Twister: Skill growth practice pattern

[GrayBeard Phil]

Hi All:

My personal scroll sawing nemesis is spinning the wood dead-on accurately with the blade at the exact, and precise, center. No matter how many books I consult or video’s I watch, the bottom line is eye-hand co-ordination (in other words skill.) Eye-hand co-ordination needs to be developed by practice, which means just doing it over and over. Should I be away from the saw for a few weeks, my skill of twisting has to be refreshed, otherwise I mess up and sometimes ruin a project.

Aside: I, being a scroll saw ‘purist,’ look disdainful upon my using anything but flat blades. Others are more than welcome to use spiral blades, but for me I choose to wear the hairshirt of the masochistic and only use the flat blades.

In addition, in the last 2 months there have been a couple of request for ‘practice’ patterns by newbie’s.

I therefore created the attached file(s) for anyone to use. Admittedly, mostly for my own use, but I offer the patterns to anyone who wants a practice patterns for twisting wood centered about the blade.

The attached is my attempt at practice exercise pattern sheet using CorelDraw. Anyone who knows CorelDraw will quickly notice I also used this twister pattern sheet as a skill builder for my CorelDraw skills, which have a much longer way to go.

The ideas behind the attached pages:
- Use scrap wood,
- Printed page can be cut down to match scrap wood.
- Use any size blade. Any used blade can be used.
- Do only has much as needed to use up scrap wood, and old blades.
- Have several skill levels on same page.
- All goes into trash or fireplace when cutting is done.

There are two (PDF) pages attached, same cut patterns, just the second uses RED ink as someone posted a few weeks back that they liked using.

Aside: For me, it just seems that when my right arm is doing the wide large swing, and the left arm is controlling the blade, things go OK. But it is when the Left arm is doing the wide rotation swing the errors are most likely to occur; almost as if the left arm wants to push as well as cause rotation. This is a skill development problem.

I hope someone who tries one or two of the lines will provide me feedback if they consider the lines are too easy or don’t realistically test and exercise the skill development of twisting the wood.

Some of the lines are, IMHO, pure evil. I could make them worse if desired.

Phil

[Plaquerd]

Phil
I too am a "spinner". As you said, “Others are more than welcome to use spiral blades". To each his own. I use the "evil" spirals for 3D beveled name plaques for desks and signs and nothing else.
Spinning is the way I was taught, in high school on an old Delta similar to this one. As I remember, it cut very well and had no vibration. I do remember my shop teacher saying, "keep looking ahead of the blade, keep looking ahead of the blade!" I guess that sank in......LOL.
I will try your practice patterns, practice, practice, practice.
I find a little (very little)"pull" on the piece I’m cutting, on the back of the blade when turning gives me tight corners and control of the blade. I "pull" only against the back of the blade, not the sides.
Dave

[Wood Dog]

Whoa Greaybeard Phil are you telling me it is possible to "spin" at the end of those points in the sunburst pattern????????? Don't think I can do that, but with your hard work making the pattern I will give it a try next time I'm out in my shop. Thank you

[GrayBeard Phil]

Originally Posted by Wood Dog

Whoa Greaybeard Phil are you telling me it is possible to "spin" at the end of those points in the sunburst pattern????????? ...

Well, Yes, it is possible, albeit not easy.

Rick's place:
http://www.scrollsaws.com/
go to the video tips section, and scroll down to Cutting basics
Then view "Making tight Vee type turns"

Watch closely for all three methods. Notice that when Rick spins the block of wood, he spins the wood under complete control with the blade in the precise relationship of the spin he wants the blade to be. You may not be aware, but Rick is so good, he is actually spinning wood with just the teeth of that small blade at the center of twisting. Watch it a couple of times. You will see what I mean, Rick's skill is awesome.

Rick has two video's on cutting tight corners. Watch for his control of the wood keeping the blade at the center of the spin.

Phil

[workin for wood]

I didn't know you had a personal nemesis and on top of that he isn't from Ohio?!?!

[jigsue]

I watched Rick's and some other instructional videos for the first time recently and thought, on some occasions "that is what I do". On others, "why don't I do it like that". I do tend to spin, although I had not thought of it in that way, until watching instructional videos. I did learn using drawings similar to those you have prepared, although my patterns weren't as professionaly produced - I used to draw them myself, often straight onto the wood for practice. Perhaps, when I have the time, I ought to watch some more videos. Need more hours in the day, though. Can anyone help with that?

Sue

[Rolf]

Some of the techniques disscused above are easier on some saws than others. It is more difficult to make the sharp "spinning turns" on saws that have an agressive front to back blade motion than on a saw with a more vertical motion.
This is just my opinion based on the 2 saws that I have.

[SNAPPER]

I am cutting out a bunch of animal puzzles so a lot of the puzzle type lines. Do not have a problem with them. I think the smaller the blade the eaiser it is to spin. I think Wood thickness/hardness is also a factor. Make sure you are centered with the blade and not feeding into the blade, quickly make your turn. It does take practice. As Rolf stated a blade motion front to back is also a factor.
Happy Scrolling.
Dean

[stevebuk]

i agree rolf, i doubt i could do that on my delta, its stroke is quite aggresive..
Thank you phil, i will definately have a go at these, lord knows i need the practise..

Edit: i have just been to view the demo, boy that looks a great saw, its so smooth and easy, and i cut corners by coming from 2 directions.

[Rick-H]

Well I thinik the cuts can be made on any saw. I use the Q3 a lot which is a C-arm type saw. My second saw that I use is a P20 parallel arm type saw.
I find that either saw will do the same cutting once you learn how.
Many of you have seen my wood gear clocks, those were all cut on the C-arm type saw.
On the tight V videos I think I was using the P20.