The
Scroll Saw- DVD
A Beginner's Guide
with John Burke
Published by Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd, East Sussex UK
R.R.P.$39.90
ISBN 978-1-56523-411-6
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 143
Unlike some books and DVDs that purport to be for beginner's but don't actually start at the beginning, this video really does.
In the first few minutes, quietly spoken presenter John Burke introduces the scrollsaw and describes how it works. He shows the main blade types that can be used and demonstrates the typical method by which these are held in a machine.
The first actual scrollsawing is just a simple cut across a corner to get used to the amount of pressure required and the firmness of grip to stop vibration of the workpiece.
Burke then embarks on a series of projects. The first involves transferring a design (the letter A) to a piece of plywood and cutting it out.
Next is a more complex design cut using the stack method to produce a number of identical pieces.
To show that the scrollsaw is not limited to wood, the stack method is then used to cut out felt shapes for use in making Christmas cards.
Returning to wood, the next project is a child's blocky jigsaw in the form of a pig.
The theme continues with a set of cut out alphabet blocks.
Gluing, colouring and the fixing of auxiliary components etc. are all included in the projects.
Finally, the presenter shows a small box which has a sliding dovetail lid secured by a shaped pin key. This is a fairly complex project but having prepared for it by doing the work contained in the earlier parts of the DVD, the student should have no difficulty making it.
Each new topic is introduced casually. John Burke is never hurried and proceeds smoothly from one project to the next.
Yet by the end of the video, the student will have covered a wide range of topics and tasks - transferring designs, marking out, cutting thin ply and thick wood, cutting materials other than wood, pinning together stacks for multiple cuts, cutting sharp corners and flowing shapes...
Beginners who study this DVD should be well placed to take on more advanced instruction and to accept more challenging work.
Duration: 65min
DVD - English