Scroll Saw Workbook, 3rd Edition

Learn to Master Your Scroll Saw in 25 Skill-Building Chapters

John A. Nelson

• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN:
  9781565238497
• Edition: 3
• eBook ISBN:
  9781607651635
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Technical & Manufacturing Trades
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Use this ultimate scroll saw beginner's guide to hone your scrolling skills to perfection. You'll find everything you need to know here, boiled down to the best and simplest methods. Practice a specific technique in each of 25 skill-building chapters, and then use that skill to make an attractive project. As you progress, each chapter builds upon the previous skills you've already learned. By the time you've completed the book, you'll be ready to tackle any scroll saw project with experience and confidence. Begin with the basics of cutting straight, curved, and jagged lines, and then progress to more advanced techniques like stack cutting, relief, inlay, compound, segmentation, and more. Project patterns include die-cut stationery, a fish silhouette, a butterfly with interior cuts, a hummingbird ornament, and a collapsible wooden basket. This new third edition provides an objective guide to all of the scroll saw models available in today's market, updated to include information on new scroll saw manufacturers.

Exercise 1

Objective: Practice following straight lines, wavy lines, making sharp corners and turning in place.

Materials needed:

(1) ¾" x 5 ½"–7 ¼" long piece of wood

#5 skip-tooth blade

Step 1: Make a copy of Exercise 1 and attach it to a knot-free piece of pine or similar wood.

Step 2: Review the four “Getting Started” steps here.

Step 3: Stand or sit directly in front of the saw. Relax and take a deep breath.

Step 4: Hold your fingers as if you were working on a computer keyboard-use the tips of your fingers. If you are right-handed, use your left hand to lightly hold down the wood. Place your left index finger about 1" directly to the left of the blade. This index finger will help you rotate the wood when you make turns. Use your right hand to steer the wood along the straight line. (If you are left-handed, reverse the instructions.) Remember: Use your finger tips, not your hands and body, to hold and steer the wood, as if you were driving a car along a road.

Step 5: To make a straight cut: Align the blade with the end of the pattern and wood at “A.” Take a deep breath and relax. Lightly push the wood into the blade; let the blade do the cutting. Again, relax. I cannot stress this enough! Be sure your left hand is lightly holding the wood down. Keep in mind, the teeth of the scroll saw blade are in front of the blade facing you. This is where the blade cuts, not on the side or back of the blade. Many people do not realize this their first time using a scroll saw. Complete the straight line cut. If you get off the line, slowly turn the wood to get back on the line. Do not push the blade sideways. Try one more straight line at “A.”

Step 6: To make a curved, wavy line: Follow the same steps as in #5. Practice cutting wavy lines along the two lines marked “B.”

Step 7: To make sharp turns: Start cutting in at “C.” When you reach each large dot on the pattern, stop pushing the wood—relax—and back off slightly. With your left index finger about 1" to the left of the blade, rotate the wood to line up with the direction of the line. Continue cutting. Each time you get to a dot follow the instructions above.

Step 8: To make turns in place: Cut in at “D.” With your left index finger 1" to the left of the blade, rotate the wood at the dot and cut your way back out along the existing saw kerf you just made. Do not back out. Practice at the other “D” lines.

Step 9: Practice making waves, curves and sharp turns at “E.” Again, stop at each dot, relax, back off slightly, turn, and cut.

Step 10: If you still have problems and need more practice, make another copy of Practice Exercise 1 and repeat steps 2 through 9.

Exercise 1
¾" x 5½"–7¼"
#5 Skip-Tooth Blade

Exercise 2

Objective: To cut out a simple object, following lines to produce a smooth, continuous, flowing cut.

Materials needed:

(1) ¾" x 4 ½"–5 ½" long piece of wood

#5 skip-tooth blade

Step 1: Make a copy of Exercise 2 and attach it to a knot-free piece of pine or similar wood.

Step 2: Review the four “Getting Started” steps here.

Step 3: Stand or sit directly in front of the saw. Relax and take a deep breath.

Step 4: Using only your fingertips and a light touch, cut in as indicated. Make a smooth, continuous, flowing cut all the way around without stopping.

Note: If you wander off the cutting line outside of the pattern, stop and back up to where you wandered off. Continue cutting out your pattern (see figure 1). If you wander off the cutting line inside of the pattern, keep cutting slowly and smoothly back to the pattern line (see figure 2). Remember, after you remove the pattern from the wood, no one will know you were off the line.

Step 5: When you have the project all cut out, check the edges. You should have a continuous, smooth surface all around. If not, make another copy of the pattern and repeat Steps 1 through 4 with a new piece of wood until it is perfect. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

Exercise 2
¾" x 4½"–5½"
#5 Skip-Tooth Blade

Figure 1

Figure 2

Exercise 3

Objective: To cut out a simple object, fo...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction: How to Use This Workbook
• History of Scroll Saws
• Mechanisms
• Scroll Saws
• Blades
• Accessories
• Features to Look for in a Scroll Saw
• Patterns & Material
• Getting Started
• Safety
• Exercise 1: Following lines
• Exercise 2: Making continuous, flowing exterior cuts
• Exercise 3: Making sharp exterior corners (loop method)
• Exercise 4: Making sharp interior corners
• Exercise 5: Cutting very small or very thin objects
• Exercise 6: Stack cutting (staple method)
• Exercise 7: Stack cutting (tape method)
• Exercise 8: Stack cutting (brad method)
• Exercise 9: Stack cutting (ear method)
• Exercise 10: Cutting paper, cardboard or cloth (exterior cuts)
• Exercise 11: Cutting paper, cardboard or cloth (interior cuts)
• Exercise 12: Cutting metal
• Exercise 13: Cutting plastic
• Exercise 14: Relief cutting (relief cut blade/angle tester)
• Exercise 15: Relief cutting (collapsible baskets)
• Exercise 16: Relief cutting (dimensional effects)
• Exercise 17: Inlay (inlay blade/angle tester)
• Exercise 18: Inlay
• Exercise 19: Compound cutting
• Exercise 20: Layering (woven basket)
• Exercise 21: Using scrap wood
• Exercise 22: Making puzzles
• Exercise 23: Relief cutting (alphabet)
• Exercise 24: Segmentation
• Exercise 25: Lap-over basket
• Appendix