Thanks to The Friends of Newtown Seniors in partnership with Newtown Senior Center, a grant was recently secured through Western CT Area Agency on Aging to launch a scroll saw class.

With grant funds, six scroll saw stations were outfitted and the senior center’s first six-week class kicked off May 8. The class is currently co-taught by two senior center members and master woodworkers, Harold Patterson and Ken Molivar.

With many blade types and sizes to choose from, students are quickly learning that the saws enable them to cut sharp curves and make highly detailed cuts. Tilting the table, or turning the piece on its side after the top cut, creates a three-dimensional object.

Patterson and Molivar are going over all operations and techniques to help their students be successful and feel confident with the power tool. Participants are becoming comfortable with the type of wood and the direction of the grain, saw speed, how hard they push (feed rate), type and thickness of the material, and smoothness of the cut.

Initial comments from participants included feedback saying they are receiving “top-notch instruction” and “an awesome opportunity to have offered right here in [their] senior center.”