How to Scrollsaw
Here are 3 great ways to expand your woodworking knowledge - the Internet, books and talk to a fellow woodworker!
Below is a listing of some of the many great sources of information on the Internet. And the club has a library of books and magazines that members can access (see the listing in the Members Only section). And, of course, we hope to see you at our next meeting to talk about woodworking!!!!
Here is a link to an article that is a great introduction to how to use your scrollsaw and begin making cuts.
Beginning scroll saw
Below are some links to a few videos you may find helpful, as well as some reference books you might like to read.
These resources are not only for beginners! It is also useful for some of us "old timers" to re-familiarize ourselves with the basics from time to time - to help us avoid any bad habits we may have picked up over the years (as well as to help remind us of some things that we have simply forgotten!). Plus, there are some new ideas that really are better than how we learned to do things "back in the old days".
Here are 3 great ways to expand your woodworking knowledge - the Internet, books and talk to a fellow woodworker!
Below is a listing of some of the many great sources of information on the Internet. And the club has a library of books and magazines that members can access (see the listing in the Members Only section). And, of course, we hope to see you at our next meeting to talk about woodworking!!!!
Here is a link to an article that is a great introduction to how to use your scrollsaw and begin making cuts.
Beginning scroll saw
Below are some links to a few videos you may find helpful, as well as some reference books you might like to read.
These resources are not only for beginners! It is also useful for some of us "old timers" to re-familiarize ourselves with the basics from time to time - to help us avoid any bad habits we may have picked up over the years (as well as to help remind us of some things that we have simply forgotten!). Plus, there are some new ideas that really are better than how we learned to do things "back in the old days".
Steve Good - Scrollsaw Workshop
Steve is a prolific pattern maker and enthusiastically shares his vast hobby experience on his blog (www.scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com).
Steve has a number of very helpful tutorials on YouTube, and links to a few of them are listed below.
Cutting a Straight Line on the Scrollsaw - click here.
Note: you may find that some of the more modern scrollsaw blades are able to more easily follow a straight line than the one demonstrated by Steve in this video. But his advice is still helpful.
Cutting Curves and Circles on the Scrollsaw - click here.
Cutting Tight Corners - The Most Important Scrollsaw Technique - click here
Steve is a prolific pattern maker and enthusiastically shares his vast hobby experience on his blog (www.scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com).
Steve has a number of very helpful tutorials on YouTube, and links to a few of them are listed below.
Cutting a Straight Line on the Scrollsaw - click here.
Note: you may find that some of the more modern scrollsaw blades are able to more easily follow a straight line than the one demonstrated by Steve in this video. But his advice is still helpful.
Cutting Curves and Circles on the Scrollsaw - click here.
Cutting Tight Corners - The Most Important Scrollsaw Technique - click here
Bob Bloodworth - Scrollsaw Paradise
Bob Bloodworth was introduced to our hobby after buying a used scrollsaw at a garage sale for $10. He found that he enjoyed scrollsawing so much that he decided to start his own website to share his experience with others. The videos are about 7 or 8 years old, but there is still a lot of good information here. You will also note that he refers to his website as scroll-saw-forum.com. That is no longer an active website.
Please remember that there are a lot of opinions about "best practices" in our hobby. The ideas that you learn about in Bob's videos (links below) may or may not be ideas that work for you. All the same, I think these videos are a very useful introduction to scrollsawing basics. And are a great jumping off point to start discussions with fellow scrollers you meet at our club meetings!
Bob has a series of 3 videos that address some scrollsawing basics. I recommend starting with the 3rd video first as it covers some basics about blade preparation and tensioning. Then I recommend moving to the first video (it presents some very good information, including some to apply your pattern to your project wood, as well as how to avoid tear out when drilling initial "starter holes"). The second video focuses largely on practicing following pattern lines and includes a beginner's pattern (click here for the beginner's pattern).
Beginner Video One - Click here
Beginner Video Two - Click here
Beginner Video Three - Click here
There are also videos on how to check to make sure that your blade is properly set to be at 90 degrees to the scroll saw table. And there is a video that discusses re-tensioning a newly installed blade to address situations where the blade stretches.
