Creative Woodworks & crafts 2001-10, страница 14
ME W AD VENTURES IN SCROLL SA WESTCr by Scott Kochendorfer Tf you arc anything like I used to be, when the- word scroll saw was brought up, it meant only one thing, it cuts wood. Even as co-owner of Scroller, Ltd. (which was sold in February 1998), I rarely considered cutting anything but wood with the scroll saw. There were certainly other materials available to cut on the saw such as plastics, copper, brass, and more, but by being somewhat narrow-minded, other materials were not an option. Although no alternate material will ever replace cutting wood on the scroll saw, what would be wrong with a gathering of material that would generate new excitement for an old tool and stimulate your imagination? What Will a Scroll Saw Cut? The list is long and impressive. Due to space constraints, it is not possible to cover the vast majority of possibilities here, but let me give you a few examples. I will start with my very favorite, coins. Did you know that scroll sawing U.S. coins is not illegal as some people say, and that almost every U.S. coin is scroll sawn with the very same wood blades you already have in your arsenal and the very-same drill bits that you now are using for wood? Coin jewelry will make a fantastic gift and a lifelong keepsake, and it can be personalized to suit any situation. One of the great things about scroll sawing coin jewelry is how easy and fun it is to do. You will still be making Christmas gifts on the scroll saw, just with a new twist. Many of today's coin cutting craftsmen still use a small hand saw to cut out the coin's detail. With modern scroll saws and a couple of regular wood scroll saw blades, you can accomplish the same eye appealing effects that these craftsmen do in much less time. A not-so-typical Lincoln penny after cut on a scroll saw with all the pieces reassembled. Coin jewelry may also be one of the most cost efficient projects you make bccausc there arc no patterns or spray adhesives to purchase. The pattern(s) are contained within each individual coin. There arc several examples in the photos that accompany this article, Finding a special coin, say from the year you were married for example, is quite easy and inexpensive. Most retail coin dealers listed in the yellow pages carry a wide variety of coin denominations and the coin year you may be looking for. Novelty coin cutting such as the love quarter and the smoking penny are becoming extremely popular. With the government minting the new state quarters, the possibilities in coin jewelry arc almost endless. More and More Surfaces For those of you who arc into stained glass or are thinking about trying it, owning a scroll saw will open up many new possibilities. Stained glass can be stacked and cut out with the scroll saw, and you can drill holes and thread your scroll saw blade through the glass for accurate inside cuts. This is something that even stained glass experts still cannot do without the use of a scroll saw. This fact alone opens up many new and exciting ideas for designers and pattern makers of stained glass. Planning to remodel a bathroom and install ceramic tile? Your scroll saw will give you smoother, cleaner and better fitting cuts around pipes and other obstacles than conventional methods, and all without having to rent any extra equipment. Cutting clodi on die scroll saw is exciting news for the quil-ter, or anyone, actually, who sews or cuts cloth. Traditional cloth cutting wheels will handle four to six layers of material, 14 • Creative Woodworks S Crafts October 2001 -- |
