Scroll Saw - Making A Moon Clock

A short while ago I made a clock using the CNC. Now I have a scroll saw I thought I'd have a go at making the clock using the new saw. To be honest...it wasn't as easy as I first thought. There were a few issues but ultimately I now have a new clock...even if there are a few things I'd do differently if I was to scroll saw another.

[@sarahknight2586]

You are doing a very good job !!!!!

[@Smugwood]

Thanks :-)

[@oldman719]

Good job. I have been scrolling 15 years and never used a spiral blade until about a month ago. No more spirals for me. I quickly switched back to standard flat blades.

[@Smugwood]

Yeah...spirals have a place, but I think for now I'll be using the standard blades too. Ive a couple of projects to do that have small internal circle to remove so im guessing the spirals may be useful for projects like that, but i find them very difficult to cut straight. But im guessing that perhaps the spirals aren't really designed to be used for cutting straight lines?...although Im still very much in the learning stages of scrolling so that may not be 100% true :)

[@waynepugh4028]

So this was made using a spiral blade? Would a standard blade made a smoother finish?( Looked great to me!) Also could you recommend a machine on a budget? Hear it's better pinless?

[@PeteBeardsley]

Very nice job dude. Love the idea of the moon as a backing, never seen anything like that before. No it isn't just you with the spiral blades! They are a thorough nuisance to master (I've never managed it) but I can see how useful they would be when you get the hang of them. Thanks for the vid dude.

[@Smugwood]

No problem...and thanks for the kind comments :) The moon background was a last minute idea and it seemed to work out ok. I think the spiral blades definitely have their place but for straight cuts im guessing not. But im new to the scroll saw so still learning :)

[@CCWSig]

Turned out great! Not an great piece for a spiral blade, as you found out, but you did a great job anyways. I like spiral blades for portrait work where there is a lot of direction changes but for mostly straight line work a number 5 or 7 blade would be my choice. Thanks for posting!

[@Smugwood]

Thanks. Surprisingly tricky scroll sawing and something I’ve still yet to master. Really handy for intricate cuts though and it’s nice to be hands on sometimes...I love spending time on my cnc but it’s nice to turn it off once in a while and scroll saw.

[@danisooriyan2018]

Best work

[@Smugwood]

😊👍

[@sjscreations2608]

Hey, I thought your clock what brilliant for someone that has never done it before! You had some very small sections to cut out and areas where the lines between the Roman numerals are very thin, so you could of easily buggered it up! It's easy to say a machine has done a better one, of course it bloody well has, it's a machine!! Have some pride in your great job and learn, that is all we can do as human beings, or so they say!!! Cheers Sean

[@Smugwood]

Thanks Sean. Some of the segments were rather thin and did concern me a couple of times and did take some careful cutting 😊 It made a nice change to use the scroll saw. I bought it last month as I quite fancy Intarsia work but I probably need a bit more practice first before attempting an intarsia project...unless I can find a simple project to start with.

[@sjscreations2608]

Smugwood if you look online there are thousands of basic intarsia patterns. Just type in free intarsia patterns and stuff like animals, especially dogs will come up. I just blew up a pic of all the countries of the world to a ridiculous size and I'm hoping to use different wood for each country, or at least one type for half a dozen, as there seems to be one or two countries!!! LOL. I also want to shape the timber, so that The mountainous countries will look hilly and the flat ones are flat, but that might be a bit ridiculous, yeah just putting the timber on is a start? Ha ha. Good luck with your projects! I'm not that confident so I don't know if anyone would gain anything from watching a video of me, but I suppose if I don't do it then I won't know will I??? Cheers Sean

[@Smugwood]

Cheers Sean. I did actually buy a couple of intarsia books so hopefully I’ll have a go soon. I thought it would be quite easy to do but having used the saw a couple of times I now realise that Intarsia is a skilled art. Hopefully one day I’ll master it 😊 And regarding your videos, like you say, you’ll never know if you don’t do it. Besides, when I make mine I’m not always sure what I’m doing but when people can see me working it’s easier for people to suggest alternative ways to do things...a lot easier than trying to explain with words or pictures too 😊

[@sjscreations2608]

Smugwood cheers whatever your name is LOL? Thanks for the advice, it's easy to give to others but a bitter pill to swallow ourselves. Okay my only question is what program do you edit your videos on, please, as there are thousands out there? I just want a simple one, that I can put baking music on if need be. I assume your from the U.S which state? I'm from Melbourne, Australia. Take it easy cheers Sean

[@Smugwood]

I had issues trying to edit on Pc so got a Mac. Used iMovie for a while...really easy to use but ended up getting Final Cut Pro X. I also like to make my own background music so for that I use Logic Pro X. I used to use GarageBand but needed a bit more flexibility so upgraded. 😊

[@woodyal3726]

Very well done for the first time. Never used Super Skip blades? What are those? Please can you share the pattern. Thanks !!!

[@Smugwood]

I do have the pattern some where. I’ll search it out and probably the easiest place for me to upload it for use will be on the Scroll Saw and Intarsia Woodworking Uk Facebook group if that’s any help.

[@woodyal3726]

@@Smugwood thanks !!!