Hi Christine J

 

I also use a sharp scraper blade on larger openings. For small cuts I use 150 grit and sand after every one or two cuts, so by the time you’ve finished cutting, the sanding is all done and you don’t have to worry about breaking fragile pieces. Have you tried burning off the fuzzies with a mini blow torch? That works quite well too.

 

Regards

Sue

 

 

I do that a lot.  A friend turned me onto the idea since he does custom refinishing of old furniture and always uses a cabinet scraper, a flat blade with a bur that you pull across the wood and it really gives a clean, smooth final finish.  Anyway, between a utility razor blade and jewelers files, the majority of my fuzzies are removed.  I've done too much damage sanding delicate work but do sand when I can get away with it.  A good sanding BEFORE I cut seems to go a long way too.

 

~Andy

Have heard of a lot of different ways in getting rid of them, I guess whatever is quickest and easiest is the best.

 

Your idea sounds worth a try.

 

I use reverse tooth blades on most of my work but some fuzzies escape and I use the mouse sander to get them off. But like Andy said, it depends whether there are delicate areas on it that you may not want to risk by running a sander over it.

 

Brett

FWIW I keep a sanding sponge at the scroll saw and sand the backside every few cutouts... otherwise the fuzzies interfere with it sitting flat.  When I'm done, I try to gently sand the fuzzies off or I use riffler/jeweler files or I use a butane torch, but I don't know exactly how I decide which I'll use... none works perfectly every time.  Cheaper, softer plywoods have a lot more fuzzies.

 

Spence

You can use a propane toruch and litly real litly brush the flame over the back of your cut out.

I read about this in one of the magazines I get and waited sometime before I tried it. Wish I

hadn't be so leary about the results, like burn marks etc.. It works and works well, just be

real careful and just take a few fuzzies at a time away with each pas.

\

Christine - I tend to have less fuzzies if I put a stiff piece of cardboard behind my wood...not the kind that has the stuff glued between sheets, but just a single hard piece..I've found them in shipping boxes, sometimes picture frames.  But the blade seems to rip it up on the bottom and make the wood not so much!  Doesn't take all of them away...but it works for me...!

Connie

Hi Christine,

I use all of the above for fuzzies removal. After I drill my holes I usually sand the back then after cutting an area -I take a break from sitting at the saw and burn off fuzzies using butane torch ( http://doityourself.com/invt/6335525#  is the one I use) then sand the area that I just cut (using small Mouse sander).  As always when I am done cutting use the small files for touching up places that you just can't get into with the sander. I also use a small abrasive cord to clean out veining that you can't get into with a file.

 

Tom

I take one of my wifes pot scrubbers and cut a circle about the size of a half-dollar. Then I screw it to the end of my dremel tool and on low speed it will remove almost all of the fuzzies. Then lightly sand and you're ready to go. I've been doing this for 12 years and I can only remember breaking two pictures and that was before I slowed the speed down.

Nice tip Catfish- I'll have to try that. Are those the Scothbrite type pot scrubbers?

 

Tom

 

Hi i use emery boards or finger nail files that you can buy at Dollar General store  2 pks for $1.00 what is nice about them is you can cut them with scissors in half and make thin sanding files to do the inside sanding or filing. I also have a set  of small very fine Needle  wood  files that i use Also. I have seen them in Sloan's woodshop catalog. I got mine at a flea market. Hope this helps.