Fresh in from London - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

chrispuzzle · 11-19-2006, 03:13 AM

Hi all

My name is Chris and I am completely new to scrollsaw - I'm a Brit, living in London, approaching the big 50, and looking for a new hobby - in particular, hoping to get into puzzle cutting.

What saw do I own? Well, I asked around for advice and most of the advice amounted to "spend a lot more than you planned and buy something good" so I'm holding fire until closer to Christmas when hopefully one or two clients might have paid their bills with old-fashioned folding money.

In the meantime, I decided to build one. Just to play with. Just to feed the need. Out of Meccano (the UK version of Erector) which is another of my hobbies, and the first pass was up and running and cutting at a Meccano club meeting yesterday. Assuming I can work the attachments thingy, here it is.

Gill · 11-19-2006, 03:23 AM

Oh boy... wait till Carl sees that!

Welcome to the forum, Chris. You're going to fit in well

.

Gill

PuzzledMoose · 11-19-2006, 04:13 AM

Welcome to the forum, Chris. Nice to see another Brit on here.

That is an amazing Meccano creation you have there but does it cut anything?

Ian

chrispuzzle · 11-19-2006, 04:50 AM

Hi Gill - Nice to hear from you again! As you might have noticed if you were watching, one reason for building the Meccano Scroll Mk 1 is that I missed out on the eBay Diamond...

Ian - Well. Does it cut anything? Sure it does. It cuts thin plastic and wood - very slowly, but it does cut it. It cuts balsa and foam core board with ease. I think baltic birch ply or MDF would be a strain. It has a parallel action and a blade tensioner at the back so you can adjust for different needs. I attach my very first puzzle which is cut from a sheet of origami paper attached to 5mm foam core with spray mount.

The motor is only putting out around 20w and the speed of the blade is about 220 strokes per minute. I think there's room for improvement there...

Chris

CanadianScroller · 11-19-2006, 06:56 AM

Hi Chris, I think your saw is amazing!
I can see some ways to make it a little better but that is a different story.
Yes Gill, my mind is roaring about 100 miles an hour right now.
I used to love Meccano, unfortunately most of the stuff over here is plastic.

I know you will fit in well here. I hope you do get the saw you want next time on Ebay.
I have been drooling over the Diamond Fretsaw for years but it is just not in my budget at this time. I do like that Meccano one though

Keep up the great work.

PS can you post a pic of the blade clamp mechanism.

chrispuzzle · 11-19-2006, 08:13 AM

Hello Carl - Thank you!

I would love to hear suggestions for improvement. I think it needs better bearings on the parallel arm - I might even try pinpoint bearings - and a flywheel on the crank shaft (next to the blue pulley). Also a wing-nut arrangment on the blade clamps would make changing blades easier.

Here is the blade clamp, which is very simple - two short girders clamp the blade, and are then bolted to the arm, same below. You can either have a supply of blades ready clamped, or you can loosen the clamps on the arm and thread a blade through. The other picture shows the turnbuckle to tension the blades.

PeteB · 11-19-2006, 01:10 PM

Hi, Chris--

That certainly is an amazing saw, worthy of being in the International Scroll Saw Technology Fair, if there were such a thing.

I see scroll saws going very inexpensively at house sales, might be worth a shot if your clients don't cough up soon. Otherwise, I agree with going with the very best you can get.

Your puzzle is quite good for a first effort, so keep at it! I'd like to commend you also on your photography.

Pete

CanadianScroller · 11-19-2006, 04:06 PM

I messed around a little this morning. I hope you don't mind.

The second turnbuckle on the top could even be a simple bolt and wingnut arrangement.
If you look at Rick H webpage you will see all sorts of cam levers for blade tension.

I think the whole Meccano saw is extremely ingenious. I can kick myself for not thinking of it.

Awesome job Chris.!!!!

Neal Moore · 11-19-2006, 06:36 PM

Welcome to the forum Chris!!! Nice piece of engineering on your saw. Between you and Carl there could be a new model on the market in the near future!!! You are probably the only member here who cuts patterns of his own design with a saw of his own design...really unique!!!!

gordon · 11-19-2006, 08:40 PM

Hi Chris. another Brit here. well done wi5th the Meccano. You have had goos advice get the best machine that you can. I had a Diamond saw anearly version but now use a Hegner with variable speed and dust extraction. I find the latter very helpful if I am using it for any length of time. I have made many puzzles for toddlers and a few more complex ones. Generally I make anything that will sell for Charity otherwise you soon can't move for things that you have made! In 2004 I made approx 850 bookmarks in 1/32 and 1/64 ply. Made a lot of sawdust at the same time.
All the best with your scrollsawing. Gordon

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispuzzle

Hi all

My name is Chris and I am completely new to scrollsaw - I'm a Brit, living in London, approaching the big 50, and looking for a new hobby - in particular, hoping to get into puzzle cutting.

What saw do I own? Well, I asked around for advice and most of the advice amounted to "spend a lot more than you planned and buy something good" so I'm holding fire until closer to Christmas when hopefully one or two clients might have paid their bills with old-fashioned folding money.

In the meantime, I decided to build one. Just to play with. Just to feed the need. Out of Meccano (the UK version of Erector) which is another of my hobbies, and the first pass was up and running and cutting at a Meccano club meeting yesterday. Assuming I can work the attachments thingy, here it is.