Creative Woodworks & crafts 2003-08, страница 61

TIPS

I'm sure by now that most of you, the fans of Creative Woodworks & Crafts, have heard about the technique of placing clear, 2"-wide package tape on your scroll saw project before cutting it out.

If this tip is new to you, the benefits of this process are smoother cutting, longer blade life, and most importantly, the elimination of burnt cut edges. To demonstrate this, I placed a piece of tape down the center of a 3/4"-thick cherry board and proceeded to cut it with a No. 7 blade. As you can see in Fig. 1, the first 3/8" or so of the board is okay. At that point, the blade heated up enough to discolor the edge. As soon as the blade reached the taped section, the cut became much smoother and the burning stopped. Once the cut passed the taped section, the burning began again. I don't know who conceived this great idea, or how or why it works, but it does.

Problems and solutions

A few minor problems arise when you use tape on your project. These are: the buildup of static electricity which will attract sawdust to the pattern, a slippery surface, and glare from the shine of the tape.

Eliminate the static problem by wiping the surface with a fabric softener sheet, the same type that you toss in the clothes dryer to remove static from your laundry.

To get traction on that slick surface, use rubber fingertips (see Fig.

2). You can use them on all fingers or just a few and still have a couple left over as the box I purchased was qj package of twelve (see Fig.

3). They come in various sizes, and you can buy them at a minimal price at your local office supply store.

And finally, if you find the glare from the tape bothersome, one very light coat of Delta or Krylon matte spray varnish will solve the problem. Both products dry extremely fast and reduce the glare considerably.

I hope you find these tips helpful in making your scrolling project more enjoyable,

Fig. 3. Purchase a supply or rupper fingertips for a small cost at your local office supply store.

Creative Woodworks & Crafts August 2D03 • 61

Fig. 1. Notice the difference in the edges when cutting taped and untaped portions of a wood block. Burning results on non-taped areas.

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by Robert J. Hlavacek Sr. of Wildlife Intarsia Designs