spielman (351 pages, $16.95 at Woodcraft). Excellent book! It covers everything from history of scroll saws, descriptions and pictures of ca. 50 scroll saw models currently available and why you might want to buy one over another, types of blades and their uses, scroll saw techniques (stack cutting, compound sawing, bevel sawing, inlay, intarsia, fretwork, joinery, etc.), how to cut other materials (plastics, metal, paper), and finishing tips. It is NOT a "pattern book", though it does has some patterns to go with pictures of finished projects.

Yes, it even has a page on the Shopsmith scroll saws, with the stand-alone saw's specifications included in the table along with the other 50 saws. Yay!

Anyhow, I think it's a great book for us scroll saw rookies. Ryanbp01, your questions about blade and wood breakage are covered in way more detail than we could summarize in the forum. The chapters on "Blades, Speeds, and Feeds" and "Scroll-sawing Basics" would be especially useful.

Gary

reible · Post by **reible** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:11 pm

Hi,

This might be bit off subject but hey I do try and stay on subject most of the time....

We were up in the UP of MI and came across this hand cut piece of scroll work in a museum. I was admiring it and when I read the attached card I saw the name Hepting, which was my wife's mother maiden name. Sure enough they were related.

So here it is all hand done. Sorry I don't have a close up of he workmanship but I bet he didn't get this done in a weekend.

[ATTACH]7011[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]7012[/ATTACH]

Ed

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:49 pm

Thanks for sharing, Ed! What a piece of work!

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:36 pm

That is some work, and done with a hand held coping saw. Thanks for posting it.

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:38 pm

Ed- thanks for the inspiration! All done with a coping saw- amazing!

Do you have any idea what kind of wood was used?

Gary

reible · Post by **reible** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:18 pm

Yes it is the craftsman not the equipment that made this so interesting, and shows that it is not the machine that makes the masterpiece but the man.

I happened to find this on our way out just a few minutes before they were closing and that was back in June of 2000 so I'm sorry to say I did not have time to take close ups or really study the wood. I'd like to get back someday and have another look and take more pictures (I've said that many times over the last few years but it has yet to happen.

I think I have the location written down but from memory it might have been in Eagle Harbor MI up in the Keweenaw Peninsula in a light house museum. Hey maybe this summer??? Maybe June 21 so we can watch the sun setting up on Brockway Mountain Drive. Lots of daylight that day and that far north... yea I know it is not Alaska.

Ed

greitz wrote:Ed- thanks for the inspiration! All done with a coping saw- amazing!

Do you have any idea what kind of wood was used?

Gary

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:18 am

I am always amazed by the craftsmen (and women) of yesteryear. Using handtools, and hand honed wood they created beautiful art. Thank you for sharing.