I've recently picked up scroll sawing and started crafting toys and figurines. Initially, I used basswood since it was easy to work with, but I've heard that maple is better for durability. I bought some 1-inch thick maple, but I'm finding it really difficult to cut, especially for detailed areas and tight curves. I didn't have this problem with walnut. I usually do the silhouette on the scroll saw, and then finish up with hand carving and sanding. I enjoy the process, but I seem to be making little progress with the maple. I'm curious, do people really use maple for toys? What tools do they use effectively?
1 Answer
You should check out a scroll saw blade chart! Different blades work better for various woods. What blade are you using on your maple? For my maple carvings, I actually used a bandsaw for the rough cutting, which might help you too.
Thanks for the tip! I'm currently using a 'general purpose' blade from Home Depot: Regular Tooth 15 TPI. I also have some plywood blades with a hook tooth and 7 TPI, but I was worried they might damage the maple. I used a thinner one for the basswood.