Scroll Saw Compound Cut Earrings

Scroll Saw Compound Cut Earrings

Transform small pieces of scrap into attractive jewelry

By Ronald Nelson in Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Summer 2017 Magazine

Since I got my scroll saw, I have been making small, two-dimensional pendants and earrings from small pieces of locally sourced maple. I wanted to make something using compound-cutting techniques. I found several patterns for Christmas ornaments, and after some redesigning and a lot of resizing, I had plans for earrings that I cut from a block of maple milled from a fallen branch. These earrings are light and ideal gifts for family and friends who like to wear something natural.

Making the Earrings
Cut the blank to the size listed in the materials list. A slightly larger piece of wood will be fine, but make sure the wood is square in the two planes where the cutting will be done. Fold the pattern along the dotted line, apply spray adhesive to the back of the pattern, align the fold with the corner of the blank, and press it into place. Drill blade-entry holes and cut the two frets on one side. Secure the cut pieces with clear packaging tape. Rotate the blank 90° and repeat the process. After all the frets are cut and secured, cut the main body of the earring on one side. Be careful not to break the waste area too much, and secure the cut pieces with clear packaging tape. Rotate the blank 90° and make the final cut. Carefully remove the earring from inside the blank. Sand away any fuzzies with a small strip of 400-grit sandpaper. Apply three coats of spray lacquer and allow it to cure.