Creative Woodworks & crafts 1997-08, страница 40

^mm^mms^m^mmimmmmgax!, ^mt^smim

OLIM prv 6 VItftf JOfimft

by Joanne Lockwood

It's new! It's improved!

"Why the change in title?" you may ask. Well, after much discussion with the staff here at Creative Woodworks and Crafts, we've decided to take my column in a new and exciting direction.

We felt that, by presenting a "strictly scroll sawing" column (which I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing), we were only able to scratch the surface of so many other facets of this enjoyable craft, such as painting the wonderful creations we make.

Before f frighten you dedicated scroll sawyers away, I assure you that this is in no way an attempt to turn this publication into a painting magazine. It will always be the outstanding woodcrafting publication that it is now. These painting lessons will be only a small part of this magazine, which just seems to get better and better with each issue.

1 still have much advice to offer on scroll sawing, and will always be happy to answer your questions. But this new format will also allow me to cover a different facet, of painting in each issue, starting with the October edition of Creative Woodworks and Crafts.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this change—please direct, all correspondence directly to me at. the address listed at the end of this column.

Cutting confusion

And now onto the mail bag-

Why don't, all blade manufacturers use the same method to size their blades? Where one company sizes blades by number, another offers blades by specifications, which makes it very confusing! Help! —B. Quenton, Rhode Island

This is a commonly asked question, and one for which 1 do not have an answer. For this reason I . have included a blade chart for your reference. If you cannot find the same type of blade as stated in the directions to your project, simply look at the chart and compare the blades you are able lo find with the ones shown. Since they are full size, this should make it very easy indeed.

How do I know how big a blade to use for the thick-ncss of the wood 1 am cutting?—S. Strong, Nevada

My rule of thumb has always been to use the smallest blade possible for the finest cut. You wilt find many who disagree with this theory, however. Some people tend to push more aggressively, and therefore need a larger blade. Trial and error will show you what blade will work best for you.

You may want to tighten the tension on your scroll saw a bit more when using larger blades. Remember, all scroll saws carry blades differently, so there are no set rules that will work for everyone.

'<■ up

US!

Helpful hints

Mr. E. Hager of California stopped by my shop recently, and had this tip about RBI scroll saws: try laying a mirror on top of the saw table under the workpiece. Looking in the mirror, you can see the tiny hole that you need to guide the saw blade into. He uses a 1-1/2" x 2" mirror with a handle attached to make it easier.

Mr. D. Van Ellis of Michigan wrote lo ask about blade breakage with double tooth blades. From what it sounded like, my opinion is that he is pushing loo aggressively. His blade choice, No. 7 double tooth cutting 3/4" white pine, is actually larger that 1 would use, unless you are looking for extra kerf. A No. 5 double tooth should cut quite well and never break, at least until it gets dull.

You can never be too thin

Okay, now I have a great piece of news for those of you who have written to ask where to get the thin plywood I use for the Tiny Wooden Lockets 1 make. 1 have just received a sample of many types of both plywood and hardwood from a company called Sloan's Wood shop.

This company has many sizes and species available. The plywoods they sent run from 5/8''-thick all the way down to l/64"-thick (or should 1 sav "thin"!). The hardwoods run from 1/4" to 1/32".

The picccs I received are beautiful and smooth. A sampling of the species they offer arc cherry, hickory, mahogany, walnut, maple, ash, knotty white pine, natural birch, red oak, Baltic birch...and that's just the plywood! Among the hardwoods they offer are walnut, mahogany, cherry, and bass-wood. Sloan's Woodshop also carries Plexiglas of both the colored and mirrored varieties. Their catalog also offers books, blades, patterns, foot switches, and much more.

Joanne.com

That's it for this issue. My web page (which 1 mentioned

a few issues back) is now up and running.....-you can reach it

on the internet at <http://www.gvn.net/~dembears>. Please come by and visit!

I'll be back in the next issue with tips and techniques for painting, including how to use your brushes. In the meantime, here's a project that is cute, colorful, and requires no painting at all. it's really easy, and your favorite little person will have a lot of fun with it. Enjoy!

You can reach Joanne Lockwood via e-mail at <cle.mbmrs@gvn.net.or by mail at 3 Bears Workshop,- 7806 Antelope Road, Citrus Heights, CA 95610.

To receive a catalog and discount coupon far great scroll sawing woods and much more, send $2.00 to: Sloan's Woodshop, 5543 Edmondson Pike, Box CW61, Nashville, TN 37211.