Set Blade to 90 degrees Video - Click here
Video to Address Blade Stretching - Click here
Please remember that there are a lot of opinions about "best practices" in our hobby. The ideas that you learn about in Bob's videos (links below) may or may not be ideas that work for you. All the same, I think these videos are a very useful introduction to scrollsawing basics. And are a great jumping off point to start discussions with fellow scrollers you meet at our club meetings!
Bob has a series of 3 videos that address some scrollsawing basics. I recommend starting with the 3rd video first as it covers some basics about blade preparation and tensioning. Then I recommend moving to the first video (it presents some very good information, including some to apply your pattern to your project wood, as well as how to avoid tear out when drilling initial "starter holes"). The second video focuses largely on practicing following pattern lines and includes a beginner's pattern (click here for the beginner's pattern).
Beginner Video One - Click here
Beginner Video Two - Click here
Beginner Video Three - Click here
There are also videos on how to check to make sure that your blade is properly set to be at 90 degrees to the scroll saw table. And there is a video that discusses re-tensioning a newly installed blade to address situations where the blade stretches.
Set Blade to 90 degrees Video - Click here
Video to Address Blade Stretching - Click here
Patrick Spielman
Patrick is widely considered to be the father of modern day scrollsawing. A prolific author and public speaker, Patrick was tireless in his spreading the word about how fun and enjoyable this hobby can be. HIs original "Scroll Saw Handbook" was published in 1986 and in 2002 Patrick published "The New Scroll Saw Handbook". Both of these books are excellent sources of information about scroll saw operation, blade selection, types of projects (inlay, compound cutting, fretwork, segmentation, intarsia, and much more). The 2002 version is more complete than the original 1986 book (as you would expected from an updated revision of a book) but there are a few places where this 20 year old book is a bit of of date. It is still an classic source of solid information about scrollsawing. Available on Amazon - click here
Patrick is widely considered to be the father of modern day scrollsawing. A prolific author and public speaker, Patrick was tireless in his spreading the word about how fun and enjoyable this hobby can be. HIs original "Scroll Saw Handbook" was published in 1986 and in 2002 Patrick published "The New Scroll Saw Handbook". Both of these books are excellent sources of information about scroll saw operation, blade selection, types of projects (inlay, compound cutting, fretwork, segmentation, intarsia, and much more). The 2002 version is more complete than the original 1986 book (as you would expected from an updated revision of a book) but there are a few places where this 20 year old book is a bit of of date. It is still an classic source of solid information about scrollsawing. Available on Amazon - click here
Joanne Lockwood
Another pioneer of modern scrollsawing, Joanne's "Scroll Saw Woodcrafting Magic" (published in 1995) continues to be a solid reference for scrollsaw basics. Included in the book are a variety of wonderful patterns, and an excellent tutorial on collapsible baskets that can be made from a single piece of hardwood. Available on Amazon - click here
FYI - With the exception of most orders placed with Bear Woods with the discount code CUTUPS (for which our club receives a small fee), any links on our website to outside firms, organizations or other entities are included only to make it convenient for you to access more information about the subject at hand, and our club does not have any financial interest in whether or not you follow any of these links or whether or not you buy anything through these links (in cases where there are products available for purchase).
Another pioneer of modern scrollsawing, Joanne's "Scroll Saw Woodcrafting Magic" (published in 1995) continues to be a solid reference for scrollsaw basics. Included in the book are a variety of wonderful patterns, and an excellent tutorial on collapsible baskets that can be made from a single piece of hardwood. Available on Amazon - click here
FYI - With the exception of most orders placed with Bear Woods with the discount code CUTUPS (for which our club receives a small fee), any links on our website to outside firms, organizations or other entities are included only to make it convenient for you to access more information about the subject at hand, and our club does not have any financial interest in whether or not you follow any of these links or whether or not you buy anything through these links (in cases where there are products available for purchase).