One of the best things about woodworking is that the tools are often as much a part of the experience as the work itself. This is true for just about every activity in the hobby: from beginning projects to the advanced projects. One of the best ways to get the best out of woodworking is by doing what you enjoy the most, and that is “shop” at your favorite store. Here are some free printable scroll saw puzzle patterns to get you started.
There are a lot of options available when it comes to scroll saws. Each saw manufacturer has its own take on the saw, which makes them all unique. What we’re talking about is the saw’s “funnel.” It’s the piece of the saw that collects wood as it cuts along the wood grain. And this is what you should be looking for in a pattern.
As an example, assume that your saw is the Bosch product line. Here’s what you might want to look for. The first pattern will show you the angle at which the blade will cut at. This angle is measured in degrees. You should find the recommended angles for your saw and copy them down.
Another thing that you’ll want to consider is the size of the pieces of wood that the saw will cut. This is measured in terms of fractions of an inch. This will ensure that you have pieces that are the same size but are cut to the same length. This makes your saw’s cutting task much easier. However, you’ll need to consider the saw’s feed speed as well.
Some saw manufacturers make their pattern free for you. However, these are usually very simple and only provide basic direction. In other cases, the pattern may be more complex and instructions are provided only in a PDF format. If you’ve ever tried to download a pattern from a manufacturer’s website, you know how frustrating this can be. It’s nearly impossible to find the exact pattern.
A free printable scroll saw puzzle pattern should be easy to read. The font should be large enough to be legible but not so big that it overwhelms the piece you’re cutting. If the pattern includes a table of instructions, it should be in a readable format. If the pattern has more than just a few steps, the font should be smaller and more compact.
The best free printable scroll saw puzzle patterns include ones that include at least three levels of puzzle boards and the pattern is complete across all three. This ensures that the finished project will be of a proper size and will fit the saw properly. A four-step pattern that cuts only one piece of wood at a time would fit on a two-inch saw, for example.
As you can see, the decision as to which pattern you’ll use is entirely up to you. If you’re handy with a router, saw, and pattern matches, you can create your own puzzle and print it yourself. If you’re not as comfortable with these tools, you can always purchase a pattern off of the Internet. You can also ask a friend or family member to help you out if you’re a bit unclear about certain aspects of a certain pattern. Either way, there are many great free patterns available on the Internet.
Some of the best scroll saw puzzle pieces are made out of wood, while others are made out of metal or plastic. If you want something that is more attractive, you should definitely opt for plastic or metallic scroll saw cutters. These pieces will stand up better to wear, and they also make a great gift idea. You could also get someone else to help you cut the pattern for you if you’re not quite sure what you’re doing. Having another pair of hands available will certainly make things easier.
The important thing when choosing your pattern is to make sure that it is complete. Many scroll saw puzzle pieces will have a series of holes, which means that it will need to cross through all of the squares in the pattern. If the holes aren’t perfectly centered, your cuts won’t be smooth or accurate. It’s always best to start over if this happens.
To get started with a new scroll saw puzzle, you’ll need to download one from the Internet. There are a lot of different sites where you can find and print these puzzles, but you should try to stick with one that has a good selection and high quality items. It doesn’t hurt to try a few, and pick some that you like best. As long as you’re satisfied with the results, you’ve got nothing to lose!