Scroll Saw Project

Very nice work, Lee! That first picture looks like some very accurate and ornate work.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Alright, Lee. Inquiring minds need to know. What scroll saw did you get? Hegner, Excalibur, DeWalt 788?
I want to do stacked and Boule marquetry someday and have always dreamed of getting a decent machine. For now the Craftsman I picked up 10 years ago (a not too distant cousin of the wobble dado) has to do.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Very nice inlay work. I thought that you need to tilt about 7 Degrees to get a tight gap free fit?

I remember trying that when I first got my scroll saw. I remember it being a pain in the butt to
keep the blade and workpiece at the top of the cut to keep the angle consistent.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Nice work Lee.

-- Maplewood, MN

Thanks Tom.

Hi Douglas, I have the Hawk G-4 26” scroll saw which is a great saw.

Gary, you might be right. That’s the first number that came to mind (7degree), but it’s also the degree of tilt on the ezee-feed legs, so I figured that’s why it sounded familiar. Although I have to check because 2 degrees “feels” right.

Thanks Rikkor

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Yes to all the above.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

good stuff, Lee. I’ll bet Moma will like the candle stand.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Great Design Lee. Nice work on the Veneer inlays/

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Thank You Gentlemen;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

sweet.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Thanks Ms. Debbie;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Beautiful fret work Lee. mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

I know that this takes a lot of patience. Nice work.
God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

Nice work Lee.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Thank you Gene and Bill.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Those are great, Lee. I have a crappy little Delta scrollsaw that I just hate. I watch the folks at the woodshow, on their Excal’s and Dewalts and their sawing like a laser through lard, with no finger pressure and just smiling away in sing song and swivelling on their chairs. Mine grabs the work piece, rattles my bench, catches the wood and jackhammers it into the table…it terrifies me. I thought, “safe for kids? Horse shitake!” But then I did a little scrolling on a good one and realized that I need to take up another line of woodworking, or toss the Delta. I want to be able to do some of that contrasting inlay work. Neil Lamens and I were talking about that as a design feature in a piece I’m working on. The thought of using my scrollsaw made me want to shove a knitting needle in my ear. But I digress…nice work, man!

Tom

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

lee…fantastic scroll saw work..I can relate to how many blade changes there are there..have done scroll saw work for a number of years and the small drill bits and changes are incredible…I even got into cutting corian which gives some incredible results…I started with a delta and then upgraded to a dewalt which I now use for my ringmaster projects…again great work and most of all great “patience”...marshall

-- marshall, murphy, north carolina

Thanks Tom;

I wouldn’t try the old knitting needle in the ear trick. I know what you mean about your scroll saw. I had a Jet which would only take pinned blades. The vibration you mentioned was always present. I gave the saw away.

Another method would be to use a fret or Jewelers saw. Not as convenient, but capable of fine work at s low cost. I made a saw table for doing this method, which I would mount to my workbench, via the end vise.

This table had a small hole for the sawing to take place, yet prevent small pieces from falling in. It also had a slot to run the blade in to gain access to the hole, and a v cut to make inserting the blade through the small holes needed for pierced work. I recently dismantled the table setup as I like the speed and convenience of the hawk.

The Hawk did have a problem with the blade holder design, which they corrected some time later. One thing I didn’t like was the fact they didn’t contact me to say they recognized there was a problem, and send replacements. I had to buy them. (after buying a number of the old style due to them breaking. Not the customer service I provide, that’s for sure.

Even at the woodworking shows I was doing with ezee-feed, the hawk salesman would admit to a problem, but do nothing about helping. Probably due to them being independent sales people.

By sandwiching the veneer packet, and holding the fret saw on an angle, you can achieve good results. There is a learning curve involved in being able to move the veneer as you hold the saw on an angle and move it up and down. I can’t chew gum and walk without brushing up on the technique first, so I find the scroll saw much more efficient.

