I give up. - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Jazziedog · 02-01-2009, 05:33 PM

After several months of trying to cut a decent piece I think I am going to throw in the towel. I have tried a million different blades & wood types & thicknesses and still I think that everything I do is lousy. I am usually pretty good with working with wood but this scroll sawing has me baffled. I know I should practice more, but I get too discouraged and give up. I have done some real basic items, but by now I feel that I should be beyond this point.

I will continue to read the posts on this board and maybe will try again at some point.
Thanks for all the great information.
Joan

Jediscroller · 02-01-2009, 06:12 PM

Joan,
Whereabouts in CT are you? I'm also here and scrolling (relatively speaking) is about the easiest of all woodworking.
Besides, my wife's name is Joan too so at least I can remember your name. I would be more than happy to help you if possible.

Jim McDonald · 02-01-2009, 06:19 PM

Joan:
Don't give up. We all had a learning curve and believe me, there is no one on the board who can't say they are not still learning and refining.

I had my early challenges and looking back, I can't believe that I gave as presents some of the early stuff I turned out. Next year, I'll probably have the same thoughts about the stuff I did this year!

We are our own worst critics and stuff I now burn, I would have thought a masterpiece a couple of years ago. Give Kevin a chance to help or watch some of Steve Good's video peices on youTube. I just watched a great segment there that solved a lot of questions I've had on "how to". Don't get intimidated by how easy Steve makes stuff look, I feel he would be among teh first to tell you that practive and talking to other scrollers is the only way to progress. Steve's site is scrollsaw and you you can find some great stuff there.

Trout · 02-01-2009, 07:01 PM

to make those cuts look nice and clean..
I don't know what I would do without my bench top belt and disk sander and for those curved pieces a spindle sander....

let's not forget about a set of small need nose files for the fret work...

Trout

Scrollsaw030585 · 02-01-2009, 07:25 PM

noooooo don't quit !!!! Hang in there you'll get it. It takes time. There are lots of people on here cheering for you. Im sure your stuff doesn't look lousy. Mine first 10 pieces looked really bad but I hung in there and now have been scrolling for about 14 yrs. So practice and patience. Good Luck ,

Lee,

jimid · 02-01-2009, 07:31 PM

joan i live in rhode island my question is what kind of saw are u using

Steviegwood · 02-01-2009, 07:58 PM

Hi Joan, don't give up on it. Also do not be so hard on yourself. If you are anywhere near Kevin he can help with a lot of good advice. Of that I am sure. I wish that we were closer as I would be happy to help. If you have any questions just fire away. There are a lot of excellent scrollers here on the forum. Anything we can do to help just ask. Steve

Kindlyoldpoop · 02-01-2009, 08:56 PM

Hiya Joan, I was almost ready to throw in the towel too but keept telling myself that it would get better I know what you mean about being baffled it took me almost 3 months before I cut anything that I felt was good enough to post here and it was just a simple name tag but the folke here looked at it and gave me lots of great encouragement so I am still scrolling and loving it and looking forward to the next thing I cut that I feel is good enough to post so don't give up ... READ MY LIPS ... I repeat don't give up you will get the hang of it and all your frustrations will be forgotten and well worth the time and effort you put into it ... Take Care ... ~~KOP~~

Mike Crosa · 02-01-2009, 09:11 PM

As Winston Churchill said, "Never, never, never give up!

Just keep trying. YOU WILL GET BETTER.

scrollsaw4u · 02-01-2009, 09:25 PM

Joan,

You heard it here hun. Keep at it, and when you get better, you will look back at this time and thing "why did I ever think about giving this up?" We all have (and will continue to) made what we jokingly call designer kindling wood. Why, just today I added several to my existing pile. It all comes with keeping at it..hope you don't quit

Cheryl

02-01-2009, 05:33 PM	#1
Jazziedog Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 81	I give up. After several months of trying to cut a decent piece I think I am going to throw in the towel. I have tried a million different blades & wood types & thicknesses and still I think that everything I do is lousy. I am usually pretty good with working with wood but this scroll sawing has me baffled. I know I should practice more, but I get too discouraged and give up. I have done some real basic items, but by now I feel that I should be beyond this point. I will continue to read the posts on this board and maybe will try again at some point. Thanks for all the great information. Joan

