The Sawdust Chronicles

Here's something I am working on, it was actually my first project on my new Excalibur scroll saw.  Now on to the dry fit stage.   The horse has articulated legs that move when rolled, my next step is to get them to all work right, I still need to trim the pegs to the right depth, then glue them in place. This was cut from red oak. What I found as I was making this toy, is that it had a lot of parts and seemed to be quite tricky to get just right.  One wheel seems to be off alignment thus it does not move right. Looking back and comparing to the basic non-articulating toys, I believe that simple toys would be just as fun or better than complicated ones. I will probably not make any more of the articulating linkage toys. That aside, there are a lot of things going on in the workshop. I installed my new Pagas head and cut out a knob to make it easier to tighten the blade. I have been donking around with the top vac and looking at what other things I can add to my fledg...

Made a couple quick toys today, testing out my new... bigger saw.  The toys are for a two-year-old and sized just right for her hands.  Looking forward to getting a number of projects done this weekend.  Might run out of wood! 🤣 Next batch, I think I am going to paint bright colors, rather than keeping natural wood.  But I really do love natural wood. As for my Saturday Grandson to be, project.  Created an entire set for him.  This is all dry-fitted and ready for final sanding and painting. Tires-Black, Hubcaps-Yellow, Gator-Green, Giraffe-Orange/tan, Horse, brown/tan, Turtle-Green, Elephant-Gray, Whale-Blue/gray.

I am so loving this Excalibur 21"! All of you who said I would, are SOOOooo right!!! I have it dialed in now to my liking.  I scrolled and built some quick toys so I could get used to how it does outside cuts, and staying on the line... Made my modifications such as a foot pedal, top vac, tilt a couple inches from the back, and my LED lighting. Here are the two toys I made today. More tomorrow and this weekend before going to my art. BUILD NOTES: Flying Dutchman #5 Ultra Reverse Aspen Wood Pattern by BLUEDESIGN

Two months in, and I am slowly building my skills. Tight interior cuts are still an issue. Tried with #5 UR blades, and also spiral. I actually do not like spiral blades as I have trouble controlling them. Cut on a WEN 16" (waiting for my 21" Excalibur to come in) and sanded the base and base bevels on my WEN belt and disc sander. Working the stain, need to do the little nooks and crannies, then final dry fitting. I used Forstner bits to drill the hole for the clock and on the back placed a medallion on the opposite side Build Notes: Stencil: Assateague Island, VA Lighthouse from Wooden Teddy Bear (I did modify the one horse though) 1/2" Aspen Wood from Ocooch Hardwoods Mainly Flying Dutchman #5 Ultra Reverse, but did a couple interior cuts with their spiral blade. Americana gel stain 25 and 35 mm Forstner drill bits Name medallions from Steve Good

Almost done with this quick project, about 2 hours.  This will be given as a gift to a foreign officer who leaves after a 3-year tour at NATO HQ in VA. The Flying Dutchman #5 Ultra Reverse blades are great.  Smooth cuts so minimal if any sanding is needed on the cut edges I am debating about how I am going to do the final accent lines; thinking instead of cutting, I will be using a diamond head on my rotary tool and maybe after burning the lines in. Additionally, I am discovering the limitations of my WEN 16" saw on changing blades and threading blades for interior cuts, kind of kludge making the change out.  Looks like I need to work some OT and save up for an Excalibur or Pegasus.

The latest "Grandson to be" toy I am working on.  I just finished cutting everything out, now sanding, and final shaping/matching, before assembly and painting. Build Notes: Flying Dutchman Ultra Reverse #5 WEN 16" Scroll Saw (Pinless) Wild Woody's template 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4" Basswood, from OCOOCH Hardwoods

Here's a little tip for those who want to cut your sandpaper into smaller strips for fine work, and not ruin good scissors.  I took a hacksaw blade, put washers behind it (against the work table) as spacers, and then screwed it in.  Just, slide the sandpaper in between and you get a clean cut. I also took an old CD cover and put a single screw to secure it to the table, this way I have a small parts holder, and I don't have to worry about sliding off.