When woodworkers think about the scroll saw, they often think of a tool that cuts slowly and is perhaps the power saw with which one is least likely to cut themselves. And, compared to stationary tools like the table saw, bandsaw, and mitre saw, I feel that it is an accurate description Perhaps a hand-held … Continue reading Risk to the User and Workpiece
I'm not sure if there is any project that brings more pleasure after it leaves my shop than a jigsaw puzzle. After buying a scroll saw, I was soon making jigsaw puzzles from 1/4" plywood. As fun as they were to make and assemble, I soon began experimenting as I do, and started cutting multi-level … Continue reading Make a 3D Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle
I recently completed this sign for my friend Mike. It bears his and his wife's names, and those of his three dogs. I created the layout using a computer, then printed it out and adhered it to a sheet of Baltic birch plywood. I cut out the waste around the letters with my scroll saw and dyed … Continue reading A Different Kind of Scrolled Sign
People have always been fascinated by my 3D wooden jigsaw puzzles. "Wow! Is that ever cool?" they marvel. "How on Earth did you make this?" "They are little gems. I dared to unlock a few pieces from one puzzle and was pleasantly surprised to find that they are unexpectedly puzzling! Devilish and nicely done!" - Jonathan, … Continue reading Cutting a 3D Jigsaw Puzzle
Big or small - I make them all! Last year I made two large, complex and challenging jigsaw puzzles with 90 and 140 pieces, respectively. Making a puzzle involves cutting out sections of pieces, turning them on edge, cutting them again, turning each section another time and making more cuts. The result is a pile … Continue reading More Multi-Layer Jigsaw Puzzles
This past weekend, I spent my time at Gallery Bistro demonstrating how I make my 3D jigsaw puzzles. It was a fun and rewarding experience for me and I learned a lot about how the public viewed my puzzles and pricing. Almost everybody was interested in what I was doing and creating. I showed them … Continue reading Market Test Reveals Public Perception of Puzzles
There is now another wooden 3D puzzle on my Gallery page. Like big brother, the 140-piece monster, this one also has multiple layers. However, it has only 90 pieces, so it should be a cinch to complete, relatively speaking! Like puzzles? Come try one this weekend only at Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke Street, Port Moody). … Continue reading A Little Less Insanity: A 90-Piece, Layered Jigsaw Puzzle
I will be making and selling my wooden 3D jigsaw puzzles at Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke Street, Port Moody) Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from 10am-3pm. Sometimes I describe my work as that which is so insane nobody in their right mind would attempt it. My wooden 3D jigsaw puzzles are examples of … Continue reading Get Personal with Insanity
When not required to make something that meets a certain set of criteria, I am free to let the design evolve on its own. Sometimes (but not often), I end up making nothing more than scrap wood and sawdust. That's how it goes sometimes. I feel that this quote embodies my philosophy on making speculative … Continue reading How I Prefer to Make Speculative Work
I really don’t know what to say about this project, other than it’s the most complex scroll saw puzzle I have made to date. It’s made up of 65 pieces of Douglas fir, which I’ll admit was ambitious. There are some really cool pieces that still blow my mind. One of the most challenging parts … Continue reading Diamond Challenge
Sculptural Woodwork by Chris Wong 