Questions for the Experts

[SharonW0111]

Urban - you are only as old as your mind allows you to be--- but age wise I was around before the dinisoars roamed the earth ...I'm just a woman thats all lol
Sharon

[urband]

Hi Sharon,
Dan is my first name, Urban is my last.
Dan

[SharonW0111]

thank you dan

[minowevie]

Sharon. your not old. you have just been young longer. hahahahahah. that would be me too. haha. your friend Evie

[Mick Walker]

Sawdust King, When cutting a complex pattern I start cutting all the small ones in the middle of the pattern working towards the outside. I then start cutting the next larger ones and tape the pieces back in place with scotch tape. Depends on the thickness of the piece I am cutting. 1/8" wood can get pretty weak with a lot of large pieces cut out. 1/4" and thicker pieces are fairly sturdy. Mick. P-20

[workin for wood]

What species gives me what color?
What species of wood is dangerous?
What are some good ways to color wood?
How do I make such perfect joints?
How can I save some money on wood?
Do the lines of a pattern really matter at all, thick, or thin?
What side of the line do I travel?
How do I shape pieces?
How do I make the features of a face, human or animal...the inner features
How do I plan my project? <all great projects need a great attack plan>
How do I glue my pieces?
How does my pattern get on to the wood ?
What finishes do I use?
what makes a good or bad pattern ie a face turned sideways is a potential for a bad pattern, but not always...
how do i sand down in the really tight spots?
what other tools do i have that i constantly use to assist me?

that's about all i can think of right off the top of my head...don't bother asking how big my beer fridge is, or why I have satelite tv in my shop.

there's a whole new topic for you..inside look at a scroll shop !

[Tony Burns]

Originally Posted by CanadianScroller

When designing patterns for scrolling do any of the pros draw the pattern by hand first, then scan it in for tweaking on the computer?
Do any just produce the hand drawn artwork?
What width of line is best for reproduction of the pattern on the newsprint in the pull out of the magazine?
Do users prefer the pieces that need to be removed by cutting shaded for ease of sawing?
If a pattern is too big for a single sheet of paper what is the best way to register the two sheets together?

Thats all that is in my head for now.

CanadianScroller - Computers have alot of great features , some are easy to use and others can be frustrating - we use to use different programs on the computer but found that drawing the patterns by hand is more fun and rewarding , any problem can be corrected easier just doing it the old fashioned way - Besides being a professional scroller Im also a former Shop/Technology Teacher who has taught hundreds of Kids to scroll besides the three books on Scrollsaw Puzzles my wife and i have published with Fox.
After a design is originated usually a prototype is made , which really shows the problems better than any drawing can , any number of corrections are made as well as more prototypes - Its alot like writing a song , sometimes the designs come easy and sometimes they come hard ( I use to be a semipro musician eons ago ) One of my friends described drawing and designing as something you have to love doing to be good at it - guess that kinda fits the bill here - please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. Tony Burns

Scrollsawpuzzles.com

[CanadianScroller]

Thanks Tony.

[Barefoot1]

SawDust King - For complex patterns on fine fretwork start in the center of the pattern and work your way to the outsides symetrically. The thinner your wood, the more fragile it will become. Cut slowly and carefully.

[Pop]

Originally Posted by CanadianScroller

If a pattern is too big for a single sheet of paper what is the best way to register the two sheets together?

What program do you use for word processing? or Publishing? Does it give you the ability to do signs and banners?

I use MS Publisher for almost everything that I type or turn into print. In it you can create banners and tell the printer what size your 'paper' is for the printing session. By saying it's a banner, giving it the size and then inputting your pattern to it, it will print the sections of the pattern as overlapping sheets with marks to show where to tape them together. Worth a try..

Also some programs for doing photo work have an option called "stitch" which will also join the pictures you add to it, making it one continuous picture from many. The program that came with my digital camera has that ability (panorama) but only when I use the correct storage media to take the pictures