Firefighter Cross

This one is my first cutting from a series of crosses designed by Sue Mey.

Sue is from South Africa and designs and cuts various aspects of scroll saw art.

Wood Fan

I watched the Lumber Jack carving episode on The Woodwright’s Shop with Roy Underhill and his guest Glen Van Antwerp who carved a wooden fan from one piece of wood.

I wanted to try cutting a wood fan made from one piece of wood also, but cut it on a scrollsaw. I used the basic design as described on the Woodwright’s show adjusting a few measurements here and there for more control on the scrollsaw.

I used bass wood 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” x 10-1/2 and a # 5r blade. After cutting out the basic design I started cutting the fan blades. The key here is “cut slow” when you’re cutting with the grain. The thickness varies from 1-1/2” at the top to .1/2” at the interlock then back up to 1-1/2” then down to 1/8”. Each blade is approx. 1/16 to 1/32 thick. No two blades will be the same thickness.

I handcarved the handle to a smooth finish and sanded. A coat of cherry and burgundy was applied to the handle followed by several coats of poly. I wove a burgundy ribbon through the open spaces at the top of the fan.

Cutting this fan was very challenging. The fanning out of the blades was easy but I was always waiting for one to break and some did.

This is a functional fan, however it is fragile. To be used with care.

Check out the following sites for more information.

The Woodwright's Shop:

Cedar Fan Carving with Glen Van Antwerp: