(If an image is too small to read, click on it to see a larger
version.)
Cows are a
fun and friendly subject for any farm theme.
The herd featured in this puzzle project would be appreciated by children, or by
anyone who enjoys farm life. The finished puzzle makes a great gift, or could be
displayed on a shelf or over a doorway in a country home. This excerpt from Tony
and June Burns’ new book,
Scroll Saw Farm Puzzles, explains how
to select the best blade for the project, and provides an easy-to-follow puzzle
pattern.
Choosing a
Blade
Blades are the heart and soul of a scroll saw. The finest scroll saw will not
work to its full potential if you are using the wrong blade.
For fine cutting
3⁄4-inch (19mm) or 1-inch wood, we suggest that you start with a #3 or a #5
blade. These blades will give you better detail and smoother cuts. There is no
rule that says you must use a #3 or a #5 blade. Keep in mind though that a
smaller blade, such as #0 or #2, will take longer to cut and may burn the wood
from the extra friction. The larger blades, #9 and #12, are easier to use when
you are cutting straight lines or larger radiuses, but they are not the best
choice for detail. These larger blades do not leave as fine of an edge on the
wood and may require more sanding than a finer blade. Larger blades also make
the puzzles looser, which may or may not be desirable.
Blade sizes may vary
from one manufacturer to another. For example, what one manufacturer calls a #2
blade may be extremely close to another company’s #3 blade. TPI ( teeth per inch
) may also be measured differently from one manufacturer to the next. One
company may measure teeth from tip to tip; another may measure from gullet to
gullet. This can change the teeth count by half of a tooth to a whole tooth.
One of the most common
questions we get is: “What is the best blade for my saw?” This question is next
to impossible to answer. Each scroll saw handles the same blade differently, and
this answer is not a simple one. Experimenting with different types and sizes of
blades is one of the best investments you can make. It is also the best way to
decide which blade works best for you.
Scroll
Saw Art Puzzles