I let my son use the Hawk, without me standing over his shoulder, (and making both of us nervous), after giving him some direction which he needed to be able quote back to me first, and explain the meaning of the quotes. He was ten at the time. He did very well. I would wait for your son to out grow his new horse before letting him use one though! LOL

He has developed a healthy respect for the idea cutting tools don’t care what they cut, and fingers don’t grow back.

Well thank’s again;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Marshall;

Welcome to Lumberjocks.

Quite right about all the pin sized drill bits and holes for the pierced cuts. The veins on the leaves, (barely visible in the photo), were the most difficult to feed the blade through, since I couldn’t see the hole!

Before responding, I checked out your projects and I commend you on your work. Very beautiful pieces.

I used a shopsmith for a number of years, prior to going pro, and still have it in my shop.

Thanks;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

great posting. well written, informative and fun to read.

guess I need to get a better scroll saw someday. I’ve still got an old craftsman sheet metal beginner scroll saw I bought used from my sister 20 years ago for 15 dollars. Used only when nothing else would tackle the job. Its one of those cheap ones that vibrates like crazy, bounces all over the place and makes a lot of noise. Not much fun to use.

-- ..... art for lifes sake

Thanks Dan;

You know saws like the ones you described really do scrollsaws a disservice, as the impression is why would anyone consider a scrollsaw fun, or for that matter, useful. The old jet saw I had was one of those.

It wasn’t until I got to test a quality saw I realized the value of it. Some of the blades I use I can’t even see the teeth. I have to run my finger on the teeth to figure out which end goes up. Talk about a smooth cut, that can make a 360 in the size of a pin head.

These saws are both fun to use and very accurate with practice.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

a new scroll saw is now officially on my wish list. will keep my eye on craigslist.

I’m thinking a scroll saw may help me with my mahogany relief carvings. Thinking in elevations, it would be only natural to scroll saw the outline of the background, then the middle area and finally the forground, gluing them in sequence and then carving and smoothing etc. Sort of like routing in reverse.

-- ..... art for lifes sake

Dan;

There are a number of quality saws on the market. I’ve heard the Dewalt is a good unit, but I’ve never used it, but I know the price is pretty reasonable, compared to some.

I would like to see what you’ve described above after you do it, so good luck finding a saw. The technique sounds like a good idea.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Geez Lee! – You are so talented it’s stupid! You have definitely found your calling in this craft! – Very nice work (as always!), very inspirational! I have the same scroll saw, but it seems a little “bouncy” any tricks to setting it up? is it the blade holders? (not replaced) ...I meant to tell you I mentioned to my wife that you thought she must “…really like mission style…” she laughed so hard she blew coffee out her nose…

-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe

Ah man, Schroeder, you weren’t supposed to tell her! LOL

Thanks for the kind words.

As far as the saw goes, are you setting the tension as recommended. I generally go a bit tighter than suggested.

I would order a couple of those new style blade holders, they’re much better, and easier to work with.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Beautiful scroll work, Lee!

-- Dust collectors suck.

Hi Blake;

Thanks much.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Beautiful work! Very inspiring!

-- Sam

Thanks Sam

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Great job. I love scroll saw work. I just don’t get a chance to do it. FABULOUS!!!!!!

DAVE

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

Nice work Lee. I’ve done a fair amount of scrolling myself now I’m trying to learn other aspects of woodworking. Scrolling can be highly addictive :) Then again, so is every other aspect of woodworking … :)

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA

Hi Paul;

Thank you for the kind words.

I have to agree it’s addicting. I couldn’t have said that better myself.

They say the first step is realizing there is a problem!

The problem (?) with woodworking is it is so varied, it’s hard to decide what to do. In fact so hard, sometimes I don’t do anything! I just can’t make up my mind.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Dave;

Thank you for the kind words. I enjoy scroll sawing very much. It’s very relaxing, and usually doesn’t require too much space.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com