The next step is to drill holes so the scroll saw blade can be threaded through the workpiece (this is best done with a drill press). Drill The Blade Access Holes Drill access holes in every segment that will be cut out. Be sure to first align the crease along the corner of the wood and you’ll get perfect positioning every time. Once the pattern sticks to the faces of the blank, you may not be able to reposition it. Start by sticking one end of the crease to the corner of the blank then follow through to the other end. For easier removal later, give the glue 30 seconds or so to tack up before sticking it to the blank. Then lay it face down and spray the back with medium tack spray glue, such as Loctite middleweight bonding. Attach The Pattern To Your 3D Word Block Blank Crease the pattern before applying glue.Ĭut out your paper pattern and crease it along the dividing line. Resize the image as needed and print it out. Otherwise, the black blade tends to get visually lost in the black ink. This makes it a lot easier to follow the edges with the saw blade. Once you’re satisfied with the layout, switch to a light gray color and use the “fill with color” tool to lighten the image. You can also add some simple clip art or half height characters into the mix. The thin red line indicates where to fold and helps position the text blocks without overlap. The end borders should be at least 3/16” thick. For strength, it’s generally best if the characters span two borders. Add wide borders and stack them vertically, as shown. Here’s a quick rundown of the process: Use an easy-to-read, bold font and write your text in two lines.
Scroll saw download#
To get you started, you can CLICK HERE to download patterns for all of the word blocks seen in this post. I make my word block patterns with Microsoft Paint. Layout is done much like the Carved Wooden Sign project we featured a couple years ago. Making Your Own 3D Word Block Patterns If you need more help getting to this point, see our carved wooden sign project. Mine usually range from about 3 to 7-1/2 inches. Softer woods – such as spruce, pine or cedar – also work, but expect some tearout on the back side.Īs far as length goes, it’s really only limited by the depth of your saw’s throat. Some great choices are walnut, mahogany, butternut, sweetgum, soft maple, poplar, and so on. I generally prefer to use medium density woods with a square cross section of 7/8” to 1-1/4”. Most of these are Western red cedar from the home center. Some of the many 3D word blocks I’ve made.
The examples shown are just the tip of the iceberg. This is a perfect gift item because it’s so highly customizable. The color variations are natural to the wood, not a finishing error. PROJECT #1: MAKING A 3D WORD BLOCK Block Party – May I Have A Word With You? This one is made of sweetgum. And with the extra fine toothed blades I used, quick blade contact usually won’t even break the skin. Yes, it is possible to get a minor cut but you’d have to try rather hard and for quite a while to lose a finger.
While some tools can legitimately lop a digit in the blink of an eye, that’s just not going to happen here. Since scroll saws are probably the safest pixie powered saws in existence, these projects can be a great way to get the kids involved in the workshop (with adult supervision, of course). 2 Easy Scroll Saw Projects – Woodworking Fun For The Kids, Too Sometimes you just need a quick fix that high fives your pleasure receptors with a dollop of dopamine and a pinch of “Ya’ done good there, kiddo!” If you’re looking for easy gifts, items for the next craft show, or just something cool for the shelf, here are two simple scroll saw projects you can knock out in a single weekend: a 3D word block and a unique wrap-around puzzle. But not every project has to be complex and challenging. As woodworkers and makers, we constantly feel the need to outdo ourselves.