Thread: Australian Scroll Saw Specific Website

Your Right Juvy.I have a scroll saw and use it for internal cuts only.Then use a small bandsaw for my external cuts.on my cars and locks and toys where I can.
But watching someone scrollsawing is rather boaring compared to someone flicking woodchips all over the place.I must say I have a small jewellers lathe that is used to turn small wood parts that I need for the cars.Gearsticks,headlights etc.
So I use both machines in a small way.I also believe it is much easier turning small parts than using a scroll saw.I had to practise a bit to scroll,but turning was quiet easy in comparison I felt
Now that should stir some of the guys

I usually get stuck sitting beside turners when our club demonstrates anywhere... and I've resorted to bribery... I bring a bag of leftovers not good for anything else and cut out animals and whatever shapes kids request. Have a bunch of them taped to the stand and give them away for free..... that gives me about 2 minutes of attention.... and that's only because I can zap around them full speed ( no worries about accuracy).
They only stay around the full time if they had a special request, if I just give the ones cut away they leave before the 2 minutes are up.

Ken has a mini lathe in the shed... but ifrst it's HIS..... and second... it's well.. out in the shed... it's hot in there! Saw's in the house.... no ac in that particular room, but the fan pulls in cool air from the rest of the house. Also... I find it hard to get lessons from a husband.... he gave me one... and we just never got around to it again. I think I could enjoy turning, but on the other hand I don't want to take the lathe away from him as I did the scroll saw. Once I started using it he stopped.

Also keep eyeing the bandsaw.... I had a small one in my room, but after I mangled a blade my wise ( caring?) husband decided it better come and live with it's big brother in the shed. Really.... not so bad... nice to know I will keep my fingers and I really don't like big noisy machines.... plus.. it makes a husband feel useful when he has to do things for his wife....... right? .... maybe..... sometimes...... lol

Juvy

Most of the problem with supplies of wood and machines is simply population based. Australias population of 20 million compared to the USA of aprox 360 million and similar numbers iin euro countries gives itway. If you accept that only a small percentage of woodworkers are dedicated scrollers then you willrealise why. To set up a store and to make it profitable then you need to sell items that turn over quickly or you face closing down.
Just find the figures of the sales of WW magazines in Austrailia and then be generous and say 1% are scrollers ......mmmmm go hungry pretty soon.

As for consumables I resaw my own timber when I can and avoid ply as much as I can...even crapiarta pine is better than ply in my opinion. I have even joined and thicknessed pallet wood. Blades I get from Mikes in the US or from the Harris's or Jim Carrols here in Oz dpends on my mood.
I collect various lumps of tree trimmings and resaw and dry but if your workshop can't stretch to that a WW club near you may as they will have bandsaws thicknesseres etc. I live in the country and needed to set myself up but in a city environ I could have saved buying some of the items as the WW club may have it
Pete
(Been crook so been MIA from the shed for some time but still read here)

We have quite a few scrollers in our area here and we usually get our wood through the club. I really like using "real" wood.... and had a good laugh when talking to a US scroller on one of their forums one day.
When I told him we slice our wood to whatever thickness we need ..... he bombarded me with questions... all he had ever done was use plywood... never even crossed his mind to use anything else!
He was totally in awe at the idea to get a piece of timber for scrolling from a "real" tree! lol Said he was amazed to think we see the log from the tree be transformed into the finished scrolled piece.

Have to admit... made me feel much better about our "lack" of the "right" scrolling timber. Kind of made me feel proud of what we do.

Juvy

Adam,

I am still finding my feet with woodworking, but at the moment, I am looking at combining woodcarving with the scrollsaw. I have seen some pieces where a bowl has been carved, but I expect a scrollsaw has been used to add intricate detail to the finished item. I am also looking at using the scrollsaw to cut the shape of small items such as animals about the size of a 20 or 50 cent piece, and then finish the item with carving techniques.

I would be interested in any site that you might put up, for supplies or inspiration. Please note my email address (via the Forum) and send the website details when you have something operational.

Paul

Yep, scrolling goes well with carving.
My brother in law likes scrolling the basic shapes of jewelry and then carves the pieces.

I've seen what looked like irregular shaped holes/netting in a bowl... would be next to impossible to scroll on a rounded shape like that.... it had been done with a dremel!!!!!!! Looked really neat!

