Scroll Saw Puzzle Cubes

These are probably my favorite kind of 3-D puzzles and the best part is I can make them myself.  They can be any type or size of wood and have any jig saw puzzle like pattern, there is just no way to go wrong.  Mine is made out of pine so it will be easy to stain and sand.

All you need is a scroll saw (I used my dad's new Craftman Scroll Saw to do this and it was so much faster than my off brand scroll saw) and a block of wood.

If this is your first time using a scroll saw then you might like to read step 2, if not then just skip it unless you might want some helpful tips on cutting.  I like to sand all of my cubes and stain them so if you dont want to do this just disregard
step 5.


Important: I will shortly post a picture of my sanded and stained cube.

Step 1: Selecting Your Cube

The largest size my scroll size will cut is a 2in. cube.  Its best to start with a plank of wood thats the size of your cube.  Make sure you dont get too big for your scroll saw or you could seriously mess it up, the very action that the saw that uses to cut makes it get smaller than you think.

Step 2: Using Your Scroll Saw

The first thing you should know is that the scroll saw cuts by moving up and down very fast.  This will lead to pieces of wood flying around if your not careful co make sure you have a tight grip.

Next when cutting your curves it's best to push the cube into the blade then pullback and turn the repeat until you're done.

When you are cutting strait lines you might will want to try and push the cube into the blade and go faster, this not only can break your blade but it makes it so your cut inside the cube is not perfectly up and down because your blad will bend so you can only slide the cube parts together one way (this can be fixed with alot of sanding).

The last is don't try anything your not ready for, just be careful and keep track of all your fingers.

Step 3: Cuting the First Side

On one side draw a puzzle pattern with a pencil then cut allong the line.  After you're done take the parts appart and let any sawdust out.  It's that simple.

Step 4: Cutting the Second Side

Tape the first cut peices together as even as posible then draw your second puzzle piece and cut it out.  After you're done take appart the pieces and shake out any broken pieces (dont worry about broken pieces it's going to happen you can eather glue them back in or just sand over the spot they broke of from. 

Step 5: Staining and Sanding

I like to stain my cubes with Minwax Early American stain it's my favorite stain and its very great looking.

The best way to sand a cube is to use a pad you would usually use on a machine but just in your hand make sure you are careful not to over sand anything or the pieces will not look good on the outside.

Comments

[namaracasa]

great

[sawtooth1953]

Nice project, but I have just 2-cents of consructive comments:

In Step 2 you mistakenly called the scroll saw a "band saw" ... the band saw is a different tool whose blade only cuts w/downstrokes (because the blade's teeth are on a spinning circular metal band and you cut wood on the part that is continually moving downward).

And where you said "it makes it so your cut inside the cube is not strait " it is a little more graphic to explain that pushing the wood faster than the blade can cut it will bend or bow the blade inside the block, resulting in curved cuts rather than straight up/down ones. Puzzle projects require straight up/down cutting.

Lastly, the scroll saw is one of the safest electric wood cutting tools, but anyone afraid for their fingers can wear gloves.

Spence

[zootsuitman]

Thanks, my typing skills aren't that great and usually by the time I'm done typing I lose my train of thought. I meant scroll saw it just didn't come out. Your second thought was also great thats exactly what I meant I just couldn't put it in type.

[zootsuitman]

I just fixed these errors thanks again.

[Dr. Pepper]

good job!