Sanding Puzzles parts

[Jim Rodman]

When you cut puzzles, how do you clean off the dust from sanding?
Some of you may have a way of removing the dust without using a
vacuum. I do use a this method. But I found that the parts will end
up in the vacuum. The way I keep this from happening I place a peace
of 1/4” mettal square screen over the parts to be cleaned and vacuum
through the screen. It works vary well.
Just though I would past this along.
How do you handle this problem?

Jim from Ontario

[CJoZ]

Never thought of that. I tend to wipe the small pieces with a clean rag, or used air from my air compressor at low pressure. I don't think I would trust myself to use a vacuum!! I have to work too hard for each piece to fish them out of the shopvac!!

[chrispuzzle]

I use a tack cloth. But a vacuum with a filter over the business end sounds like a good idea.

Chris

[Carter-Johnson]

I guess I've never viewed the dust as a problem. I sand each piece individually shortly after it's been cut by holding its back against an upside down small sander. Then, when the puzzle is all done and assembled, I sand the back with the same sander.

When that's done, befoire I take it apart, I just flap a damp sponge over the front and the back. Seems to do the job.

Using a vaccuum? That's frightening!

Carter

[Rolf]

Carter,
you don't vacuum your stamp puzzles? What a surprise.

[workin for wood]

I have an 8 hp gas vaccuum that also mulches as things enter it. You can make a 10 pc puzzle turn into a million pieces. If you put a screen over the whopping 10" hose, it'll suck the screen apart. It even picks up gravel off the driveway, so you have to be careful where you pull that bad boy!
I don't know much about puzzles. I did just see one in the gallery of a mermaid sitting on a rock. That puzzles rocks for sure. It's good that they added the little gallery pictures up top or I would have missed that one.

[unixpro]

I go the other way. I either use my compressor, like CJoZ, or, for small parts, I use a can of compressed air like you use to clean up computer parts. The little tube on those cans lets me get into crevices that other things won't.

[mary]

I just purchased my scroll saw and have spent about 2 weeks practicing. Now I think I'm ready (excited as all get out!) to start. I want to do a puzzle with family pictures. I wonder what is the best way to glue the pictures down and also what to use to seal the picture? I really would appreciate some helpful directions for me to begin with . Thanks! Mary

[lucky788scroller]

Mary, get ready for loads of fun. Recently I did a fun quick puzzle to test my freehand puzzlemaking ability, and all I used was 3m super 77 spray adhesive to attach the pattern.I then gave it 3 coats of Deltacraft clear glaze, and headed to the saw with it.As for its longevity, I cant answer that, but I've heard of using Mod Podge to attach the pattern, and to also clearcoat it.It really is fairly easy, and yes, its loads of fun. The puzzle I just did was about 3 inches by about 6 inches, and i freehanded 50 pieces, and it turned out great.Id suggest you get yourself some super thin blades, (I use a flying dutchman superior puzzle blade)and make a couple practice puzzles. You are going to have loads of fun! Dale