Creative Woodworks & crafts 2005-08, страница 69
Intarsia Talk Cutting and fitting your Intarsia Project By Robert J. Hlovucck, Sr.. of Wildlife Intarsia Designs Introduction Now that you' vc chosen the intarsia project you want to make, selected the s|icr:ies of wood to use, and transferred the pattern onto the wood, it's time to get cutting. As discussed in our first installment of Intarsia Talk, in the March, 20G5 issue of Creative Woodworks & Crofts, you have a conplc of options for cutting your intarsia project. To aid the novice, a brief description of saws and blades follows. The band saw and blades
1 made my firs I iniaixia project, more than 17 years ago using only a -Sears 12" band saw with a 1/8" x 80" blade. The 12" measurement is the distance from the blade to Ihe column on the left side. The 80" measurement refers to the length of the blade which is welded to form a loop. The blade rides on a drive wheel and an idler wheel. The fractional measurement, of the Wade, whether it is 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", etc. refers to the depth of the Made, front to back. Later, Sears began selling a 1/16" x 80" blade which cuts like a No. 9 scroll saw blade but faster. After recently searching several catalogs, it appears that the 1/16" band saw blade is only available from Scars and only in the 80" length. This blade is recommended for thirt materials. However, by letting the blade do the work rather than force, I was able to successfully cut basswood up to 1-1/2" thick. I used this type of blade and band saw on all of my intarsia projects lor several years until adding a scroll saw to toy shop. After purchasing the scroll saw, T replaced the 1 / 16" with a 1/8" blade for faster cutting of larger pieces of the projects. A decent 12" band saw, including motor and stand, can be bought for less than a mid-priced scroll saw. If you'll be making multiple intarsia projects for sale at arts and crafts shows, a band saw will be a time-saving addition to your shop. The scroll saw If you've been a render of Creative Woodworks & Crofts for any length of time, you probably already own a scroll saw. If, however, you arc in the market for a scroll saw, you're in for an interesting experience much like shopping for a new car. Prices will range from around $100 for an economy model up lo the $1500+ neighborhood for upscale models. Two good web sites for scroll saw information are available from The Scroll Saw Association of the World, www.saw-online.com and Rick Hutches Oil's www.scro1lsaws.eoni. Other excellent sources of information are fellow scrollers. If you can get lo one of the many scroll saw picnics or tool shows around the country, do so. You can ask questions there, and see and try several saws before making your decision. The throat of the saw, which is the distance from die blade to the back of the saw, will range from 16" to 30". For most projects, the smaller saws will be fine for cutting your project, parts. However, if you arc setting your sights on larger projects with long pieces in them, a saw with a deeper throat will be more helpful. Scroll saw blades For cutting intarsia projects, I use skip-tooth and double-tooth blades in sizes ranging from No. 3 to 9, with 3 being the smallest shown and 9 being the largest, depending upon the radius being cut and the hardness of the wood. If I'm making a segmented project, which is cut from one piece of wood and painted or stained, I'll use the smallest blade 1 can. The thinner the kerfs, tile better the picccs will til back together. If you cut slowly, you can even use a No. 2/0 blade lo cut 3/4"-thick soft wood like aspen. You'll use a few more blades than if a No. 9 was used, but the fit will be much better. Keep this in mind when making ail intarsia bird project. Several feathers for a wing or tail may be cul out in groups from one piece of wood and, again, the narrower leer fs will help. There are many fine blade manufacturers in the market today continued on page 70 Creative Woodworks & Crofts AuauDt 2005 • BS |
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