Breaking Blades Continuously - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

skrina · 10-01-2007, 07:57 PM

I need help! I've started cutting my letters out of 1/2" Baltic Birch Plywood and the cutting is going well other than the fact that I'm breaking blades left right and center! I've tried different blade widths, different tensions, going slower....everything I can think of and yet they still break. My husband and I will be taking some lessons but they don't start until November and I'd like to get going sooner than that, but I'm finding it so frustrating right now.

Is there anything that maybe I haven't thought of that could be the cause or is it normal in the beginning to break blades a lot? What is the best blade width for cutting that type of wood do you think?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Mick Walker · 10-01-2007, 08:27 PM

skrina, either your tension is too loose or you are putting sideways pressure on the blade. Too much tension is better than too little. You should hear a high pitched "ting" when you pluck the back of the blade like a guitar string. ( with the saw turned off). Steer the wood into the teeth of the blade, try not to push into the side of the blade. There would be a wide range of blades you could use from 2/0 to a 7 or 9 on 1/2" birch. Where do the blades break, top, middle, bottom?

minowevie · 10-01-2007, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skrina

I need help! I've started cutting my letters out of 1/2" Baltic Birch Plywood and the cutting is going well other than the fact that I'm breaking blades left right and center! I've tried different blade widths, different tensions, going slower....everything I can think of and yet they still break. My husband and I will be taking some lessons but they don't start until November and I'd like to get going sooner than that, but I'm finding it so frustrating right now.

Is there anything that maybe I haven't thought of that could be the cause or is it normal in the beginning to break blades a lot? What is the best blade width for cutting that type of wood do you think?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Mick Is right there. I know when I cut wood 1/2' and have lots of turns, I tend to push on the blade. remmeber, the blade is only in the wood, in the same place all the time. and can heat up. I use a lube stick. called saw blade Lubricant. it come s in a long stick, get mine from Wildwood Designs. www.widwooddesigns.com item # T131
It is well worth the price. will last forever, well in my time anyway. I just push it against my blade while running. just for a second. this seems to help. it will help keep the blade cool. are you burning the inside of your cut too? this might be a simtum of the blade getting to hot. you said you slowed down. is that the speed? are you buy chance still pushing. hopeing to get done faster? try slowing your speed down some. I go about 1300 or even slower. and let the blade do the work. hope this helps, your friend Evie

Ps. I was wondering, has any one tryed, useing parafein. as a lube on the blade? will that hurt the saw table. I use wax papper to put a coat of wax on my saw table. seems to make it smoother. is that the same? thanks Evie

minowevie · 10-01-2007, 09:03 PM

Skrina, I forgot one thing, I wonted to ask you. where is the blade breaking? if it is breaking on the clamp. maybe, you might be crancking it down to tight. On my saw. (Hegner) if I tighten the blade to much, I bend it some. and specialy, when tentioning, the blade real tight. on my saw, I dont like to tighten the blade too tight.nor do I like to make the tention so tight. it is a matter of trial an aier.I know for a while there, my blade kept slipping out of the clamp.so I tightend it. but there is some factory oil left on the blade some times. and dipping the ends in alcohol first, wipe it off. then clamp it.then tighten the blade. should hold better.. practice on a scrap piece of wood. draw a squiggly line. and try differant tentions. then run your saw fast, and then try slow. and pay attintion, to how you feed the wood. some times what i do is let up on my pushing, and whatch the blade. does it wont to catch up?or stay still.If it still moves toward you. to catch up. you might be pushing. also, release on you wood some, ( don't let it get away from you) and see if it is still squer with the blade. or does your wood move some, right or left. notice your blade, is it going up and down freely? or against the wood.this might meen your pushing to the sides. hope this helps some. your friend Evie

skrina · 10-01-2007, 09:23 PM

Thanks for the suggestions so far. My blades seem to be breaking in the middle and yes, sometimes I burn them a bit. I just finished cutting out some letters (5 of them) and used the same blade for the whole name and it's in one piece still!!!! BUT...the letters were a fairly simple, squarer font. I find I do worse with the curved or curly fonts so I'm going to assume that I'm pushing too much to the sides. I used a thicker blade today and I'm not sure if that helped or not, but these are the best letters I've cut yet! I tried to pay close attention to the way I was pushing and seemed to have better success.

I'll keep at it. Practice makes perfect, right?!

minowevie · 10-01-2007, 09:33 PM

Skrina. thats just great. sounds like you are making progress. looks like you have been doing things way before my post. and thats so great. looks like you are tacking the time to try things out. thats what I did too. I wish I could have taken lestens. nothing like on hand exspirence. but it realy is. trying things out. and triel and aier. to teach you the best way. can't wait to see your project. your friend Evie

3_M · 10-01-2007, 09:53 PM

Skrina,
You have a PM.
Mike

Pajaro · 10-01-2007, 10:44 PM

Keep on trucking Skrina, you'll get the hang of it soon. Just take your time and enjoy.

taa800 · 12-12-2009, 10:30 PM

I've been breaking blades a lot lately too. When I first got my saw, I did pretty well without breaking blades. I then broke a piece of the saw and ordered a replacement. Since then, I've been breaking the blade a fair amount. Mine always breaks at the top, just below the top clamp holder. Does anyone have any suggestions on why this would be happening? I've read a lot of advice and I'm trying to take that into consideration as I cut, but still have problems.

I've been trying to tension the blade more too, to see if that helps, but it doesn't seem to be doing much for me. It almost seems to be making it worse. It may seem obvious that is the problem, but everyone says it's better to be too tight than too loose.

