Creative Woodworks & crafts 2001-08, страница 24

True Scroll Saw Stories

by Marilyn Cartnin

During all the years I've been scrolling, T have had numerous opportunities to visit with others who share this common interest. Many people have related their experiences to me and I would like to pass a few of them on to you. ■Some of these stories are I'unny, many are inspiring, but. all are true.

Each time Ruth sat down at her scroll saw her Irish setter took it as an invitation to play ball. Ruth became very adept at ricocheting the ball out the door of the shop, scrolling until the dog returned with the ball, then repeating the process.

Alter three solid days of cutting. Frank's project was finally complete. While admiring it, his friend and neighbor held it up against the shop wall. Tl slipped! It fell! It hil the cement floor! Need I say more? Frank says, "All is forgiven and we are still friends."

Arising early one day and showering, Beth was anxious to gel. busy scrolling. After cutting for over an hour, Beth realized she had forgotten something. She had become distracted on her way to dressing and found herself standing at her scroll saw wearing nothing but her bath towel.

I've talked to many people who use their scroll saw for cutting a lot of different material. I know of quiltcrs who cut fabric, stained glass artists who cut glass, and jewelers who cut precious metals. But one of the most unusual has to be a commercial caterer I know of who uses her saw to cut company logos from frozen steaks.

Timing is everything arid Mary's timing seemed to be perfect. Each time she went to the top of the stairs to call her husband from his basement shop, a saw would turn on. The solution: Mary found herself a large cow bell, one her husband can hear even over his saws.

Tim and Steve paid a visit to Steve's father. When his father went out to his shop to get something, Steve suggested they might as well go home. It was a well known fact that once Steve's dad stepped into his wood shop the outside world ceased to exist, in fact, Steve's mom would often take meals to the shop to ensure that dad was eating.

is an ongoing problem for many of us. Some have installed intercoms, while others just make a habit of checking in once in a while. Alier receiving no * response to her calls, Jill went out to the wood shop. There, she found Jack fast asleep with his head resting on his scroll saw.

Eric had been using his scroll saw for about six months. He faithfully plugged the saw in before use and unplugged it when done. One day, his young daughter pointed to the on/off switch on the side and asked what it was for. Erie had been unplugging his saw all that time because he was unaware of the on/off switch.

I especially like stories about kids. There is something about the combination of scroll saws and children that can be inspiring. John, age 12, wanted a new bike. Ilis parents suggested that lie might find a way to earn the needed money using the scroll saw. He began cutting ornaments, then started selling them around their small town. He soon had his bike.

Walter claims his scroll saw is the best purchase he ever made. Not because of how well it works or what he can make with it, but because it was the first time he had seen his three boys, ages 9, 11 and 12, work together toward a common goal. That goal? Scrolling a Christmas gift for their grandmother.

Two young boys were standing watching their father saw. One of the boys took in a big breath and blew out as hard as he could. His brother, now covered head to toe with sawdust, blinked a few times and calmly began to brush himself off.

A special time for Amanda is visiting Grandpa's wood shop. As the two of them work on the scroll saw they arc spending time with each other that Amanda will cherish the rest of her life.

At the age of 9. Peter had worked odd jobs and saved enough money to buy a Hawk scroll saw from my husband. Since then, we have watched Peter grow up and have also seen him build a wood shop any woodworker would envy.

Sue would often sit and visit with George as he was scrolling. One day George encouraged Sue to try his saw. That was the beginning of the end lor George using that saw. In self defense, George purchased a second scroll saw. Now the two of them can be found sitting side by side, scrolling on his and Iter's saws.

After cutting out reindeer for several hours, Mark decided to take a break. Stepping from his shop he spied a large deer on his back lawn. Ry the time Mark's wife joined him, the deer had disappeared, convincing her that Mark had been cutting reindeer so long that he now saw them wherever he looked.

As a sales representative for the RBT Hawk, Ellen often demonstrates the saw's capabilities by cutting a person's name out of the inside of a small wooden heart. After sawing the name of one young man's girlfriend, lillen was asked to add four additional words: "Will you marry me?" A short time later, the young man returned with his new fiancee. Ellen has seen this couple several times since, once with their wedding photos, the last lime carrying their first child.

Shortly after learning that her singing group (which has a flamingo logo) had been selected to compctc out of state, Cheryl came home to a house full of flamingos, licr husband had cut hundreds of flamingos, all styles and sizes, on iiis scroll saw. These flamingos were then sold to finance the group's trip.

The last thing the Smiths did before leaving for their ten-dav vacation was close the automatic garage door. When they returned home, they parked their car in the driveway and entered the house through the front door. Once inside, they heard a strange noise coining from the garage. Upon investigation, the Smiths found that the garage door had closcd on the foot switch of their scroll saw. The saw had been running the whole time they were gone.

One of my favorite experiences happened while T was attending a trade show. An elderly Japanese gentleman came up to me. He spoke no English and his interpreter spoke very little either and what she did speak did not pertain to woodworking. This, however, didn't stop us from "talking shop", lie seemed to enjoy himself as he played on my scroll saw and I could see he was a talented woodworker. As he prepared to leave, he gave me a formal bow and then reached over and look my hand. Turning it palm up. he placed in it a one inch hardwood cube. Closing mv hand around the cube, he moved it to my car and gently shook it the cubc was acmallv a small rattle. It is a gift that 1 cherish to this day. What I learned from this experience was that language is not a hairier when there is a common interest.

I hope you have enjoyed these stories. People are just as crazy, forgetful, inventive, inspiring, and funny the world over, in these instances they happen to also be scrollers!

Involved with the Boy Scouts from an early age, Jason used the family scroll saw for scouting projects. Among these were projects for community service, helping him earn his Eagle Scout badge. Now graduated from college, Jason continues to be an active scroller.

Communicating with a spouse oncc one has entered the wood shop

24 ♦ Creative Woodworks & Crafts August 2001

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