Flower Jigsaw Puzzle

[William Young (SE BC)]

I did this one just for practicing tabs, tabs, and more interlocking tabs. I didn't try at all to make one of the petals the shape of a puzzle piece.
It was also great practice to gain control of a tiny blade.
With the blades I am using I found it is just a matter of technique to do a puzzle from start to finish with one blade.
This time I used only one blade and it is still cutting like new. It is just a matter of adjusting from agressive cutting with bigger blades to going slower and not pushing into the blade like I normally do with fretwork.
Once I overcame that hurdle I found it very relaxing to just take my time and cut the pieces out.
This small puzzle is only 6" x 9" and has 55 pieces. I can drag it around by any corner and it all stays together. That was the main purpose of this practice piece.
With such a fine kerf and using 1/4" BB I find that the pieces have to be put together straight up and then slid in to the mating pieces. The least little angle when trying to fit does not allow it to slide together.
Which brings me to a question.
Does anyone here use 1/8" BB for jigsaw puzzles ? ? Do the pieces fit together any differently or just about the same. ? ?
What are the pro's and con's of using either 1/4" or 1/8" plywood for jigsaw puzzles. ? ?
W.Y.

[cooter]

Of the puzzles I've made I've used both, 1/8 & 1/4

1/8 cuts faster and is less expensive but feels too light and, for lack for a better word, cheap. Thats fine if I'm just making one for an experiment – like trying a new type of glue or paper.

But, If I'm going to give it away (mostly) or sell it (sometimes) I always use 1/4. It feels better and fits better, as you found they have to be put in just so...

BTW... I always use Super 77 by 3M to glue down my work, never have one lift...

My goal is to be able to pick it up by a corner without losing pieces, try it I bet yours can be picked up by its corner. Looks good...

cooter

[GrayBeard Phil]

W.Y.:

1/8 inch BB:

If you do the puzzle, you can glue an outline to a backer 1/8 inch BB:



where just the berries are cutout

or business cards, again 1/8 and 1/8 BB backer board:



Phil

[Blade Man]

Bill,

Looks like you are really getting into this puzzle cutting. Nice picture, and a marked improvement in the cutting. Really like the wide range of shape in the pieces.

On the 1/8" or 1/4" thing - I hear 1/4" from most puzzle makers, as for myself the jury is still out. On one hand I like the way 1/8" pieces go together, and on the other hand I like cutting the 1/4" thickness. So put me on the fence for now.

Blade Man AKA Ben Fink

[William Young (SE BC)]

Thanks cooter and Phil for the responses.
Cooter, you have a good idea for using 1/8" for trying out new glues and coatings etc.

Ben. You said you are on the fence for now. Glad it is the fence and not the wall. Remember what happened to Humpty Dumpty?

I had posted this same question about using 1/8 for jigsaw puzzles on another site and Carter answered and suggested that 1/8" would probably cause some warping so it looks like I will be sticking to mostly 1/4" material.
I am going to save myself a bunch of extra typing and copy and paste a portion of that thred here which led up to the suggestion of sticking with 1/4" stock. Makes sense to me even though it is slower going.
W.Y.

Hey Carter . . you just ruined my day Just kidding. Because I went out and tried a few puzzle pieces on 1/8" BB and it was a dream to cut. Twice the speed with no overcutting at all and just so much easier spinning the wood around. And yes, the pieces were a lot easier to fit together after taking them apart. I figured that would be the way I would make all mine now until I read your comment about possible warping. .. . Darn . .
Oh well, can't win em all. Here is a picture of that test piece that just took a couple minutes spinning it around the blade on that piece of 1/8" wood.

That flower picture is also going to my sister in law in Ontario. Should be lots of fun putting something like that together with so many same color pieces and no picture to go by.
I love making the puzzles but I put them together as I saw them out and don't take them apart until I give them to someone else. I don't have the time or patience to put puzzles like that together once they are all in pieces.
W.Y.

[cooter]

W.Y.
I agree with you. I enjoy cutting the puzzles much more than putting them together. I, too, put them together while I'm cutting - to allow me to sand and stuff, then I disassemble them before I give them. I always give as loose pieces in a box with no picture, don't what to make it to easy.

The first time I give a puzzle to someone I cut it kinda of easy and ask them to tell me how long it took to assemble. That way I can judge how much of a puzzle fan they are and how hard to cut the next one for them.

Here's a thought for those on the fence – on occasion I have found 3/16 BB, best of both worlds.

cooter

[Blade Man]

Thanks Cooter,

If I run across a piece of 3/16" BB I will give that a try. Perhaps I can stay on the fence then.

Blade Man AKA Ben Fink

[William Young (SE BC)]

No such thing as 3/16 BB or any kind of plywood where I live.
So I checked out both Sloans and Wildwoods sites and came up with nothing there as well.
Any suggestions ? ?
W.Y.

[GrayBeard Phil]

In re: to Plywood:

I have found a few places that sell 'Finland Birch Plywood' at the 3/16 thickness on a Google search. http://www.nationalbalsa.com/product4.htm is an example.

Just a guess, but in North America, is it possible that retail plywood outlets could interchange Finland and Baltic States? Besides, I thought Baltic Birch Plywood was a trademark, not a country of Origin designation.

Phil

[cooter]

For 3/16 plywood - check with model aircraft suppliers or hobby shops, they have plywood as thin as 1/64 inch. I think its Birch, but maybe not Baltic Birch. Its free of insides voids. Its big drawback is the small sizes available, 12"x24" is the largest I find.

If you want to try something else there is a marine plywood, used in model boats and 100' luxury yachts. It comes in 3mm, 4mm, 6mm sizes, which roughly translates to 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 give or take a little. Its called Okoume and is also free of inside voids. The biggest draw back is it's not cheap and it has an odd smell when you cut it. I think its plantation grown Mahogany.

I bought my Okoume at Houston Hardwoods (seems they had it in 5'x5' sheets), but google found many places with both aircraft birch and Okoume.

Hope this helps...
cooter