DIY–Tool Time. . .

I’ve had many enquiries this past week regarding the wood cut-outs for my decorative painting patterns, so I decided it was high time I gave some instruction on how easy it is to cut your own.

Okay. . . I’m tipping quite a few of you just ran off screaming…. please come back, it’s not as difficult as you may think.

These are the type of shapes I’m talking about. . .

You certainly don’t get these cut-outs in your local craft store. These are my original designs that I have drawn and then cut the shapes out of wood (I’ve used MDF, but you can cut any type of wood).

The first thing you need is a scroll saw. Crafters often mistakenly think that a jigsaw can do the job, but only a scroll saw can cut these intricate shapes.

So, what is a scroll saw?

As tools go, scroll saws don’t look like much. Even the biggest seem anaemic alongside the average band saw. And forget about power. . . most only draw half the juice of a 3/8-in. drill. Turn one on and it doesn’t even make that much noise. A real power tool. . . that doesn’t require a dedicated 20-amp circuit and ear protection? What’s going on here?

          

What the scroll saw lacks in speed it makes up for with a couple of things that no other power tool can come close to. It can saw curves nearly as tight as a pencil point and make completely enclosed internal cuts, making it perfect for decorative painters.

Scroll saws use an up-and-down reciprocating action. In fact, it’s really just a motorized coping saw. These saws are available in a range of prices and capacities. . . from under $100 to $2000. I’ve had several in my 20 years of cutting shapes… I started with a basic cheap model that was perfect for the home crafter… moved up to the industrial big mother of scroll saws when we started selling kits… and now I’m back to a smaller version. I wore out the first one, but the other two are still going strong, so that’s not bad for 20 years and many hundreds of cut-outs.

Using the scroll saw

Preparation: Always wear a dust mask and a pair of safety glasses or goggles before you start using a scroll saw. Pull your hair back if it’s long, and keep clothing sleeves, jewellery and body parts away from the blade.

Speed: The most important thing to remember when cutting with a scroll saw, is not to go too fast. Most scroll saws have very small motors and very fine blades. They are not designed for speed cutting. If you find that you are breaking a lot of blades, this is a good indication of excessive speed.

Pressure: Use an even consistent pressure, always pushing the wood into the front face of the blade and NOT the side. If you are trying to cut a long sloping curve, try feeling the radius in your body and flow around the curve rather than just using eye hand co-ordination to constantly tweak your position relative to the pencil line. It sounds kind of weird, but it will produce a more consistent curve rather than a very jerky line…. try on an unmarked board first to get the feel.

1. Some models slide while you are cutting and this can be dangerous. It is always best to anchor the scroll saw to the work bench or table it is sitting on.

2. Choose or design a pattern that you want to cut out. If you have never used a scroll saw, start with a simple shape like a circle or heart.

3. Trace or draw the pattern onto wood that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Pieces this size are easier to work with when you’re first learning how to use a scroll saw.

4. Slide the wood onto the saw table and place it under the hold down mechanism. This is the part of the scroll saw that surrounds the blade. The hold down mechanism can be raised or lowered as needed. This keeps the wood from bouncing around the saw table as you are cutting.

5. Turn on the scroll saw. If there is a light attached to the saw, turn it on. There should also be a sawdust blower that turns on to keep the saw table and project piece free from sawdust.

6. Cut slowly along the pattern line. Let the saw blade do the work. Do not force the wood into the blade, as this will add extra tension to the blade and cause it to break. You will just need to guide the wood along the pattern lines.

Important note: When using MDF please be aware that the fine dust that is created when cutting is poisonous. Always wear protective clothing and face mask and dispose of dust after cutting. The cut out wood is fine. . . just that sawdust can be a problem.

That’s it. . . simple!!

Like any new skill, practice makes perfect and using your scroll saw regularly keeps your skill level up.

If you can use a sewing machine, you can use a scroll saw!

But after all that, if you really can’t see yourself cutting your own shapes there are woodcutters around who’ll do it for you. For my Australian customers, I usually recommend Peter from Custom Creations. Peter also has quite an array of wood cut-outs for sale on his website.

If you know of anyone else who will cut for others, please let me know and I’ll put it up on my website.

I was also asked several times where I got my wood bowl from for the Scented Christmas. Mine came from Craft Turn.

And while I’m at it…. The Advent Box is made by Kaisercraft and distributed both here and overseas. If you live in Australia, Spotlight and most scrapbooking shops stock Kaisercraft. If they don’t have it in stock they’ll usually order it for you. There are also various online shops listed on the Kaisercraft website.

So that’s it my friends. I’m not planning on doing any wood cutting this weekend. I’ve been flat out for several weeks and you know what they say. . . “All work and no play makes little Kerry English a dull girl”. Nope. . . I’m kicking up my heels and having fun. I’ll be back on Monday to show you what I’ve been up to.

Have a great weekend,

Hugs ~ Kerryanne