Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bruce Trappes on April 8, 2011 at 11:28am

I have the same delima Carlos.

I ended up buying a scroll saw, but it's probably not really the right saw for cutting necks out of 1" Tasmanian oak!!!

Took a long time to cut, then I had a lot of sanding to do to level and smooth the neck.

The scroll saw you are looking at is exactly what I bought.....would be fine for more intricate work.

To my mind a band saw would have been a better choice, but with limited woodwork experience, I decided against it due to the danger level.....I value my fingers and question my concentration abilities sometimes ;-)

I think a good quality jigsaw is probably a reasonable choice.....You can use a fence to guide the jigsaw down the length of the neck for the right taper. Just make sure everything is clamped down tight, and your jigsaw blade is at 90degs to its base.

BTW, your written english is fine....wish my Australian born sons was as good as yours!

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Trappes on April 8, 2011 at 11:44am

carlos contreras said:

Beautiful guitar Josh, thanks for your reply.

Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) said:

If you'll indulge me, I cut the body for this guitar using a band saw with a scroll blade.  Very thin, very tiny blade but chewed through a thick one piece slab of African Mahogany like it was nothing.

 ......and thanks for your pdf file on "A guide to advanced cigar box guitar making."

It is now my bible. Much appreciated!

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Permalink Reply by carlos contreras on April 8, 2011 at 12:38pm

Thanks for your input Bruce. I've yet to buy anything because I've been very busy lately, but I think I'll be getting the jigsaw.

I actually spoke to a relative of mine who has 3 bandsaws and he said he'd give me one for free, I'd only have to pay for shipping. But it runs off of 220v and there's no installation for that voltage in my apartment. I'm sure It wouldn't be too hard to get the electric company guys to do it, but if I started working with a bandsaw in the apartment building I'm prety sure my neighbors would hate me.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on April 8, 2011 at 4:11pm

Carlos,

 

Let me start the conversation.  If I could have only one power saw, and if I had dimensional lumber available, I would choose a band saw.  If I had to cut down blanks from wider/thicker lumber and could have only one power saw, it would be a table saw.  But, if I had no experience with power tools, I would never make the first one a table saw (too easy to lose fingers) and I'd probably settle for a scroll saw.  (A bandsaw in inexperienced hands can do a lot more damage than a scroll saw.)....

 

BTW, I use a scroll saw on almost every build that I do.... it is my "go to" saw for quick and easy fretting, and I'll often use it from shaping headstocks.  If I didn't have a bandsaw, I could do a lot of the things I do on it on a scroll saw. 

 

Maybe, others will disagree, but I would prefer to see a new builder "build up" their skills with simpler projects and safer equipment.

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by carlos contreras on April 8, 2011 at 4:35pm

Thanks Sam, now let me ask you this. Would you rather have a jigsaw or a scroll saw for cutting blanks?  And aside from cutting blanks, which one would you say is the most versatile tool between those two? I ask you this because I've gotten different responses from several people, so I guess it must be a matter of personal preference. A couple days ago I was pretty sure what I wanted was a scroll saw, but then comments like Bruce's a couple of posts up, where he says it isn't the right tool, discouraged me. I'll definately be cutting blanks from 1'' or 1.5" thick wood, so would you say its possible with the scroll saw  or should I just get a good jigsaw?

Wichita Sam said:

Carlos,

 

Let me start the conversation.  If I could have only one power saw, and if I had dimensional lumber available, I would choose a band saw.  If I had to cut down blanks from wider/thicker lumber and could have only one power saw, it would be a table saw.  But, if I had no experience with power tools, I would never make the first one a table saw (too easy to lose fingers) and I'd probably settle for a scroll saw.  (A bandsaw in inexperienced hands can do a lot more damage than a scroll saw.)....

 

BTW, I use a scroll saw on almost every build that I do.... it is my "go to" saw for quick and easy fretting, and I'll often use it from shaping headstocks.  If I didn't have a bandsaw, I could do a lot of the things I do on it on a scroll saw. 

 

Maybe, others will disagree, but I would prefer to see a new builder "build up" their skills with simpler projects and safer equipment.

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) on April 8, 2011 at 8:19pm

Regarding safety, I'm with you there Sam.  My dad was terrified when I started using band saws (when I was a teenager).  He wouldn't let me use one without him being around in the shop.  Even as a grown man when I got my own, he still gave me all kinds of hell about being mindful about what I was doing.  And it was for a good damned reason!  A bandsaw will take your finger faster than you'll realize.  My dad instilled in me the same kind of respect for power tools that he did with firearms.  It's for that reason that I've never suffered more than minor cuts to my hands.  I can't stress this anymore: working with powered machinery requires discipline and constant vigilance.

Wichita Sam said:

Carlos,

 

Let me start the conversation.  If I could have only one power saw, and if I had dimensional lumber available, I would choose a band saw.  If I had to cut down blanks from wider/thicker lumber and could have only one power saw, it would be a table saw.  But, if I had no experience with power tools, I would never make the first one a table saw (too easy to lose fingers) and I'd probably settle for a scroll saw.  (A bandsaw in inexperienced hands can do a lot more damage than a scroll saw.)....

