Creative Woodworks & crafts 2002-01, страница 54

Was' Workshop

Subject: Sloan's Picnic and the SAW contests

Stiff competition

So, you finally finished the project you have been working on for three months and arc overwhelmed by the praise your family and friends are heaping on you. A common thread running through their remarks is that your work is worthy of a first place ribbon ill a contest. After a little thought, you decide to enter it in the next contcst von can get to. Well, a good place to go is one of the many scroll saw gatherings, such as Sloan's or Divclcy's. There, The Scrollsaw Association of the World (SAW) will be holding competitions and awarding prizes along with their ribbons. That should provide enough incentive to get you to one of these picnics.

The day arrives and off you go, project in the trunk and clothes packed for the formal presentation of the coveted "Blue Ribbon" not. to mention all the other goodies. When you arrive, you sec that the other projects in the competition are just as good as yours, but still it is obvious to you that all the other scrollcrs arc just wasting their time....

Well, I recently had the good fortune (or misfortune) of being asked to be one of the judges at Sloan's Tennessee Scroll Saw Picnic. The other judges were Rick Hutcheson, a real expert scroller, and Janice Manuel, current president of SAW and an experienced woodworker if there ever was one. To be perfectly honest, I am not comfortable with the responsibility of judging other people's work, but be that as it may, I did it.

Upon what basis docs a judge make a decision at one of these contests, you ask? My criteria arc based upon almost 40 years of being married to Alice! You see, she sets the standard to which I have to work. No matter how simple the project or how quickly wc have to get it out, it has to be done to our standard. She gives absolutely no quarter for the way the wood grain alters the course of the blade, or drill run out, a chipped surface, bottom tear out, improper sanding, or a poor finish or any other minor defect which may ensue while handcrafting something. So all I did was apply the standard to which I work. Some of the "defects" I observed would be considered minuscule at best and insignificant at the very least.

The level of work being displayed at these picnic contests is of very high caliber; this includes the novice, or beginner class. Therefore, it follows that judges must look closely at each piece. Yes, I have seen numerous patterns and completed projects, even from top name designers, where the proccss has been distilled down to simply inserting the blade, making the cut and moving on without smoothing out the transition of the line. That may be acceptable for production work, but in the SAW contest you lose! Attention to minute detail is essential. If your finish builds up in crcviccs and has tiny sag lines and the competition has fewer or none, you'll loose. Get the picture? These competitions arc tough'.

Among the judges, wc agreed that the criticism we had for cach piece had to be explained and not merely be an unsupported or vague decision. Was judging these projects hard? You bet! But we were fair and that is the best anyone can offer.

Some pithy advice

What if you are starting out and have no one you can turn to for help or advice? Keep one thing in mind as you work, would you buy your finished project at a craft show? If not, what is wrong with it? We all go through a learning process and that is normal, just work to improve each cut you make and pay attention to the small details. Once your cutting properly follows the lines, work on the finish. If you are in the beginner class, at least sand your project on both sides. That way, anyone can tel! you are serious about your work. If you are in any other class, there is no excuse for work not to be sanded before the finish is applied.

So begin by being critical of your own work. If you are having difficulty with turning the blade, or coming out of a. him, slow down and be sure the blade is sharp. Take a little longer on your finish, and above all do not lose faith in yourself. If I can do it, anyone can, and if you feci you need some advice, just ask me. I can be reached via e-mail at: wes@woodworksandcrafts.com, by-phone at: 973-875-2633, or by mail at: 66 Snover Road, Sussex, NJ 07461. || 54 • Creative Woodworks & Crafts January 2002 *

SLOAN'S PICNIC GALLERY

David and Rhonda Sloan. For those of you who attended the £ Tennessee Scroll Saw Picnic, Dave ' and Rhonda will not be strangers to you. As for everyone else, meet £'the owners of Sloan's Woodshop, \and hosts of the picnic. They had a great turnout again this year and even provided The Scrollsaw Association of the World with a terrific venue for their contest. Cr^gtWe Woodworks & Crafts is St f proud to be a sponsor of the SAW contests at Sloan's and many other picnics across the country.

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Al Caldiero (left) receives the People's Choice Award from Creative y/Sprf'Acrks & Crafts Editor George Ahlers. Al's moose antler was sawn on his 20" PeWalt scroll saw. As you may remember from our March 2001 issue. Al pioneered slab wood fretwork with spiral blades—that is wood over 1-1/2" thick and several feet long. Now, using the same scroll saw, he is moving on to moose antlers and opening everyone's eyes to more diversity in scroll saw material.

Al Caldiero's prize winning antler project. For more information on scrolling moose antlers, turn to page 44 in this issue.

The Grand Prize winner at Sloan's picnic, selected by the three judges, was this grandfather clock designed by John Nelson (left) and crafted by Warren Kafitz (right) of Belmont, North Carolina. All of the detail, including the moldings and simulated turnings, were done on a scroll saw! That was the reason for this being selected as the Grand Prize winner.

Note: Pavid and Rhonda Sloan have informed us that they will not be having a picnic in 2002. Look for their next event in 2003; date to be announced in a future issue.