Portraits?? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

therusticbear1 · 10-28-2009, 10:17 PM

Hello, again, lol

I was wondering how I would cut portraits, like those I have seen on this site & others, I can do silhouettes, & other cut outs, but I would really like some advice on how to cut those amazing portraits. I do realize that it must take years of skill, but to learn the basic would be nice.

Thanks,

Jon....therusticbear1

maurvz800@aol.com · 10-28-2009, 11:22 PM

Jon,just practice....find a couple patterns that seem good to you,or even a little beyond what you think you can do...You'll be surprised what you can do.Feel free to ask lots of questions here...lots should answer. -Andy

marshall · 10-28-2009, 11:37 PM

Jon > Andy has good advice in the practice thing , go to Scrollsaw Workshop for some great practice patterns to do ............And a big Welcome also............

therusticbear1 · 10-29-2009, 12:23 AM

Thanks! for the advice guy's!

Jim McDonald · 10-29-2009, 01:35 AM

The biggest thing about that style of sutting other than the practice is patience. Most of the time the cuts are not overly difficult, just the number of inside cuts and the act of making so many small(er) cuts is what makes them seems a lot harder than they really are.

Go to the pattern vault and find one practice with. I would just get me a piece of good plywood and give it a shot.

Gypsum · 10-29-2009, 04:11 AM

Jon,
I agree with the previous comments. Practice is the key. You can also use scrap wood, slap a section of a pattern on it and cut away. It shouldn't take long to develop your style and gain confidence. Everybody is a novice at the beginning.

ubgoofy2003 · 10-29-2009, 04:30 AM

Jon, I don't know what you have for a saw, but, assuming you have one that is pin-less, just draw some circles or some type of pattern on a piece of plywood or whatever thin wood you might have & drill a hole inside of the lines & insert the blade & just follow the lines with your blade as you cut away. Good Luck
Perk

texaswoodworker · 10-29-2009, 04:49 AM

I use a #3 reverse tooth blade to cut out the patterns and a #2/0 or a #1 for really really tight places but a #3 should do most of the work. If you plan on stack cutting, make sure you table is at a 90 degree angle (even if the dial on the table says its at 90 degrees, it may be a few degrees off.) When you finish cutting out the pattern and carefully sand and put finish the portrait, put a backer on it to make it stand out and either buy a frame for it or make one yourself.

Hope this helps you and good luck.

wombatie · 10-29-2009, 06:30 AM

Another thing I learned early on was to cut the hardest part first, then if you make a wrong cut and it all falls out, you haven't wasted all your time just to look at a very artistic piece of fire wood.

10-29-2009, 01:35 AM	#5
Jim McDonald Workin' for the Weekend Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the Other Side of the Monitor Posts: 946 Blog Entries: 6	The biggest thing about that style of sutting other than the practice is patience. Most of the time the cuts are not overly difficult, just the number of inside cuts and the act of making so many small(er) cuts is what makes them seems a lot harder than they really are. Go to the pattern vault and find one practice with. I would just get me a piece of good plywood and give it a shot. __________________ Jim Exuberance can be corrected; dullness is incurable. --E. Deters "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."

10-29-2009, 04:11 AM	#6
Gypsum Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 104	Jon, I agree with the previous comments. Practice is the key. You can also use scrap wood, slap a section of a pattern on it and cut away. It shouldn't take long to develop your style and gain confidence. Everybody is a novice at the beginning. __________________ Dan When you have a lot to do, it's always best to get your nap out of the way. Margene Lett

10-29-2009, 04:49 AM	#8
texaswoodworker Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reno Texas Posts: 254	I use a #3 reverse tooth blade to cut out the patterns and a #2/0 or a #1 for really really tight places but a #3 should do most of the work. If you plan on stack cutting, make sure you table is at a 90 degree angle (even if the dial on the table says its at 90 degrees, it may be a few degrees off.) When you finish cutting out the pattern and carefully sand and put finish the portrait, put a backer on it to make it stand out and either buy a frame for it or make one yourself. Hope this helps you and good luck. __________________ Aaron

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10-28-2009, 10:17 PM	#1
therusticbear1 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 22	Portraits?? Hello, again, lol I was wondering how I would cut portraits, like those I have seen on this site & others, I can do silhouettes, & other cut outs, but I would really like some advice on how to cut those amazing portraits. I do realize that it must take years of skill, but to learn the basic would be nice. Thanks, Jon....therusticbear1

10-28-2009, 11:22 PM	#2
maurvz800@aol.com Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 70	Jon,just practice....find a couple patterns that seem good to you,or even a little beyond what you think you can do...You'll be surprised what you can do.Feel free to ask lots of questions here...lots should answer. -Andy

10-28-2009, 11:37 PM	#3
marshall Just love Being Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jonesboro AR Posts: 2,117	Jon > Andy has good advice in the practice thing , go to Scrollsaw Workshop for some great practice patterns to do ............And a big Welcome also............ __________________ Usually busier than a cat in a sandbox !!!!!!!!!!! { Dewalt 788 only }

10-29-2009, 12:23 AM	#4
therusticbear1 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 22	Thanks! for the advice guy's!

10-29-2009, 04:30 AM	#7
ubgoofy2003 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 490	Jon, I don't know what you have for a saw, but, assuming you have one that is pin-less, just draw some circles or some type of pattern on a piece of plywood or whatever thin wood you might have & drill a hole inside of the lines & insert the blade & just follow the lines with your blade as you cut away. Good Luck Perk

10-29-2009, 06:30 AM	#9
wombatie Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 13	Another thing I learned early on was to cut the hardest part first, then if you make a wrong cut and it all falls out, you haven't wasted all your time just to look at a very artistic piece of fire wood.