 

BTW, I use a scroll saw on almost every build that I do.... it is my "go to" saw for quick and easy fretting, and I'll often use it from shaping headstocks.  If I didn't have a bandsaw, I could do a lot of the things I do on it on a scroll saw. 

 

Maybe, others will disagree, but I would prefer to see a new builder "build up" their skills with simpler projects and safer equipment.

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on April 9, 2011 at 3:12pm

Carlos,  I would take a scroll saw 9 times out of 10 over a jig saw.  By it's nature, with the blade anchored only on one end, there is a lot of sidewise vibration in the blade.  For me, that is just too unstable for fine work.

 

The way most scroll saws are built, they are unsuitable for "ripping" which is the cut down the length of the board.  If you have to cut blanks from thicker stock, recruit a friend.  But, most of your early work, you can do with dimensional lumber.  I still use such when I can.  A factory mill is more accurate than I can be on most days.

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

carlos contreras said:

Thanks Sam, now let me ask you this. Would you rather have a jigsaw or a scroll saw for cutting blanks?  And aside from cutting blanks, which one would you say is the most versatile tool between those two? I ask you this because I've gotten different responses from several people, so I guess it must be a matter of personal preference. A couple days ago I was pretty sure what I wanted was a scroll saw, but then comments like Bruce's a couple of posts up, where he says it isn't the right tool, discouraged me. I'll definately be cutting blanks from 1'' or 1.5" thick wood, so would you say its possible with the scroll saw  or should I just get a good jigsaw?

Wichita Sam said:

Carlos,

 

Let me start the conversation.  If I could have only one power saw, and if I had dimensional lumber available, I would choose a band saw.  If I had to cut down blanks from wider/thicker lumber and could have only one power saw, it would be a table saw.  But, if I had no experience with power tools, I would never make the first one a table saw (too easy to lose fingers) and I'd probably settle for a scroll saw.  (A bandsaw in inexperienced hands can do a lot more damage than a scroll saw.)....

 

BTW, I use a scroll saw on almost every build that I do.... it is my "go to" saw for quick and easy fretting, and I'll often use it from shaping headstocks.  If I didn't have a bandsaw, I could do a lot of the things I do on it on a scroll saw. 

 

Maybe, others will disagree, but I would prefer to see a new builder "build up" their skills with simpler projects and safer equipment.

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Wyndham Dennison on April 10, 2011 at 4:56am

I've been looking at the Rockwell Bladerunner and was wondering what others thought of this jigsaw.

blade runner

It looks that it gives a lot of room to move wood around, just don't know how powerful.

Wyndham

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on April 10, 2011 at 5:23am

I have been looking at that myself, referenced it above somewhere.

I think it might make a good comprimise, and would like to demo it. I would guess more powerful and robust than a scroll saw, but unable to do the fine detail, more controllable and accurate than a hand held jigsaw. Takes up a lot less space and more portable than a bandsaw, but of course it would never do the work of a big bandsaw.

Looking at the video demos, I like that it hangs on the wall and can be left there for some basic small cross cut and light work, take it down and place it on a workbench for longer rips and bigger work.

I might just have to get me one for an "in between" tool. If I do I will keep you posted!

Wyndham Dennison said:

I've been looking at the Rockwell Bladerunner and was wondering what others thought of this jigsaw.

blade runner

It looks that it gives a lot of room to move wood around, just don't know how powerful.

Wyndham

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on April 10, 2011 at 1:47pm

Mark and Wyndham,

 

Thanks for posting about the blade runner.  With retirement it looks like some serious downsizing the the shop/tool department.  This might just be the jack-of-all-trades saw for me for the time being......

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on April 10, 2011 at 4:07pm

Similar thinking Sam.

Hope all is going well with you.......

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Permalink Reply by Jim Mitchell on April 11, 2011 at 5:11am

Good discussion TOOL SAFETY SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN!!! I am in the camp of having collected tools for all of my adult life. I own some really nice machines as well as some really nice hand tools. Along the way I have become a big fan of Fine Woodworking (Taunton Press) In the early days they were a slick black and white publication that focused on woodwork that I could only dream about. Over the years they have expanded to include videos and now have  a very robust web presence as well. They feature the who's who in woodworking and have a very good track record on educating the public on woodworking.  Interestingly enough in the June edition of the magazine I noticed that on their web site www.finewoodworking.com/extras there is a video on mastering the bandsaw presented by Michael Fortune.  I have long been a fan of Mr. Fortune and strongly suggest anyone with an interest in blending hand and machine work check this site out. (I believe they have a free trial offer)  Often times with machines the real trick is in setting them up properly.  I own 2 really nice bandsaws and thanks to a recent find at a thrift store 2 scroll saws. Unlike a lot of folks here I don't really use the scroll saws. I would not want to be without my bandsaws. I would strongly urge anyone with an interest in wood working consider checking out this valuable resource particularly if you are going to use machines.  You don't have to go to grad school to be a wood worker but a little information will go a long way to help you get over the learning curve safely. (Okay now I will get down off my soap box)...

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