Blade feeding in large workpieces

[Archer T. Joyce]

I use a Delta scroll saw with pinless blades. On small format pieces it's easy to leave the blade in the lower lock and, by bending the blade slightly, feed it up through the pilot hole from the bottom. With large format pieces it's difficult, if not impossible, to get the workpiece tilted up enough to feed the blade from the bottom. Am I missing something here or simply doing it incorrectly? Am I supposed to feed the blade down through the top of the workpiece, then try to secure it in the lower lock? Thanks for any advice.

[Stoney]

Welcome to the group. What your refering to is called top feeding. This method is much prefered on large work. It takes a little getting used to. Some say its the best way and some prefer to bottom feed when they can. I believe on your saw you can do either. To answer your question is sounds like you need to do just as you discribed. Hope this helps.

[Mike Crosa]

Stoney is right it is called top feed. I have found that on large pieces as well as small pieces it has made a tremendous difference in the way my neck feels. Bending it over to try to see the hole was giving me the proverbial pain in the neck! At first it seems awkward but after a while it seems your fingers grow eyes and it becomes natural. Try it you will like it.

[Jr_Ranger]

As stated by Stoney and Mike it has been my experience that top feeding is way easier/faster using flat blades. Spirals are another beast the drill hole has to be bigger. If you do try give yourself time to learn many give up too quickly. Your blade changes will be slow until your hands find the holder without looking. Keep us posted.

[Archer T. Joyce]

Thanks, guys. What I'm hearing is to top feed the blade and ultimately learn to "feel your way" into securing it into its lower jaws. And I'm also of the opinion that, generally, you should cut from the center of the workpiece out - correct?

Archer

[Jr_Ranger]

Yep that is correct. Also if you have any delicate areas it helps to put the cut pieces back in and tape them while you continue working.

[Jediscroller]

Archer,
Cutting from the center out is a good general rule of thumb. I would add however that there are some cases where that may not be the best approach. I tend to start with the areas that I'm most concerned with breaking work my way out from there. Sometimes it's the center, other times it could be left to right, right to left, top to bottom etc.

[SNAPPER]

Archer, I have a Delta also what I do for larger pieces is swing the hold down foot to the back. This allows me to bottom feed larger pieces. I have never top fed with this saw. I find it much eaiser to bottom feed with the QuicksetII clamp on the top arm.
Dean

[Bill Wilson]

Even though I have a DeWalt, I stubbornly remain a bottom feeder. When I cut larger pieces I do a couple of little tricks to help me navigate all the holes. I will put tape or simply glue a blank piece of paper on the back of the stock. After drilling all my holes, I will circle them with a marker, to make them easier to find. Then I take an awl and open them up a little, clearing any wood fibers out of the opening, making them easier to hit. If the holes are really small, I'll grind the top of the blade to a point so that it threads through easier.

All the top feeders out there are probably laughing at me for going to all this extra bother, but like I said, I'm stubborn.

[Richard Grover]

I have tried to top feed on my Dewalt. Finding the lower blade clamp has never been my problem. My problem is how do I line up the hole in my work piece with the hole in the table? I find it most difficult when I am starting the piece and there is nothing to reference it with. Once a fair portion has been cut out, I can reference from previously cut holes.

DG Dewalt 788