Celtic Cross

Celtic Cross · 05-07-2006, 06:57 AM

Here's a Celtic cross that I have been working on - front and back view.

Joe Scharle · 05-07-2006, 09:26 AM

Looks great, Cathy.
I tried relief on a simple square knot years ago for a Boy Scout plaque and got so confused, I had rope going under when it should have been going over!

Ray Martin · 05-07-2006, 09:44 AM

Cathy,

Holy Smokes! And I thought the trivits were beautiful. Your work is amazing. How log does it take you to do one of these? What kind of a saw do you use? How about your finishing process? Am I asking too amny questions? What woods work the bet for these crosses and trivits?

Ray

Canuck · 05-07-2006, 10:31 AM

Cathy,

You have done it again!!!!

This cross is very unique and the relief just amazes me! (I too would be curious as to your plans for the finish.)

Wonderful work!

Wayne

jmauldin · 05-07-2006, 10:51 AM

I wish you would quit showing the rest of us up! ! ! !

Again, great job. I don't think I have ever seen that design of a celtic cross. Where did you come across the pattern?

Jim in Mayberry

D L Ames · 05-07-2006, 11:36 AM

Wow Cathy, you have been keeping yourself very busy lately with all of the trivets, intarsia and now this Celtic cross. All of your work looks excellent.

D L

cskipper · 05-07-2006, 12:05 PM

Thanks again. My "Celtic" trivet had ropes going the wrong way too. The trick is to mark the wood as soon as you cut it out - keep your pattern or a copy long enough for this. Find any starting point on the pattern and get a feel for the direction of the ins and outs. I mark the wood with a pencil with solid lines across the places that are "overs" and , naturally, a break in the lines when it is an "under" pass. I think it's essential to have the pattern beside you when you are marking it, and even when scoring it.

I have a Delta scroll saw - not the basic model, but not the highest end either. It was a version sold at Lowe's about 3 years ago when I started.

It may have taken an hour to cut, but I have put in close to 15 hours shaping it. Every time I look at it in a different light I see something that I want to clean up - even still today. I may have to get a rope and make one to see how the sides of the rope would be lower or higher depending on their motion. I think I know, but I'm not sure.

What kinds of woods for these crosses and trivets? What I have - which is why I am always trying to grab any body's scraps that could be 7-8 inches square. I know that I am going to cut lots of material out and hate to use really pretty wood. We went up to the Bee Tree lumber a couple of weeks ago and bought wood, but now John doesn't want me to "waste" it. I do understand that. I try to use boards about 3/8" thick because I think they'll hold up if people really use them but not be too high off the table that a pot or bowl would spill it somebody didn't set it straight on the trivet. I haven't wanted to use pine, though I can't really say why. I have used curly maple, oak (difficult to hand sand), maple, cherry, butternut and ambrosia maple. I, fortunately, have a printer that is also a copier and often resize a pattern until it will fit a specific piece of wood. I've shied away from used glued up boards - I'm afraid if I hit a weak spot it would break - or may be stronger that a close by cut area and that might break.

Thanks for the warm fuzzies! Did I get all the questions (Ray, there are never too many questions).?

cskipper · 05-07-2006, 12:51 PM

There is a group on MSN - http://groups.msn.com/FreeScrollsawPatterns - that has lots of free scroll saw patterns. I was totally dependent on them until I started looking around at all the other pattern I have and how they could be modified. For the Celtic things- I'll still depend on someone else making the pattern.

b4man · 05-07-2006, 01:06 PM

Cathy,
I've got to throw in my OOH"s and Awe's. I'm in Las Vegas and saw some beautiful trivets at a shop here in the hotel. But, nothing I've seen yet beats your work. I'm sooo impressed!

cskipper · 05-07-2006, 01:10 PM

Thanks! Do you ever stay home?

b4man · 05-07-2006, 01:19 PM

Now you know why I never post pic's of my work! I wish I could pack the Dewalt but the laptop keeps me working vicariously at least!

Terry · 05-07-2006, 01:56 PM

Cathy,

Very beautiful work! Awesome! Terry

cskipper · 05-07-2006, 02:24 PM

I've got a mental picture of you checking your DeWalt and wood at the ticket counter!

Thanks Terrry.

Greybeard · 05-07-2006, 02:29 PM

Cathy,
As usual, your work is fantastic!

When I set up my shop, I decided to get a scroll saw because it is needed with some projects. But I have never seen work such as yours and I know I could'nt come close! Just beautiful

cskipper · 05-08-2006, 05:39 AM

Thanks again. I've been sawing about 3 years and am really trying to improve my accuracy.