Thanks
Todd

ubgoofy2003 · 12-12-2009, 11:11 PM

SKrina, listen to Mike of Mikes Workshop. He will help you in any way needed. He know's the blades inside & out. Don't know what kind of blades you use, but, Mike's Flying Dutchman are really great. Good Luck. -- Perk

10-01-2007, 07:57 PM	#1
skrina Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10	Breaking Blades Continuously I need help! I've started cutting my letters out of 1/2" Baltic Birch Plywood and the cutting is going well other than the fact that I'm breaking blades left right and center! I've tried different blade widths, different tensions, going slower....everything I can think of and yet they still break. My husband and I will be taking some lessons but they don't start until November and I'd like to get going sooner than that, but I'm finding it so frustrating right now. Is there anything that maybe I haven't thought of that could be the cause or is it normal in the beginning to break blades a lot? What is the best blade width for cutting that type of wood do you think? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. __________________ Bouncing Off The Walls

10-01-2007, 08:27 PM	#2
Mick Walker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 1,493	skrina, either your tension is too loose or you are putting sideways pressure on the blade. Too much tension is better than too little. You should hear a high pitched "ting" when you pluck the back of the blade like a guitar string. ( with the saw turned off). Steer the wood into the teeth of the blade, try not to push into the side of the blade. There would be a wide range of blades you could use from 2/0 to a 7 or 9 on 1/2" birch. Where do the blades break, top, middle, bottom? __________________ Mick, - Delta P-20 The future ain't what it used to be.

10-01-2007, 09:03 PM	#4
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,297	Skrina, I forgot one thing, I wonted to ask you. where is the blade breaking? if it is breaking on the clamp. maybe, you might be crancking it down to tight. On my saw. (Hegner) if I tighten the blade to much, I bend it some. and specialy, when tentioning, the blade real tight. on my saw, I dont like to tighten the blade too tight.nor do I like to make the tention so tight. it is a matter of trial an aier.I know for a while there, my blade kept slipping out of the clamp.so I tightend it. but there is some factory oil left on the blade some times. and dipping the ends in alcohol first, wipe it off. then clamp it.then tighten the blade. should hold better.. practice on a scrap piece of wood. draw a squiggly line. and try differant tentions. then run your saw fast, and then try slow. and pay attintion, to how you feed the wood. some times what i do is let up on my pushing, and whatch the blade. does it wont to catch up?or stay still.If it still moves toward you. to catch up. you might be pushing. also, release on you wood some, ( don't let it get away from you) and see if it is still squer with the blade. or does your wood move some, right or left. notice your blade, is it going up and down freely? or against the wood.this might meen your pushing to the sides. hope this helps some. your friend Evie Last edited by minowevie; 10-01-2007 at 09:06 PM.

10-01-2007, 09:23 PM	#5
skrina Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks for the suggestions so far. My blades seem to be breaking in the middle and yes, sometimes I burn them a bit. I just finished cutting out some letters (5 of them) and used the same blade for the whole name and it's in one piece still!!!! BUT...the letters were a fairly simple, squarer font. I find I do worse with the curved or curly fonts so I'm going to assume that I'm pushing too much to the sides. I used a thicker blade today and I'm not sure if that helped or not, but these are the best letters I've cut yet! I tried to pay close attention to the way I was pushing and seemed to have better success. I'll keep at it. Practice makes perfect, right?! __________________ Bouncing Off The Walls

10-01-2007, 09:53 PM	#7
3_M Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brandon, SD Posts: 674	Skrina, You have a PM. Mike __________________ Home of the FD Blades

10-01-2007, 09:33 PM	#6
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,297	Skrina. thats just great. sounds like you are making progress. looks like you have been doing things way before my post. and thats so great. looks like you are tacking the time to try things out. thats what I did too. I wish I could have taken lestens. nothing like on hand exspirence. but it realy is. trying things out. and triel and aier. to teach you the best way. can't wait to see your project. your friend Evie

10-01-2007, 10:44 PM	#8
Pajaro Going back to who I am. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: How can you have fun in a place where dogs aren't allowed. Posts: 2,129 Blog Entries: 1	Keep on trucking Skrina, you'll get the hang of it soon. Just take your time and enjoy. __________________ Pájaro Pete Hombre del pájaro www.pajarostudiowns.com Member " Scrollsaw Association of the world " Excalibur EX-21 fanatic One of the Chosen few "If you play with things that can eat you, you're going to get eaten" (Tarzan) . "

12-12-2009, 10:30 PM	#9
taa800 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 32	I've been breaking blades a lot lately too. When I first got my saw, I did pretty well without breaking blades. I then broke a piece of the saw and ordered a replacement. Since then, I've been breaking the blade a fair amount. Mine always breaks at the top, just below the top clamp holder. Does anyone have any suggestions on why this would be happening? I've read a lot of advice and I'm trying to take that into consideration as I cut, but still have problems. I've been trying to tension the blade more too, to see if that helps, but it doesn't seem to be doing much for me. It almost seems to be making it worse. It may seem obvious that is the problem, but everyone says it's better to be too tight than too loose. Thanks Todd

12-12-2009, 11:11 PM	#10
ubgoofy2003 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 768	SKrina, listen to Mike of Mikes Workshop. He will help you in any way needed. He know's the blades inside & out. Don't know what kind of blades you use, but, Mike's Flying Dutchman are really great. Good Luck. -- Perk

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