Juvy

Hi gcbloke....
I think a dedicated downunder site would be a great boon! Especially a central online supplies site. I pretty much answered 'yes' to your questions.
I spend a lot of time searching online for supplies, from timber, to blades, to sanding/shaping options. Reliability of suppliers is often a problem for the hobbyist... so a supplier list would be great, with perhaps reviews of them too... (dangerous territory perhaps?)
If any help at all, I run a design studio that designs, builds and hosts web sites... from simple sites to e-commerce. Happy to help out with anything you might need... about time I did my bit I think, lol.
cheers
Rip

We've done just that for our limited area.
Of coruse I believe the only reason we get customers is because we're open whenever the lights are on ...... and the biggest draw card.... we sever coffee! lol

Juvy

I have just been reading all the post on scrollers.I have just bought a scroll saw to use in my dove cote hobbie which have just started after years of "gonna do" something as a hobbie.I'm interested in getting patterns and how do you use them [pattern]?do you trace it to the wood or stick it to the wood?and if you did wouldn't the blade rip the paper?
Haveing a club would enable to inport blades in gross form from America as they are far cheaper and members could buy from the club.Or as posted start an on line selling scoll
bits.Harris Traders do very little in supplies as they are in semi retirement but do sell blades.I bought from them a couple od weeks ago,pinnless sell $4.50 a doz postage $1.50.they put them in strip cardboard a in plain envolope.As a newbie they where very helpful.Also just what timber is used?merranti comes to mind for basics.would redgum be to hard? I have access to plenty of gumwood.A number of turners which include scroller's
helps keep prices down.Anyway,what I was after was advice on paterns and method of getting it on the wood.Ta,ricey.a bit of wood keeps a termite happy.

We get all our blades from harris traders... you'll be hard pressed to get them cheaper from overseas even if you order in bulk.
Considering they are so much cheaper then any of the hardware stores around here and they will also help you out with a lot of free advice... I wouldn't dream of getting my blades anywhere else.

Getting patterns..... search on line... lots of sites/forums for patterns made by others..... make your own ( lots of free clipart/photos on line) - buy pattern books ( again harris traders or bookstore or try your local library)
We have a few for sale ourselves, but mainly I make mine myself.

Attaching patterns to wood..... the old way is to use spray glue.... I find it too messy and don't like breathing it in.... plus you have to use solvents to get the pattern off. My prefered method is using masking tape on the wood, then a glue stick to stick on the pattern... when I'm done I can just peel it all off...... unless I leave the tape on too long, then there might be a bit of residue. Use a good glue stick tho or the pattern might come loose.

If you do 3D cutting just stick the glue stick on the wood directly as you will cut that off anyway.... some folks to that with regular patterns too and soak the paper off afterwards... I just don't like too much moisture on my wood and rubbing the paper with the glue stick off gets a bit sticky.

Wood..... I use just about anything I can get my hands on... don't like thicker then 1 1/2 inches tho.... can be done, but it's no fun.... if somethign is real thin I stack cut or use a piece of ply under it. In the US most people use special ply, but it's hard to come by here and very expensive. I kind of like the idea of using "real" wood from this area anyway.

Now most of all..... don't listen to just one person... everyone does thigns a bit different, try out as many different ways as you can and then stick with what you're comfortable with

Hope this helped
Jutta

Hi keju,thanks for your info it was helpfull and gave me more info.Yes Harris traders are cheaper than Bunnings and the like.Cheers Ricey♦

You're very welcome - any time you have questions feel free to contact me

Juvy

Originally Posted by AUSSIE

Here For a start

That Club still active, I remember when it first started, and even spoke to the guy at Timbercon about it, when he first created the site. It is exactly the same now as it was then no changes

Ozzie

I'm based on the Gold Coast and have a good supply of smaller pieces of timber. Classed as off cuts and shorts. Mostly 25~75 mm thick, rough sawn though I am in the process of dressing them DAR. Red Cedar, Qld Maple, Rose Alder, Silver Ash, English Oak, Qld Walnut, Silk Oak. All relatively soft and easy to work. Most sizes catered for. Range of high figure veneers as well.

Plans were to make up box kits for box makers, however may suit Scrollers as well.

Website as yet not uploaded but will be www.fineboxes.com.au.

If you are interested in any bits please PM me.

Cheers


Steve