Hello as well! - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

chrisyates · 12-05-2005, 10:38 PM

Hi, I too am a Chris, and am new to this forum.

I can't believe I have never found this site before- it is a treasure trove of scrolling info!

Anyhow, I'm a young (20-something) artist that somehow fell into making somewhat unique jigsaw puzzles (I call 'em Baffler!s) about a year and a half ago, and now they make up a good half of my income. After going through several Ryobis and a Dremel (I often spend 25-30 hours on the saw a week) I was googling around to see what saw I should pick up next, and I found this place, and well, I figured I'd like to join in. (I'm most likely going to pick up a Dewalt, by the way)

I'm quite impressed with some of the work posted here... If you'd like, you can take a look at my puzzle page, they are certainly not the traditional jigsaw puzzle, but are all made by me and my scroll saws!

http://www.chrisyates.net/store/puzz.html

CanadianScroller · 12-05-2005, 11:01 PM

Welcome Chris, Awesome bafflers you have there. I love it when someone explores a new direction!

ozarkhillbilly · 12-05-2005, 11:39 PM

Welcome Chris,

Very interesting and cool Bafflers!! The possibilities are endless aren't they?

Curious what type and size blade do you use for your puzzles?

Ozarkhillbilly
Bill

lucky788scroller · 12-06-2005, 02:18 AM

welcome Chris . All I can say about the bafflers is WOW!!! I like them. Especially that macaw! Do tell, how did you ever come on to that unique idea,and what fuels your artistic coloring schemes. I love em!Thanks for sharing.

PS: Get the dewalt,you wont regret it one bit! Dale

Christopher · 12-06-2005, 03:54 PM

It would appear that painting them, would take as much or more time than actually cutting them. I love the bright color schemes as well as the earth tones used.
"Unique" would be putting it mildly!

chrisyates · 12-08-2005, 04:51 AM

Gee, thanks everybody!

I've used a variety of blades to make the Baffler!s, but these days I do just about everything with pinned skip tooth blades, usually the 18.5 tpi variety. It generally gives me the stability to cut out all the pieces how I like 'em and keep just about the perfect kerf. Not too tight that the pieces won't come out, not too loose that it looks bad. With some of the larger puzzles, I use a spiral blade around the main interior sections, as the more pieces are cut out of a section, the puzzle will get naturally looser.

I actually came upon the idea by accident, while I was cutting out the layers for a 24"x18"x3" 3D topo model of Colorado. I screwed up a layer that taken a lot of intricate bandsaw work, got a little upset, and starting cutting it up into little bits on the scrollsaw. I then realize I had just made a very crude jigsaw puzzle, something that never dawned on me to make. I came up with the inlay style a few experiments later, and just enjoyed the freedom of improvising cuts and shapes, and also making functional art that my customers seem to enjoy.

And yes, while much less labor-intensive, the painting of the pieces generally takes longer than the cutting. I try to do everything in batches of eight or ten puzzles, so that all the processes don't take so long.

I hope that answers your Q's!

Chris

Little flower · 12-09-2005, 07:01 AM

Welcome to the site Chris. My first impression of your puzzles was AMAZING! It's so good to see new ideas and know thatpeopleare prepared to put their new ideas 'out there' and try the market. Congratulation on your success.

bearfretworks · 12-09-2005, 04:47 PM

Really neat twist with the puzzles!

Welcome to the group!

minowevie · 12-10-2005, 01:15 AM

Gosh. how in the wourld did you come up with these designs?. so cool. the cutting was probley small to your ideas. and the color skeem wow. welcome to the group. keep going the way your going an we well all be put to the test. it amazes me what talent we have here. your new friend Evie

Old Mooner · 12-10-2005, 11:54 PM

Outstanding Chris. You are a real artist. I, too, think your colors are great. Do you use acrylics to paint the pieces? Along with everyone else, I welcome you to the group. There is a lotta talent in this bunch--ref the galleries--and everyone seems to do something a bit different. Your input will be welcome.
Moon

