Hello. New here

[skrina]

Hello, my name is Kristina and I'm happy to have found this forum. Let me explain a little about why I'm here. I have never so much as turned a scroll saw on in my lifetime, but I am an artist and I have a business painted accessories for children's rooms such as wall murals,growth charts, drawer knobs, wooden letters etc...

Here's what's brought me here! I am in Canada and every product that I paint I get from Canadian companies except for my wall letters! I have someone who makes them for me from the US and he is absolutely fabulous, does wonderful work and has prices that I just can't beat elsewhere even with the dollar exchange. The trouble is, it takes me a long time to get my orders while my customers wait. I am getting extremely busy and I'm selling orders through several Canadian retailers and they don't want to wait the turn around time that I'm at currently.

I have searched high and low for someone in Canada that can make the letters for me but to no avail! So, I think I've convinced my husband that we need to try and start making them ourselves! I'm a little worried about putting in the expense for a saw and supplies and then what if we're no good at it or we don't have the time to do it! (Keep in mind that I have to paint them all too as well as other orders!)

Do I start with a cheaper saw just in case it doesn't work out? Or would a better saw ensure better success? Can anyone recommend a good saw to start out with for what we would be doing and where would be the best place to buy one? Any other newbie advice? Has anyone done lettering? Do you have an idea of how long it would take once you got the hang of it to do a few letters?

I really appreciate any information, like I said, this is a whole new world for me!

[Neal Moore]

Hi Kristina. I would recommend that you buy the best saw you feel you can afford. There are nice saws out there that aren't terribly expensive and the learning experience is much easier if you start with a good saw. You can certainly learn to cut lettering and about anything else you can dream up and have a lot of fun doing it. I believe with time you would find a scroll saw indispensible for what you have described. GO FOR IT!!!! Some features to look for are: variable speed, pinless blades, toolless blade change, positionable dust blower, tilting table and an upper arm that lifts up when feeding blades through pilot holes. Once you have the saw you can come here anytime for help or questions. There is generally someone logged in who can provide near instant replys.

[Steviegwood]

Hi Kristina, welcome to the family. I will agree with the advice that Neal has given you. You will soon find it very addicting with a good quality saw. Steve

[donnab]

Hi Kristina, welcome to the family.You will find scrolling really fun. I have only been scrolling for about 2 years now and before then I had never even seen a scroll saw but seen some of the things you can do with one made me want one. And when I want something I usally get it sooner or later.
As far as what kind to start with, I have a Delta with pinless blades that I bought at Sears on sell and didn't know anything about them at all but I haven't had to much trouble with it. The first thing to learn is not to get in a hurry and push to heard on the boards or you will brake your blades. I broke a blade atleast every hour I was scrolling.Make sure your blade tension is right also.
As for doing lettering, I have made letters to spell out "welcome". I used 3/4 inch or 1/2 inch baltic birch boards. It was very easy work that didn't take me about 1 hour to cut out. I believe you will have fun doing your on letters once you learn to handle your saw. Well I hope any of this helps you. Have fun and come back and let us know what saw you get and what you think about scrolling.This is a great place for any kind of help you might need.
Donna

[GrayBeard Phil]

Hi Kristina:

1st, If all you want is plain old 3/4 inch pine block letters and numbers, Bear Woods Supply, a Canadian company, sells such letters and numbers. One size, unpainted for less than a $1.00 Can. each.
(I think the company is in Nova Scotia)
http://www.woodparts.ca/
in the search box, enter: letters and click Search
and then, at the new page, scroll way down the page. Each number and letter are listed.

2nd, Scroll sawing is a skill. It isn't hard to learn, and it don't take long to do so, but you must develop the eye-hand thing, which means practice.

Practice means understanding you will have some frustration in the beginning because you know what you want to do, but you just cannot get your body to move the wood 'just-so.' Just like learning to use an artist brush. Again, it isn't hard to learn scroll sawing, and it don't take long to learn it. And when you get over the 'hump' you will enjoy the artistic joy of scroll sawing.

3rd, read the other threads in this forum. Judge for yourself by the number of threads related to inexpensive saws. Then look for the number of gloats when someone buys a mid-range priced saw like a DeWalt, or a P-20 Delta.

4th, as an artist, please visit the Scroller Galleries on this forum. You will be impressed with the options that scrolling could add to your repertoire for children's rooms. Check out Puppy in a basket by Phantom_Phixer for a 1st time try.

5th, you will learn you have a wide range of fonts to use in your lettering if you make it yourself. Just use your computer and a word processing application, print the phrase out, temporary attach to the wood, cut the wood, remove the paper, and finish wood as you want.

Sorry for the long winded reply.

Phil

[guitarman]

Hi Kristina, I can't add much to all that's been said already but if you can't find any company in Canada to make your letters maybe someone here on this forum can help. There are a lot of people here that are in Canada and I bet someone is pretty close to you so it could be that maybe you can get some help at home until you get used to a new saw. I know if you were close to me I'd gladly help you out. You'll most likely hear from someone in Canada if you keep checking us out. Good luck, David

[skrina]

Originally Posted by GrayBeard Phil

Hi Kristina:

1st, If all you want is plain old 3/4 inch pine block letters and numbers, Bear Woods Supply, a Canadian company, sells such letters and numbers. One size, unpainted for less than a $1.00 Can. each.
(I think the company is in Nova Scotia)
http://www.woodparts.ca/
in the search box, enter: letters and click Search
and then, at the new page, scroll way down the page. Each number and letter are listed.

2nd, Scroll sawing is a skill. It isn't hard to learn, and it don't take long to do so, but you must develop the eye-hand thing, which means practice.

I've actually been on their site before as they sell hooks and things that I buy. However, I offer my letters in different fonts and sizes and in 3/4" baltic birch which I feel is the best wood for look and painting on.
I really think that this is something that I can do as I'm pretty skilled with most artistic things with my hands, whether or not my hubby can do it may be a different story!

I thank you all for your replies so far, you've been very helpful. I actually feel even more motivated now! I'll let you know when I get things going!

[Powakee]

I say, "Jump right in ~ the water's fine." I started scrolling in 94 and just haven't stopped since then. I'm on my 3rd saw - a Dewalt - and while I liked my 2nd saw (it's still in the garage) I liked the lifting head of the dewalt. They got the design from the Canadian Excalibur. If you have the money ~ start out with the best (or one of the top 3) and get an Excalibur. It may be the only saw you'll ever get and you'll be happy. You said that you are handy with your hands and you are artistic. What you'll discover is that you're already a natural for the scroll saw.

Happy scrolling.
John

[Dragon]

Hi Kristina and welcome
My oldest is named Kristina and spelled the same. What part of Canada are you in?
I started scrolling with a $80 Canadian Tire saw. After one year I changed for a nice DeWalt 788. Don't buy a cheap one. Invest right away with the best you can affort.
Diane

[skrina]

I am just outside of Calgary.