Creative Woodworks & crafts 2003-03, страница 58

SAW Contest Winners

On my soapbox

August of 2002 was hot no matter where you were, but that did not stop more than 500 intrepid scrollers from attending Joe Divcly's Midwest Scrollsaw Picnic in Pontiac, Illinois. Not only were there a lot of people attending, but he also nearly ran out of spacc for vendors. If you read last month's column, you will remember that the Pennsylvania picnic had a tremendous turnout as well. What's going on? Are there suddenly more people scrolling or more scrollers getting out? One thing is certain, the vendors in both locations were very happy with sales, which is also a good sign. Let's hope that the trend continues and let's get more young folks interested in the craft.

We all know that the scroll saw is one of the safest tools in our shops. Yes, all tools can draw blood, but on the whole, a scroll Jim Ryan of Minnesota won the .Scroller's Choice saw does not present a danger of dismember- award with his Eagle on Flag intarsia entry, ment or severe cuts. In fact, I bet today's children suffer greater injuries on skate boards, bikes and playing spoils than they ever would on a scroll saw. I know our grandsons have taken to scrolling quite well and now earn money by selling the products of their efforts. Beside that, activities like scrolling build on their knowledge base for doing things for themselves.

How many of you got your start just as I did, standing by your grandfather or father's side and watching them doing some small job that required the use of their tools. You aquired knowledge, then suddenly one day. you find you are the craftsman and that early knowledge has built the foundation for the rest of your life. Not only were your abilities enhanced, but your work ethic as well. Now, tell me that having a young person by your side and sharing your expertise isn't important.

Report on the Scrollsaw Association of the World (SAW) contest

Once again, the judges and scrollers had a different opinion of the No. 1 choice, and the entries are growing, not only in number, but in size as well. If you are on-line, go to SAW's website, www.saw-online.com and

Show with his fret sawn clock.

check out the winners of each category. The entries ranged in size from small items of jewelry to a huge clock and a full size ere-denza. If this trend continues, I am afraid that the show promoters will have to find larger accommodations in the future just to house the contest.

12 • Creative Woodworks & Crafts March 2003 Base

Meet Zane Moshcr

During the course of writing this column I have received quite a number of letters and emails that mostly pertain to problems, methods and sources of material, but this spring I received a letter from a retired logger from the Adirondacks thai really touched me. He related to me that he started logging in 1950 with cross cut saws, one chain saw and two teams of horses. For you non-loggers out there, cross cut saws arc powered by human arms and are sometimes referred to as misery whips, fhe chain saws of that day were only slightly better. They were very loud, very heavy and very dangerous. They required two men to operate them, one on each end, just like the misery whips, but no pushing or pulling, just squeeze the throttle and feed it into the tree and get out of the way when it starts to fall. My dad referred to the outboard handle as "the stinger." 1 was too young to help at that time (thank goodness), but I saw why he gave it that name. So as 1 read Zane Mosher's letter, I could really appreciate his experience. Not only did he cut timber for half a century, but he is alive to talk about it with an obvious zest for life.

I le also related how he stood in awe of the old growth trees that were marked for cutting, marveling at the fact that they were growing during the Revolutionary War and were now destined to enter a new service in man's needs. He asked if I ever read George Nakashima's book Soul of a Tree'! With that question I knew that although his livelihood required him to cut them down, the feeling in his heart was that of loss, not gain.

Zane is also an accomplished woodworker who takes particular pleasure in locating just the right piece of wood for a particular project. Needless to say, he knows every sawmill in his area, the owners and their families, so if he does not have the right piece on hand, he can get it, and that brings me to another point. Someplace within an hour or two drive from your location is a small sawmill. It will be a family operation that works on a small margin of profit and will have stuff squirreled away that will never be found in any store. So when you get stumped on a project, lake a ride and find such a place. Just one word of advice, if the lumber is stacked, be sure to put everything back as you found it. Chances are the owner will be there to help you; just give him a hand, and you will never be at a loss for that special board again.

Zane, I don't know if I'll ever get up your way - I'd like to just to shake your hand.

Here are some examples of Zane Mosher's work.