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by:
Gary Walchuk
photo: Roger Yip
illustration: Len Churchill |
ANGEL ORNAMENT |
| Learn
to scrollsaw like an industrious elf |
Many woodworkers
start their workshop careers at the scrollsaw. In many ways
it’s the ideal starter tool: it’s a quiet, relatively
safe tool that doesn’t require expensive wood to make great
projects with. I made this ornament out of scrap wood I had
lying around my shop—the best stock for learning and making
mistakes. This Christmas ornament is the perfect project to
hone your workshop skills in time to thrill your family. Feel
free to alter the design.
Besides making sure your blade
is sharp and properly attached, there isn’t much else to
setting up a scrollsaw. Usually, the finer the pattern, the
thinner the blade required. I used a #2 fine blade for this
project.
Technique
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| Scrollsaw
projects can be as simple or elaborate as you wish.
The only steadfast rule is take it slowly |
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The first
step is choosing your wood. I picked 1/8"-thick Baltic
birch plywood, but any stock will do as long as it’s reasonably
thick. With wood in hand, decide on a cutting pattern. If you’re
new to scrollsawing, begin with a cookie-cutter approach: simply
cut an outline along a pencil line as if you’re sewing
a thread around a piece of fabric on a sewing machine. Cut several
pieces at once by stacking pieces of wood on top of each other.
To do this, temporarily stick them together using double-sided
tape strong enough to hold the pieces together so they don’t
slide when you’re cutting them. Before taping, sand all
sides of the wood with fine sandpaper.
Next, take your design drawing
(scale it to full size) and attach it to the top piece of wood
with spray or rubber cement. Then it’s simply a matter
of following the line. Take your time. The slower you go, the
less likely you’ll make a mistake. It doesn’t matter
where you start. I tend to push the wood through clockwise because
I’m right-handed and find it more comfortable.
Designs
Many scrollsaw designs include inside cuts that add detail and
dimension. To make these cuts, you’ll need a drill bit
small enough (1/16") to make a starter hole. This drill
hole allows you to thread the scrollsaw blade into the hole
to make the cut. A basic handheld drill works fine. Go slow
and make the hole in the centre of the area you’ll cut
away. Saw these inner holes first and then cut the outline.
 To
make a three-dimensional ornament, carefully and slowly separate
the two pieces of wood, keeping the double-sided tape flat and
intact. Give one piece a 180º-degree turn and press the
two parts back together. In other words, one part should be
exactly upside-down on top of the other. At this point you should
notch the two parts together along the vertical centre, as wide
as the stock thickness (1/8") but only half its length
so it slides together. One piece will be notched at the top
half; the other notched on the bottom half. Again, separate
the two parts, remove the tape and sand to remove any leftover
tape fibres. Apply glue to the notches and slide the parts together
so they interlock. Set aside to dry.
Your handmade ornament is also
ready to paint. Depending on the stock or style you choose,
you may decide to leave it as is.
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