Last year, I shared a tutorial on using your Silhouette or Cricut and a scroll saw to cut out shaped blanks that you could paint or stain. (Missed it? Read it here.) I’ve been meaning to add another, and today I finally got around to it!
In the first tutorial, I kept the scroll saw cuts super simple. This time, this tutorial features more difficult cuts – like cutting out the centers of text. You’ll also notice that I used a thicker wood – 1/2 inch select pine.
How to Cut Out Wood Words & Shapes Using a Scroll Saw
- Use your Silhouette or Cricut to cut a template from cardstock. I used the Hello Wedding font and the word Craft. After cutting your cardstock template, trace around it on your wood using a pencil.
- Begin your scroll saw cuts and cut around the entire outside of your word or shape. Cutting with a scroll saw is much like using a sewing machine. As you complete more projects, you’ll get better at doing smooth rounded edges and corners. The one thing that helps me is to constantly keep my wood moving. (If you are curious, I don’t have a fancy scroll saw. Read more about it here.)
- After you’ve cut around the outside of the design, drill holes into the insides of the text (these are called islands). Now, consult your scroll saw manual to find out how to remove the blade. On my scroll saw, I turn a knob which releases the tension in the blade and allows me to remove and rethread the blade through my drilled hole. Then, you’ll cut out all of the islands.
- After you’ve cut your shape, sand down any rough edges. (Need tips for sanding? Head to this post.) I used my palm sander for the front, back, and edges and sandpaper for the islands and other nooks and crannies.
- Stain or paint your wood word or shape. I used spray on stain (wood stain that comes in a spray paint can). This is the first project that I’ve used it and was happy with the results. Here’s the exact one I used. After staining and painting, your wood word is ready to add a hanger to the back and hang on the wall. I usually use screw in sawtooth hangers.
- I decided to mount my word onto a frame on made with some wood scraps laying around my garage. I used basic wood nails to nail everything together. Here’s a link to a tutorial on the blog if you’d like to make a frame, too. Oh! I painted the background white using this.
Love this tutorial? Save the image below to Pinterest!
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Thank you so much for this tutorial! What type of blade do you use in the scroll saw?
I use a standard tooth blade most of the time, occasionally I use a skip tooth blade – it’s a little more forgiving!
Also – where do you find 1/2″ Pine? Thank you!
My local lumbar yard has it!
Thank you for the tutorial. My husband has a scroll saw and he gets frustrated when it comes time to do those cuttings. I’ll have show this to him. As for me and any tool that has a blade, no thank you. I’m the type of person who would probably manage to cut off a limb no matter what part of my body it belongs to lol.
Danna, Did you know you can get cut proof gloves? They are meant for kitchens, but I use them with my scroll saw, too: http://amzn.to/2CkEPzG
I find it easier to cut the inside of the letter first…especially if you have single letters that aren’t connected. Cutting the inside first gives you more wood to manage instead of a small letter. Your fingers aren’t as close to the blades this way.
Ultra Reverse blades from Flying Dutchman Scroll Saw Blades are awesome. Size 3 and 9.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the post. I have also done many projects like this. However instead of tracing the paper on the wood I use basting spray from the sewing department and the words or pictures peel off right after I am done with no sticky residue sand it and its awesome!! Just thought I’d leave my suggestion.
Interesting! I’ll have to try it!