02-01-2009, 06:12 PM	#2
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,163 Blog Entries: 6	Joan, Whereabouts in CT are you? I'm also here and scrolling (relatively speaking) is about the easiest of all woodworking. Besides, my wife's name is Joan too so at least I can remember your name. I would be more than happy to help you if possible. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

02-01-2009, 06:19 PM	#3
Jim McDonald Sawdust Maker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Muncie, IN USA Posts: 1,124 Blog Entries: 9	Joan: Don't give up. We all had a learning curve and believe me, there is no one on the board who can't say they are not still learning and refining. I had my early challenges and looking back, I can't believe that I gave as presents some of the early stuff I turned out. Next year, I'll probably have the same thoughts about the stuff I did this year! We are our own worst critics and stuff I now burn, I would have thought a masterpiece a couple of years ago. Give Kevin a chance to help or watch some of Steve Good's video peices on youTube. I just watched a great segment there that solved a lot of questions I've had on "how to". Don't get intimidated by how easy Steve makes stuff look, I feel he would be among teh first to tell you that practive and talking to other scrollers is the only way to progress. Steve's site is scrollsaw and you you can find some great stuff there. __________________ Jim If it cannot be fixed with a hammer--must be an electrical problem. "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

02-01-2009, 07:01 PM	#4
Trout MrsTrout's Husband Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward Calif. Posts: 1,784	that's what sanders are for... to make those cuts look nice and clean.. I don't know what I would do without my bench top belt and disk sander and for those curved pieces a spindle sander.... let's not forget about a set of small need nose files for the fret work... Trout __________________ Hawk G-4 *Jetcraft* Fish are food, not friends!

02-01-2009, 07:58 PM	#7
Steviegwood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Arthur, WV Posts: 2,182	Hi Joan, don't give up on it. Also do not be so hard on yourself. If you are anywhere near Kevin he can help with a lot of good advice. Of that I am sure. I wish that we were closer as I would be happy to help. If you have any questions just fire away. There are a lot of excellent scrollers here on the forum. Anything we can do to help just ask. Steve __________________ If This HillBilly Can't Fix it Then it Ain't Broke!!! My Gallery steve03@frontiernet.net

02-01-2009, 07:25 PM	#5
Scrollsaw030585 MAKING SAWDUST Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 120	noooooo don't quit !!!! Hang in there you'll get it. It takes time. There are lots of people on here cheering for you. Im sure your stuff doesn't look lousy. Mine first 10 pieces looked really bad but I hung in there and now have been scrolling for about 14 yrs. So practice and patience. Good Luck , Lee,

02-01-2009, 07:31 PM	#6
jimid Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 18	joan i live in rhode island my question is what kind of saw are u using

02-01-2009, 08:56 PM	#8
Kindlyoldpoop Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Centeral Indiana Posts: 211	Hiya Joan, I was almost ready to throw in the towel too but keept telling myself that it would get better I know what you mean about being baffled it took me almost 3 months before I cut anything that I felt was good enough to post here and it was just a simple name tag but the folke here looked at it and gave me lots of great encouragement so I am still scrolling and loving it and looking forward to the next thing I cut that I feel is good enough to post so don't give up ... READ MY LIPS ... I repeat don't give up you will get the hang of it and all your frustrations will be forgotten and well worth the time and effort you put into it ... Take Care ... ~~KOP~~ __________________ Ya'all Be Fun and Have Safe ... ~Kindlyoldpoop~ "I'm A Hard Dog To Keep Under The Porch"

02-01-2009, 09:11 PM	#9
Mike Crosa Land Locked Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 1,717	As Winston Churchill said, "Never, never, never give up! Just keep trying. YOU WILL GET BETTER. __________________ Mike C. Hawk G4

02-01-2009, 09:25 PM	#10
scrollsaw4u Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 107	Joan, You heard it here hun. Keep at it, and when you get better, you will look back at this time and thing "why did I ever think about giving this up?" We all have (and will continue to) made what we jokingly call designer kindling wood. Why, just today I added several to my existing pile. It all comes with keeping at it..hope you don't quit Cheryl

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