Thoughts on Jigsaw Puzzle Cutting Styles

[fallingacorn]

i too am new to this game and have been practicing puzzles. my sources among others have been the one on mikesworkshop.com (the video could make anyone sick with jealousy), the puzzle trail mentioned by it's talented artist, and the one i've gone back to most is http://www.jitbpuzzles.com the site for jack in the box puzzles. i've been cutting 5x7 puzzles often using cartoon pictures with landscapes behind them (sometimes editing together different pictures to make a picture with more shapes and color lines to cut out).after a few puzzles, i've finally gotten the whole thing to lock together without spans of unlocked, separating pieces. a couple days ago i tried my first 8x10 using 1/4" birch ply ( i have an order of poplar on the way) and was pleased to accomplish a fully locked puzzle complete with several "trick pieces" (thanks jack in the box). it seems it all takes practice, since it took many stops and examinations to make sure i cut inner pieces to hold together weak spots on the outer pieces. the whole thing took way too much thought. i can see how after 20 or so projects it could get a lot easier. my main problem is getting the picture to stick to the wood now. i've been talking to picture framers about that lately.
good luck with your efforts, i look forward to hear about your innovations, since i've just been mimicking others. i've been keeping track of your other posts, hoping to find help.

[ses4j]

Originally Posted by fallingacorn

i too am new to this game and have been practicing puzzles. my sources among others have been the one on mikesworkshop.com (the video could make anyone sick with jealousy), the puzzle trail mentioned by it's talented artist, and the one i've gone back to most is http://www.jitbpuzzles.com the site for jack in the box puzzles. i've been cutting 5x7 puzzles often using cartoon pictures with landscapes behind them (sometimes editing together different pictures to make a picture with more shapes and color lines to cut out).after a few puzzles, i've finally gotten the whole thing to lock together without spans of unlocked, separating pieces. a couple days ago i tried my first 8x10 using 1/4" birch ply ( i have an order of poplar on the way) and was pleased to accomplish a fully locked puzzle complete with several "trick pieces" (thanks jack in the box). it seems it all takes practice, since it took many stops and examinations to make sure i cut inner pieces to hold together weak spots on the outer pieces. the whole thing took way too much thought. i can see how after 20 or so projects it could get a lot easier. my main problem is getting the picture to stick to the wood now. i've been talking to picture framers about that lately.
good luck with your efforts, i look forward to hear about your innovations, since i've just been mimicking others. i've been keeping track of your other posts, hoping to find help.

Hi -

I'm the Jack-in-the-Box Puzzles guy. (I noticed this post from my weblogs). Glad to hear you like my site! I'm always happy to find out people find it useful. It does take practice but keep at it and it becomes pretty second nature. I don't know if it's better that way though - the most fun part of puzzle cutting for me was the early days when I was learning how, experimenting with style and materials and techniques...

As far as your picture-to-wood problem, I always had great success with 3M Super 77 adhesive. It's cheap, it's easy, no cleanup, no investment... what more can you want? If you haven't seen this page (it's a little hidden) http://www.jitbpuzzles.com/equipment.php, I talked about that some...

Anyway, best of luck! And if you have any questions or suggestions for additional info I can put on my site, let me know.

Scott

[JohnB]

G'day Scott,
Nice site and very nice puzzles. Some good info on the link you gave.

[iohonnes]

I have to say that when I started to get interested in cutting my own puzzles (a couple of months ago), I also found the Jack-in-the-Box website to be most informative. Deep in the website, Scott gives details about all aspects of his puzzle making, including equipment and supplies. I haven't found many other sites that are that open about their work.

So, thanks Scott for the information! I would recommend his site to anyone interested making puzzles.

John

[Okie_Arkie_Wood_Cutter]

This is a great thread. I have been reading everything i can find on puzzle cutting. It looks to be a neat activity. I have been collect calendars, greeting and Christmas cards, and just pictures in general to use for puzzle cutting. I see the puzzles as great gifts that can and will be treasured for years to come.

darrell, the OkieArkie

[jigsue]

Hi

The very first thing I designed was a child's jigsaw puzzle. Check it out at:

http://jigsue.myphotoalbum.com

(first item on Page 2 of "Sue's Scrollings"

The numbers were just taken from a computer font, but the one is in one piece, the two in two etc.

All grandchildren, nieces and newphews have one of these, It helps to count, understand numbers and do jigsaws

Sue

[Pajaro]

I got dizzy looking at it. Very interesting.

[michaelK]

I like doing different kinds of scroll saw projects, but puzzle making is my favorite. I made a quite a few simple kids puzzles, now I'd like to try the more elaborate adult types too. Theres a lot of good links and threads here. I hope everybody thats interested in this subject gets to see it.

[oldjohnevans]

Here I am, the one that started this thread way back in January. I still think that continuous (noodle, ribbon) cutting is fast fun and elegant. I also think it stinks!! Try as I might it always ends up with long unlocked rifts that ruin the integrity of the puzzle. So I am back where the experts told me to be, cutting individual pieces. This is not easy. I cut a really nice piece only to find that I have not locked it in a critical place. Fortunately for me I am cutting puzzles without pictures. This means that I can draw, and redraw, the pattern on the wood. After the puzzle is cut I can remove the ugly mess by sanding.

[iohonnes]

on the "ribbon style cutting" (I usually refer to it as scroll cut) - rifts is exactly the right word! I like to think of them as fault lines. I've cut a couple of puzzles in this style, but I always warn people that they are only semi interlocking. I did finish a puzzle recently where I color line cut cows out of a pastoral scene. I then cut the cows in the scroll style. Because the surrounding pieces interlocked well, the semi-interlocking cows are completely contained.

on cutting an interlocking style (typically with knobs or earlets) - I'm not quite sure about the need for a pattern. I'm not trying to criticize, but with a little practice, it's pretty easy to find the rhythm of cutting the pieces freehand. I started making puzzles after Christmas this year, with no scroll saw or puzzle making experience. My first puzzle wasn't great, but they've gotten much better. My friends and co-workers are thrilled to play with and assemble handmade puzzles. And remember, not every piece has to be fully interlocking. Two pieces next to each other can be joined by a third piece. Having those kinds of indirect connections can make the puzzle more puzzling, especially if they are edge pieces.

I'd like to think that I don't have more skill or imagination then any other beginning scroller. If I can freehand a good interlocking puzzle, I think most others should be able to. Maybe this is a scroll saw mentality issue - I know most work done by the average scroller is pattern based. I use patterns for other projects, but I really believe that a normal, abstract piece puzzle is easier (and more interestingly) cut freehand.

John