Big Book of Scroll Saw Projects & Techniques

by Editors of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts

Collecting the most popular projects and useful scrolling techniques, this all-in-one reference is an essential bookend for all scroll saw libraries. While appropriate for all skill levels, new scrollers will benefit from a comprehensive section devoted to basic skills. This section includes articles pulled directly from the pages of "Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts" on such essential subjects as choosing blades and wood, cutting, pattern placement, sanding, and safety. Beginners get plenty of advice on these basics before moving forward with novice projects, including simple Christmas motifs, a maple-leaf pattern, and a curious cat. Not to be overlooked, a variety of intermediate and advanced patterns and projects are also included, along with the techniques needed to create them--such as compound cutting for a chess set, fretworking for an intricate Victorian doll bed, intarsia for holiday ornaments, and stack cutting for a classic corner shelf. Seasoned woodworkers will enjoy the chapter committed to using unusual materials such as corian, coins, stained glass, and vellum. Each pattern design is taken from the workshops of today's top designers, including Rick Hutcheson, John Nelson, Gary MacKay, Karen Longabaugh, Sue Mey, Kathy Wise, and Gary Browning.

Genres: Woodwork

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good quicky introduction to the scroll saw, but it isn't particularly comprehensive. It leaves out a lot of little details that would have been very helpful such as a more complete chart on various blade types & their uses. It gives an over view of the basics, but what range TPI should be used for a reversing blade on a hardwood 1/2" thick?

It goes into great detail about drilling for fret work & even threading the blade, but how the hell do I get the clamps for a pinless blade properly set afterward? I know there are some variations in them, but my Ryobi is pretty standard from what I can tell & getting the little boogers to line up & tighten properly is tough when I can lay them on the table. When they're fluttering around over delicate fretwork, it's not just difficult, but scary. One slip & I could break hours of work. Sure, I came up with ways to deal with it, but I would have expected to read that in here & I didn't.

On the plus side, there are some really good beginning pointers about how some blades cut to one side - a really big problem on tight work - & beginning projects that build the skills quickly. Not all of the projects are of interest, but enough are that it's well worthwhile.

While the paper book is nice, it's a PITA to get a decent copy out of unless the spine is taken apart. I kept getting warped & black edges, so I did some searching & found a PDF copy. It's not done by the publisher & isn't complete, but it does have all the patterns I wanted so I could copy them into a program (Irfanview, a super, simple, free graphics program) & print them out in various sizes.

If you're new to using a scroll saw, this is a pretty good intro. I've had it for years & read it through a couple of times, but I just finished the hummingbird project & decided to do the parrot. They're both 3D puzzles. Fun stuff. Anyway, I thought I should add them to my books here on GR.