Some Fripperies

[Gill]

I've been finding inspiration in beer bottles! Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say on beer bottles .

His Lordship likes a tipple of Abbot Ale now and again, so I took the logo off a bottle and adapted it to a shadow portrait pattern, cutting it from oak scraps and mounting it onto a plywood backer. It should make a decent coaster for his glass next time he fancies a beer. Somehow, I think I'll be prompted to make a few more of these, so I've already started work adapting some Black Sheep brewery beer bottle labels. Since these coasters are just for our personal use, I doubt anyone will get upset about using the logos.

It just goes to show - there are scroll saw patterns all around us and often we don't even notice .

It's getting to that time of year when scrollers start to plan for Christmas. I've already begun my usual quota of compound cut baubles but I have not applied any finish to them yet - I'll do them en masse when they are cut. This year's efforts are coming out of pine and oak offcuts.

Gill

 

[Blacklabradorman]

Hi Gill,

I've heard compound cuts mentioned elsewhere but don't really understand what it means. Could you explain please?

Thanks and regards
Sean

 

[Gill]

Hi Sean

Compound cuts are simply a method of cutting three dimensional objects. You start with a square block of wood and apply a pattern on adjacent sides. The simplest way to proceed then is to cut one side, rotate it through 90º, then tape and/or clamp the cut piece securely back in place so that it looks as if you have a whole block of wood again. Then you cut out the adjacent side so that the three dimensional object (and waste wood) fall out when you remove the tape/clamp.

It's a very enjoyable scroll saw technique. I've made all sorts of items this way, from whimsies to chess pieces. There are a couple of examples in this thread. If you are interested in having a go, I suggest you look out for books by Diana Thompson such as these:

Click me

Click me

Click me

Hope this helps .

Gill

 

[stevebuk]

hi gill
love the abbot cutout, but i would like to have seen the background darker, IMHO.

 

[Blacklabradorman]

Thanks for that Gill. I've been thinking that I should get some books and that really does look interesting. I googled Diana and her scrollsawinspirations website has more information including a couple of patterns.

Thanks again Gill

regards
Sean

 

[Gill]

Sean - after you asked about compound cutting I searched the forum to see what we had. I was surprised to find that there was scant information about basic technique, so I intend to put together a guide for beginners later this week.

Steve - thanks for the compliment about the coaster; I rather like the colour of the backing board and it sort of matches the bottle label, so yah boo sucks to you :wink: .