Capture the feeling of Opening Day with this classic fretwork baseball scene
By Jacob and Wayne Fowler
While baseball season is in full swing, this fretwork design captures that moment where the pitcher winds up, the batter focuses on the ball, and the catcher waits for the ball to slap into his glove. It’s what baseball is all about!
This pattern departs from Jacob’s usual animal designs, but it is cute and fun to cut. I used a piece of light-colored box elder wood for the fretwork, and a piece of ash for the optional backing board.
Cutting and Finishing
Download and print the pattern, and trim it roughly to the outer shape of the pattern rectangle. Cover the top of the wood with clear packaging tape. Glue the pattern to the clear packaging tape on the wood. Drill the blade-entry holes and cut the frets. Finally, cut the perimeter of the rectangle.
Peel off the packing tape and pattern and sand the face of the piece with a disc or belt sander, or by hand. If you are like me and straight-line challenged, this is an opportunity to straighten out the exterior lines of the rectangle with the sander. If you decide to use a backing board, trace around the perimeter of the piece onto the backing board blank and cut the backing board. Hand-sand with 220-grit sandpaper to remove any remaining burrs. Glue and clamp the backing board to the fretwork. Allow the glue to dry, make any final adjustments, and apply an oil finish.
Materials & Tools:
Materials:
• Light wood, such as box elder, 1/2″ to 3/4″ (1.3cm to 1.9cm) thick: fretwork, 6-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ (16.5cm x 26.7cm)
• Medium wood, such as ash, 1/4″ (6mm) thick: optional backing board, 6-1/2″ x 10-1/2″ (16.5cm x 26.7cm)
• Tape: clear packaging
• Spray adhesive, temporary bond
• Sandpaper: 220 or 320 grit
• Wood glue (optional)
• Oil finish, or finish of choice
Tools:
• Scroll saw blades: #1, #4 reverse-tooth
• Drill press with bit: 3/64″ (1.2mm)
• Sander: disc or belt (optional)
CLICK HERE to download the pattern for The Pitch.
About the Authors
Jacob Fowler designed his first scroll saw project when he was five years old. He now spends most of his time designing fantasy and animal patterns for his father, Wayne. Jacob and Wayne often take pictures of wildlife at local zoos and preserves and turn the images into fretwork patterns. Jacob has published over 200 of his 1,000 designs in partnership with his father.
Wayne Fowler began scrolling 27 years ago after attending a Toronto woodworking show. He published his first article in 1998. Since then he has published almost 150 articles, most in partnership with his son and pattern designer, Jacob. Wayne’s work has won awards at a local craft guild and several science fiction conventions.
For more great fretwork patterns, see Woodworker’s Pattern Book by Wayne and Jacob Fowler. Available for $16.99 plus S&H from www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.
For more great projects like this, check out Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine.
