Free Pattern Friday: Lobster Scroll Saw Puzzle

Lobster Scroll Saw Puzzle

For the first 22 years of my life, I spent living in the amazing state of Maine. Beautiful fall colors, quaint villages aplenty, and of course, lobsters! Nearly every time I mention my home state to someone new, it's a good bet that their mouth begins to water. They tell me their story of the last time they went to Maine and it often starts AND ends with lobsters! I've never understood the fuss about them. For all of the 22 years I lived in Maine, I never once had a lobster on the dinner plate. It wasn't until I settled in NC that I had my first lobster. Don't judge me too harshly!

Our lobster scroll saw puzzle is one of the more advanced designs we offer. It has a good deal of fret line details and lots of sharp angled points. This means cutting takes a bit longer than normal since you have to go slower to make sure nothing gets messed up. As for wood selection, I like to go with any red colored wood. The one in the photo is made from Padauk. If your feeling adventurous, you could try making a rare blue lobster.

Lobster Scroll Saw Puzzle

GET YOUR FREE SCROLL SAW PATTERN HERE!

Please keep in mind that patterns will only remain free for 1 month after this blog post. If you sign up for our monthly Pattern Subscription plan, you will get access to our entire "Free Pattern Friday" catalog.

Supplies & Materials:

You don't need anything fancy for this project. If you don't have any of these items in your workshop, I've provided some links to quickly stock up.

• 6.5" by 4.5" by 3/4" piece of wood

• 1/8" drill bit

• 120 - 220 grit sandpaper

• Mineral oil (or finish of choice)

• Spray adhesive

• Blue painters tape

• #5 MGT pegas scroll saw blade (or blade of choice)

Instructions:

1. Once you have your board flattened, use a random orbital palm sander to sand the board surface to 220 grit.

2. Cover the surface with a layer of blue painters tape. Cut out the pattern, spray the backside with the adhesive spray, and place it onto of the board.

3. Use a 1/8" drill bit and drill press to drill the eye holes.

4. Cut the puzzle pieces out in any order. Go nice and slow whenever you cut one of the detail fret lines. Try to keep the pointed sections pointy and not rounded over.

5. Once everything is all cut, time to clean up the edges. Use a high grit sandpaper to remove any fuzzies (no lower than 220). If you have any burn marks you want to remove, use a lower grit sandpaper, then finish off with 220.

6. (optional) Give all exterior edges of each puzzle piece a soft round over both top and bottom. This helps to give each piece a finished, well defined look and makes the overall puzzle appear of higher quality.

7. After all sanding is done, apply the oil or finish of choice. Depending on what finish you use and the type of wood, it may take several applications. Once the finish is fully dried, you're all done. Lobster puzzle quest completed!

We hope you enjoyed making this pattern. If you would like to see more content like this, please consider buying us a coffee or subscribe to our monthly "Pattern Subscription" plan. It helps to support future blog posts and you get access to all of our previous Free Pattern Friday giveaways. Be sure to share your pictures on Facebook and tag @Entwood Quest! Now, go make some sawdust!