Chrestensen Burghout Designs

"Creating Original Art Through Wood"

Book Review

by Sue Chrestensen

“Learn to use your scroll saw in 25 skill-building chapters”

85 pages written in 1999, reviewed and updated in 2003

Projects and tutorial style instructions in a standard step by step format with photographs to assist in the learning process

Scroll Saw Workbook

by John and Joyce Nelson

I wish that I had purchased this book before buying my first scroll saw. Countless hours would have been saved if I had had the sense to read and build my skills before taking on some of the projects that caught my eye, looked easy enough, and in my arrogance I thought that I could do right out of the gate so to speak. There is much more to scrolling then one might initially think.

The history and description of the various scroll saws are probably skipped over by most scrollers who probably bought the book after they bought their first scroll saw, however there is some valuable information about blades, good wood for beginners to play with and other supplies which help complete a project. Stack cutting, relief cutting, cutting various materials, inlay, compound, layering, and segmentation are all taught in this book.

The projects provided in this workbook, at first glance, appear simplistic and not too interesting . The key is that as the beginner learns the steps to making a sharp corner cut, or where to place a pilot hole or how to do any number of scrolling skills and techniques they can then move on to any level of project whether it be a complex fretwork clock, a complex segmentation project or an intarsia project that incorporates various woods.

I know it’s a bit daunting to start an intarsia project. Most scrollers put it off until they feel confident that they can follow the lines of a pattern and understand the basics of woodworking with a scroll saw. Some scrollers never master using spiral blades. I didn’t know that there was such a thing as a spiral blade let alone that there was “pinless blades” when I bought my first scroll saw. In fact, it took me awhile before I knew how to change the blade. I didn’t know about bevel cutting. I didn’t know about compound cutting and the amazing projects that can come from that technique. I just knew that it looked easy and fun and I wanted to learn. This should have been the first scroll saw workbook I purchased.

John and Joyce Nelson promote a systematic skill building approach which facilitates a scrollers ability to complete any project. If you have taken the time to build the skills outlined in this book you will be an accomplished scroller rather quickly.

This small book is ideal for anyone wishing to learn how to scroll. It is a well written step by step tutorial. I have no reservations about recommending this book. If they follow the steps and work thru the lessons, they will enjoy this hobby immensely.

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© 2005 - 2007 Sue Chrestensen and Toni Burghout