Recent content by Carter Johnson

With apologies to Jimi for inadvertently changing the subject of this thread, let me try to answer the questions you kind folks have posed. I have an ordinary DeWalt scroll saw and, as I said, the blades are jewelers' blades. It's hard to tell which way the teeth point until I put the blade in...

Here's why a person uses very, very thin blades. This stamp is cut with 8/0 jewelers' blades. This, I think, is the smallest-sized stamp issued in the U.S. I carry a couple of these puzzles in my pocket at all times and give them out wherever I want to be remembered. Carter

It's never too early to get started! I've purchased my cards for the next two years and couldn't resist tackling this one first. I've made two and constructed the following photo featuring the completed card in the center and a few of the pieces around the sides. The wood is 1/4" 5-ply poplar...

Thanks for your questions and comments. I sit at the saw about a half hour each day. Very seldom do I spend more time. This puzzle took about 7 sessions, so about 3 1/2 hours or a week. Here is a set of basic instructions for freehand puzzle cutting: http://wmyoung.proboards.com/index.cgi? ...

Hello.... It's been quite awhile since I've posted a jigsaw on this forum, so here is an international one for you. FLAGS is about a foot square, 255 pieces, cut from 1/4" poplar. My wife is starting on it now and I'm urging her to try assembling it without the little photo I always provide. I...

Beautiful picture and puzzle. I must admit that, from the perspective of a pure color-line cutter, I see see all sorts of opportunities for color-line-cut pieces, especially in the triangular shapes on the blue roof.0 Looks good...keep at it..... Carter

Hi folks,,, Here;s the second puzzle I've cut from a 14 x 10.5 calendar of unusual treehouses. I know from the first one that it will be tough to assemble, so I cut the pieces a little bigger (254 total). It should keep people frustrated for quite awhile. Carter

Nice puzzle, Puzzler. I like the figures and recommend cutting even more pieces along color lines, like the lamp posts, the engine, etc. Also, 2/0 blades are the right size, but the "Superior Puzzle" blades from Mikesworkshop have a narrower kerf and can produce the tightest possible pieces...

Beautiful puzzle, but it sure is a baffler - like polar bear in a snowstorm. The blanket of flowers, I think, makes it even harder. I hope your eventual assemblers have a lot of patience. Carter

Decodrew, I have often cut pieces that resemble outer pieces in shape. The link you provided shows a puzzle that's cut by a machine, not a scroll saw by hand. I don't follow any design and have never used a pattern, so my pieces, except for using color lines, are random and varied. Makes the...

I've cut a couple puzzles from these calendar pictures before,. This one I tried to cut through the centers of the heavy black lines between colors. In a couple of spots, it was tricky to put together the 40 or so pieces I had just cut, so we'll see how my wife Jean likes it (she's ahead of me...

I guess so, Matt. Remember, though, each straight line is only one inch or so long. Cutting a foot-long straight line is difficult, so I usually make it a little wiggly on purpose. Thanks for your comment. Carter

Chris, thanks..... it's 1/4" Cherry plywood....... C

I haven't posted a puzzle on this forum for quite awhile, but here's one from a Quilt calendar that took only an hour and a half to cut, but much, much longer to assemble. Your comments are welcome. My wife Jean assembles every one of my puzzles (well over 750 over the past 19 years) and...

Just another puzzle of mine. I usually finish about three per month, but I've had this one mounted on the wood and ready for almost six months and finally got to it. For some reason, I'm really fond of the picture and was hesitating to cut it up.. I keep wondering what the girl is thinking...