12-05-2005, 10:38 PM	#1
chrisyates Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3	Hello as well! Hi, I too am a Chris, and am new to this forum. I can't believe I have never found this site before- it is a treasure trove of scrolling info! Anyhow, I'm a young (20-something) artist that somehow fell into making somewhat unique jigsaw puzzles (I call 'em Baffler!s) about a year and a half ago, and now they make up a good half of my income. After going through several Ryobis and a Dremel (I often spend 25-30 hours on the saw a week) I was googling around to see what saw I should pick up next, and I found this place, and well, I figured I'd like to join in. (I'm most likely going to pick up a Dewalt, by the way) I'm quite impressed with some of the work posted here... If you'd like, you can take a look at my puzzle page, they are certainly not the traditional jigsaw puzzle, but are all made by me and my scroll saws! http://www.chrisyates.net/store/puzz.html

12-05-2005, 11:01 PM	#2
CanadianScroller Moderator CUT IT OUT Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada Posts: 3,904 Blog Entries: 12	Welcome Chris, Awesome bafflers you have there. I love it when someone explores a new direction! __________________ CAЯL HIRD-RUTTEЯ "proud member of the best scroll sawing forum on the net." Ryobi SC180VS scroll saw EX21

12-05-2005, 11:39 PM	#3
ozarkhillbilly Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,224	Welcome Chris, Very interesting and cool Bafflers!! The possibilities are endless aren't they? Curious what type and size blade do you use for your puzzles? Ozarkhillbilly Bill Last edited by ozarkhillbilly; 12-05-2005 at 11:44 PM.

12-06-2005, 03:54 PM	#5
Christopher Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 13	Incredible! It would appear that painting them, would take as much or more time than actually cutting them. I love the bright color schemes as well as the earth tones used. "Unique" would be putting it mildly!

12-09-2005, 07:01 AM	#7
Little flower aka, Kiwi T Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palmerston North New Zealand Posts: 364	Welcome to the site Chris. My first impression of your puzzles was AMAZING! It's so good to see new ideas and know thatpeopleare prepared to put their new ideas 'out there' and try the market. Congratulation on your success. __________________ Cheers. Teresa . www.mwg.org.nz

12-06-2005, 02:18 AM	#4
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,354	welcome Chris . All I can say about the bafflers is WOW!!! I like them. Especially that macaw! Do tell, how did you ever come on to that unique idea,and what fuels your artistic coloring schemes. I love em!Thanks for sharing. PS: Get the dewalt,you wont regret it one bit! Dale

12-08-2005, 04:51 AM	#6
chrisyates Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3	Gee, thanks everybody! I've used a variety of blades to make the Baffler!s, but these days I do just about everything with pinned skip tooth blades, usually the 18.5 tpi variety. It generally gives me the stability to cut out all the pieces how I like 'em and keep just about the perfect kerf. Not too tight that the pieces won't come out, not too loose that it looks bad. With some of the larger puzzles, I use a spiral blade around the main interior sections, as the more pieces are cut out of a section, the puzzle will get naturally looser. I actually came upon the idea by accident, while I was cutting out the layers for a 24"x18"x3" 3D topo model of Colorado. I screwed up a layer that taken a lot of intricate bandsaw work, got a little upset, and starting cutting it up into little bits on the scrollsaw. I then realize I had just made a very crude jigsaw puzzle, something that never dawned on me to make. I came up with the inlay style a few experiments later, and just enjoyed the freedom of improvising cuts and shapes, and also making functional art that my customers seem to enjoy. And yes, while much less labor-intensive, the painting of the pieces generally takes longer than the cutting. I try to do everything in batches of eight or ten puzzles, so that all the processes don't take so long. I hope that answers your Q's! Chris

12-09-2005, 04:47 PM	#8
bearfretworks Retired Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buse Township, MN Posts: 1,354	Really neat twist with the puzzles! Welcome to the group! __________________ I love the smell of burnt gunpowder.....it reminds me of a full tummy

12-10-2005, 01:15 AM	#9
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,297	Gosh. how in the wourld did you come up with these designs?. so cool. the cutting was probley small to your ideas. and the color skeem wow. welcome to the group. keep going the way your going an we well all be put to the test. it amazes me what talent we have here. your new friend Evie

12-10-2005, 11:54 PM	#10
Old Mooner Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sherman, Texas Posts: 284	Outstanding Chris. You are a real artist. I, too, think your colors are great. Do you use acrylics to paint the pieces? Along with everyone else, I welcome you to the group. There is a lotta talent in this bunch--ref the galleries--and everyone seems to do something a bit different. Your input will be welcome. Moon __________________ Old Mooner

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