Fretwork

Dear users, dear authors,
in the birthday thread, fretwork was just mentioned as a DIY hobby.
Is this a popular hobby here in the forum / on the portal?
Do you like it?
Who has experience with it?

Many years ago, I once cut out a dollhouse for my kids out of plywood, and it’s still around today. Back then, though, I had a small electric fretsaw. When I tried doing it by hand the next time, I always pressed too hard, and the saw blade would always break. Today, I don’t think I’d have that much patience anymore, nor would I have such a steady hand.

Hello... unfortunately I don't have a photo handy right now... I've already made a few candle arches... not quite perfect... but handmade. 

Years ago I did quite a few fretwork projects: shelf sitters, flower picks, gift tags, and all sorts of knickknacks.
I don’t really do such delicate work with the fretsaw anymore, so my last piece turned out rather rustic.



Now the saw is sitting in the garage, and when I need it, I can’t find the saw blades ☺

Best, Petra

My son gave me a beautiful cat. It’s unpainted—he’s not really into painting—but the scroll-saw work is top-notch.

I don’t do it myself; I always end up breaking the saw blade. But I find the tip about using an electric saw very interesting. I’ll have to see if my husband has something like that in his workshop.
I’d really love to have a beautiful, hand-sawn arched candle holder like that.

Many years ago—it must have been at least 20 years—I once made some “edge-sitting” figures out of plywood for the door frames. I got the template from a book on window decorations. For Christmas, I made some Christmas-themed designs and also crafted a door wreath using a fretsaw.

I’ve managed to save these two over the years: