Scroll Saw Tips and Tricks

• Take your time and practice on scraps. Hopefully your final product will be enjoyed for years, so its worth a few extra minutes.

• When making internal cuts of a puzzle don't worry too much about staying on the lines, no one will notice.

• Sanding crevices and internal cuts is very time consuming, but this is where quality craftsmanship truly shows! They have to be perfectly smooth or the imperfections will show terribly when you apply the finish.
  

• Shellac is a great finish for toys. It is nontoxic and protects well.

• On large toys, like rubber band guns, use a router table with a roundover bit to round off all the edges. This makes the toy safer and look more finished!

• A quality drill and drill bit really makes a difference when drilling holes for internal cuts. A poor drill or a dull bit will chew up your hard work fast.

• Perfectly straight cuts are very difficult for beginners. Practice keeping your eye on the line and soon they will be a breeze!

• Printing large patterns can be tricky. When they span more than one piece of paper, take plenty of time to line everything up perfectly and then tape both sides together. All the patterns on this site give plenty of overlap, so you have a good strong edge.

• Make your scrolling station as comfortable a possible. If you grow tired your work will grow sloppy.

• Scroll saws are very safe tools, but you should still wear safety glasses. Also, the fine dust can be an irritant. If this bothers you, wear a breathing mask.

• Scrolling is a great way to introduce kids to woodworking. They get instant gratification and its a relatively safe tool!