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I was asked to make a video on how to judge a Scrollsaw Contest. Being a judge for many of the contests, I have described how we have been judging the contest. Over the years we have tried many methods and this is by far the best way I have found to do an equal and fair job at judging. This video is going to be distributed to anyone who holds a Scrollsaw Contest sponsored by SAW. From there the contest holder should make sure every judge reviews the video. The judges will also be asked to review this web page of additional tips on judging. What we are trying to do is to get some consistency in what the judges are looking at in all of the contests.

There are things that I did not get covered in the video very well. So on this web page there will be a question and answer list that I will add to with many questions I feel need to be clarified. If you have a question I will be sure to give you an answer and then it will be posted here also.

Hopefully this page will help all of you make better projects to enter in a contest. At least now you can judge your own as you are building it. The real challenge comes when you enter it and see if the next person just did a better job at it. Good luck, I like seeing the fantastic work that is being entered in the contests.

If you have any questions about judging send me an email:    ric47@scrollsaws.com

A PDF document is available that can be printed and studied. Click here for that document.

The above document was our initial attempt to help new people learn how to judge. Rick Hutcheson has recently created a movie that will aid in the training of new judges. You have the option of downloading or watching a copy of this movie online. The resolution of the online version is much lower in order to present a timely download. Please select the version you wish to see based on your ability to download large files.

Low Resolution Judging Movie - almost 3 mgs

Medium Resolution Judging Movie - almost 16.5 mgs

If you have additional questions that were not answered in the above material, please send your question to Rick Hutcheson. Your question, and it's answer will be added to the list below.

Question:

Now that some designers are making some real fine line patterns and spiral blades are the way to cut them best. A spiral blade gives you a round corner instead of a square corner. My question now that patterns have changed to more fine line will judging look at the round corners from a spiral blade and cause the maker to loose points? Jeff Zaffino patterns are a good example. Some of his patterns I don't see being able to cut with a straight blade. Thanks for any help.

Answer:

I don't see the round blade corners as a problem. I do see over cuts on a corner or wavy lines like the sides of a letter that should be straight as a point looser to a judge. If the pattern should be a circle like a car wheel, if it is a jagged line that would be a point looser. Basically and line cut needs to match the way it should look, no matter if it was cut with a regular blade or a spiral blade. Also any fuzzy left in the cut is a definite point looser, and some of the spiral blades are good at leaving fuzzies.