I bought a 25 dollar Craftsman scroll saw at a rummage
sale and spend a few hours last night making jigsaw
puzzles out of hardboard for a party. (Thanks for the
tip! The project worked out really well.)
I've never used one before, and I don't know a lot about
the tool. I have a couple of questions.
1) I bought Olson No.5 blades with the reverse teeth (even
though the manual said to use blades going one way) because
the package said it created a smoother cut on both sides.
Is this hype or are these blades a little better?
2) What is the purpose of using slower speeds? I cranked
it to the highest speed, worked for four hours. I broke
a couple of blades, but I figured that was par for the
course.
3) (I know, I said a couple of questions) How do you tension
blades? I tightened until I could easily move the blade an
1/8 on an inch either way. Is that about right?
Thanks for the help.
S.
On Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:46:14 -0400, "Daryl Walters"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"samson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>I bought a 25 dollar Craftsman scroll saw at a rummage
>> sale and spend a few hours last night making jigsaw
>> puzzles out of hardboard for a party. (Thanks for the
>> tip! The project worked out really well.)
>>
>> I've never used one before, and I don't know a lot about
>> the tool. I have a couple of questions.
>>
>> 1) I bought Olson No.5 blades with the reverse teeth (even
>> though the manual said to use blades going one way) because
>> the package said it created a smoother cut on both sides.
>> Is this hype or are these blades a little better?
>>
Reverse fret blades do work better, giving less splintering on the
bottom. I use them almost exclusively.
>> 2) What is the purpose of using slower speeds? I cranked
>> it to the highest speed, worked for four hours. I broke
>> a couple of blades, but I figured that was par for the
>> course.
>>
>> 3) (I know, I said a couple of questions) How do you tension
>> blades? I tightened until I could easily move the blade an
>> 1/8 on an inch either way. Is that about right?
>>
I use Flying Dutchman blades from Mikes workshop. They are the best
blades that I have tried. Except for some heavy duty blades which I
think had a defect, the other blades almost never break. I tighten
the blades as tight as I can get them. It makes for better control
and straighter cuts. With 1/8" deflection the blades will bow on
thicker wood. You slow the speed down for better control.
Some of my scroll saw work is at
http://www.olypen.com/ray/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html
>> Thanks for the help.
>>
>> S.
>>
>there are a great group of folks at Scrollsawer.com hosted by Fox Chapel
>publishing the forum has members from all over the world with tons of
>knowledge here is the link http://www.scrollsawer.com/forum/index.php you
>can read all sorts of info but to post you must be registered HTH
>
"samson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I bought a 25 dollar Craftsman scroll saw at a rummage
> sale and spend a few hours last night making jigsaw
> puzzles out of hardboard for a party. (Thanks for the
> tip! The project worked out really well.)
>
> I've never used one before, and I don't know a lot about
> the tool. I have a couple of questions.
>
> 1) I bought Olson No.5 blades with the reverse teeth (even
> though the manual said to use blades going one way) because
> the package said it created a smoother cut on both sides.
> Is this hype or are these blades a little better?
>
> 2) What is the purpose of using slower speeds? I cranked
> it to the highest speed, worked for four hours. I broke
> a couple of blades, but I figured that was par for the
> course.
>
> 3) (I know, I said a couple of questions) How do you tension
> blades? I tightened until I could easily move the blade an
> 1/8 on an inch either way. Is that about right?
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
> S.
>
there are a great group of folks at Scrollsawer.com hosted by Fox Chapel
publishing the forum has members from all over the world with tons of
knowledge here is the link http://www.scrollsawer.com/forum/index.php you
can read all sorts of info but to post you must be registered HTH
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
says...
> On Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:46:14 -0400, "Daryl Walters"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >
> >"samson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >>I bought a 25 dollar Craftsman scroll saw at a rummage
> >> sale and spend a few hours last night making jigsaw
> >> puzzles out of hardboard for a party. (Thanks for the
> >> tip! The project worked out really well.)
> >>
> >> I've never used one before, and I don't know a lot about
> >> the tool. I have a couple of questions.
> >>
> >> 1) I bought Olson No.5 blades with the reverse teeth (even
> >> though the manual said to use blades going one way) because
> >> the package said it created a smoother cut on both sides.
> >> Is this hype or are these blades a little better?
> >>
> Reverse fret blades do work better, giving less splintering on the
> bottom. I use them almost exclusively.
>
> >> 2) What is the purpose of using slower speeds? I cranked
> >> it to the highest speed, worked for four hours. I broke
> >> a couple of blades, but I figured that was par for the
> >> course.
> >>
>
> >> 3) (I know, I said a couple of questions) How do you tension
> >> blades? I tightened until I could easily move the blade an
> >> 1/8 on an inch either way. Is that about right?
> >>
> I use Flying Dutchman blades from Mikes workshop. They are the best
> blades that I have tried. Except for some heavy duty blades which I
> think had a defect, the other blades almost never break. I tighten
> the blades as tight as I can get them. It makes for better control
> and straighter cuts. With 1/8" deflection the blades will bow on
> thicker wood. You slow the speed down for better control.
>
> Some of my scroll saw work is at
> http://www.olypen.com/ray/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html
That's some beautiful work there. Thanks very much for
the information!
S.
samson wrote:
> I bought a 25 dollar Craftsman scroll saw at a rummage
> sale and spend a few hours last night making jigsaw
> puzzles out of hardboard for a party. (Thanks for the
> tip! The project worked out really well.)
>
> I've never used one before, and I don't know a lot about
> the tool. I have a couple of questions.
>
> 1) I bought Olson No.5 blades with the reverse teeth (even
> though the manual said to use blades going one way) because
> the package said it created a smoother cut on both sides.
> Is this hype or are these blades a little better?
It depends. What is the stroke and how thick is the material? If you are
talking about using those in 1/4" hardboard, don't bother.
____________
> 2) What is the purpose of using slower speeds?
To cut more slowly. Control.
_____________
> 3) (I know, I said a couple of questions) How do you tension
> blades? I tightened until I could easily move the blade an
> 1/8 on an inch either way. Is that about right?
Not for me, way too loose.
--
dadiOH
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