Thread: Australian Scroll Saw Specific Website

Hi Adam
I heartily concur with your comments. I purchase our supplies and equipment online, and have found exactly the same frustrations as you mention, with being unable to even look at some products before I buy, let alone try.

I would be delighted to purchase exotic timbers specifically for scrollsawing online. The biggest problem is that specialist timber suppliers are all in the major cities or in Northern NSW or Queensland, and accessibility is a major problem for anyone living in a fairly remote area like Deniliquin. The Web is instrumental to living a somewhat balanced life in the country, and I for one use it daily.

The idea of promoting scrollsawing is long overdue. Much of the work being done by the better scrollsawyers is aesthetically and technically good art, and deserves to be recognised as such. Promotion lies at the heart of establishing credibility for any artistic field of endeavour, and I feel to a degreee the scroll saw art is the poor cousin of the traditional wood turner, much like the pastel artist is less highly regarded than the oil or watercolour artist.

I believe a critical factor in achieving a successful online business is having access to quality products, and there is the stumbling block of exclusivity (the manufacturer restricts the price and distribution of his product to maintain this) as well as the small market problem. The latter causes us to pay higher prices than other areas of woodwork. I don't really see a solution, though perhaps the one stop shop concept may overcome it to a degree.

Cheers
LiliB

Adam

This is a nice piece of fresh air. I agree with most of what you are saying. Perhaps the only exception is the timber. I think we have beutifull timber in Australia that is easy to work. Such as cedar silky oak etc.

A couple of points I would like to make are, and bare in mind I am a tired wood tuner.

• Scrolling is a far cheaper hobby than most other types of wood work. This is with machine costs and timber costs. I am a amazed at what can be done with such a small amount of timber and a scroll saw. Cost of wood turning would be running into thousands of dollars.
• Health wise scrolling doesn't make much dust. Lungs are not as badly effected. That person who cleans the house isn't quite as upset with what is brought into the house even if that person is yourself.
• Flying objects are not there such as stray lumps of wood and tools rattling around the workshop looking for something or someone to hit and damage
• The saw itself is very safe. I have touched the blade many times and havn't had the slightest nick.
• Those of us who are starting to show a bit of body stress can sit easly at the saw
• Concentration and fine motor skills are being used. These have to be a benefit for us as time goes on.

I'm sure there are others but these will do for now.

I have found a small market for my work and have feed back via coment and purchase that Australiana products are sort after. I have also found that the fairer sex are very interested in lacy fret work.

I am disapionted that our two Australian magazines are not very interested in promoting scrolling. One of these ran a few articles a while back that I didn't think was a fair go and could have even down graded it. There has also been an article very recently on a $200 scroll saw and it gave the saw quite a build up. One of two things have happened here. We are being ripped off by the price of the saws talked about in this forum or the trial was of low standard. I just couldn't belive the out come of the survey.

I have also noticed that there are a few clubs scatered around Australia and they seem to be quite strong. I also know that there are many scrollers who would really like to share their hobby with others but this is just not happening. (Please don't refer me to the Scrollers Assosiation.)

The last point I would like to make is. A lady who I had only just met was interested in coming to my home as a potential scroller. I am unable to do any more than just let her see me work because of the insurance / litigation thing that hangs over us.

I know I have left myself open in a few places but I hope some good comes from all this

John

John,
Thank you for your comments. I agree that we have exceptional timbers here in Australia. What I was referring to is the difficulty in obtaining pieces for scroll sawing, with many varities unavailable.

Also many times, online we are unable to see the particular piece (es) of timber we are going to buy.

I would like to see Oz timber supplies match that of the states, with 40-60 species readily availbale and with photo's online of each cut piece, so I can choose the most suitable for a project.

Adam

Adam,

This is what I want to hear... I have just dusted off my wifes scrollsaw (She never used it) and have just started having a play. I have seen all the wonderful ply that the guys in the US get (I have even seen imported wooden toys made from it) and then look at the @#$% we get here .

So a one shop shop for supplies would be handy. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for your store.

Maybe you could start small, say an ebay shop

Adam
I would be very interested in buying from you if you can get your site going.
All I can say is bring it on.
Good Luck
Paul

I think we are very lucky here in our area, we have a woodclub right here. Every Wednesday morning the scrollers meet from 8-12..... most of the time anywhere from 6-10 of us get together. There are other scrollers in the club, but they prefer scrolling at home. So there is a lot of support and help available to us right here.

As for supplies , we buy all our blades from Harris Traders
[email protected]
They also carry a lot of other supplies like books, always worth checking with them first. They have fair prices and fast, friendlly service

Our timber... we get most of what we need through our club, we buy whatever is on offer and pay one of the guys to slice it for us to whatever thickness we need.

Our club also has it's own outlet, a shop where all of the members can sell what they make.

In case anyone still doesn't know... Australia has it's own club " Australian Scroll Saw Association" , president is Alf.... if you want any information e-mail him at
[email protected]

As for magazines... no we don't have our own scroll saw one, also there is the Australian Toymaker. We do buy our magazines overseas, but for other patterns we find them in forums online or just make our own.

I do have one big wish.... some place or vendor that would come around to all the clubs with a trailer full of different brands of saws for us to try out... it's hard to make a decision just by listening to others or reading what a catalog says, as much money as is involved now it would be wonderful to be able to actually use different ones before making that big decision.

Juvy

Originally Posted by gcbloke81

John,
Thank you for your comments. I agree that we have exceptional timbers here in Australia. What I was referring to is the difficulty in obtaining pieces for scroll sawing, with many varities unavailable.

Also many times, online we are unable to see the particular piece (es) of timber we are going to buy.

I would like to see Oz timber supplies match that of the states, with 40-60 species readily availbale and with photo's online of each cut piece, so I can choose the most suitable for a project.

Adam

if ya after timber give us a ring.

i am just starting to get a good supply of dried timber and am going to be putting up a list as you say with pics of each species i had it al ready to go up and my computer crashed and i had to reformat this smorning needless to say i lost the lot luckily i have all teh pics still here.

Originally Posted by keju

.. *snip*
In case anyone still doesn't know... Australia has it's own club " Australian Scroll Saw Association" , president is Alf.... if you want any information e-mail him at
[email protected] *snip* ..

I am currently working on the ASSN website, it will list all the local clubs scattered around Australia as well as other scrolling related information..

I always thought the Hegner was the Rolls Royce of scroll saws

Originally Posted by Pheonix

I always thought the Hegner was the Rolls Royce of scroll saws

It is .. and has the price to match!!

Some great saws out there that we just dont see here in Australia .. Excalibur being one of them.

Hello again Brett

Looking forward to seeing the Association having their own site.... a place we can send people to go have a look.

Juvy

Originally Posted by oges

It is .. and has the price to match!!

Some great saws out there that we just dont see here in Australia .. Excalibur being one of them.

Jim Carroll Sells Excalibur EX21 Scrollsaws .I was playing with one there before xmashere

Oges you obviously did not see the Excalibur Scrollsaw on our stand at the Canberra Wood show last year.

Just an update it is now on special refer our web site.

Adam I would have to agree with RGum there is some very fine Australian timbers and all you have to do is ask for them to be cut to the size you want. I know trend Timbers do this as well as stan at mulimbimby is that how you spell it.

I agree that there is not enough content in our magazines for scrollsawing but if you put the market into context we have just over 20 million people in aus and probably only 5 percent of that market is woodies then a very small portion is scrollers.

Compare this with the US where each city contains 20 million people and if you work out the sums they have a larger target audience. They are able to work on volume because it is there, we are still growing.

It is up to the scrollers themselves to put forward articles to the magazines as I know they are always looking for more content to fill their issues. That is the main reason you do not see much in the magazine because too many sit on their hands and wait for someone else to do it for them.

Scrollsawing is growing but only at a very small rate and this is the same for turning, you only have to look at some of the clubs where they were predominatly turning and over time have expanded to include carving, scrolling and pyrography, the clubs are still the best form of promotion and the more people they get involved in the craft then it will keep growing. Another thing to remember is that not all people who do any crafts are not all involved with clubs some just pick up the craft from reading a book or magazine and think I will give this a go. They are the ones who need more help to go further.

So the word is PROMOTE do this via clubs, shows, demos and word of mouth as this is the best way to get more local info out there. And start puting articles into the magazines, even any jigs and how to,s they will love you for it. Just make sure the photo,s are high resolution so they can print them clearly. There must be some people out there who can show how they built a clock or a pattern they used and how they went about making the peice.

Sorry rant off now.

Only trying to help.

Here For a start