new guy with used saw

[roddyredwing]

i recently picked up a used rbi hawk vs220 and sat down at it for the first time the other day.....first thing that happened ....the blade broke.....it almost appeared that the it wasn't cycling vertically.....i don't know if that is possible...when i started cutting it seemed to cut very nice...the guy that had it before replaced the top blade clamp with a bolt.....could that cause the blade to not be vertical??? also it came with a few blades...what should i be using? i will probably be sawing soft wood first.....i'm sure i will have more questions and thanks in advance for the thoughts...

[muzzleloader]

First thing I would do If I were you would be to get in contact with RBI and replace that blade clamp. Any "after market" modifications to a scroll saw can magnify the vibrations beyond belief! Also, your blade may have broken from a tension issue. Too tight can break a blade, but so can too loose. After the blade is clamped in place, loosen your tension adjustment until the tension lever is easy to lock in place. then, tighten the tension until you hear a high clear "ping" form your blade when you flick it with your finger. Test the tension by pushing gently from the side of the blade. It should move 1/8" or less under gentle pressure. (I like a blade to be on the tight side, mine move about 1/16" and I call it "ready". Hope this helps. As far as blades go, if you have different sizes, experiment with them all and see what works best for you. General rule of thumb is, the smaller the cut, the smaller the blade, but feel free to break the rules when you feel like it, that is how new methods of cutting are invented!

[millwab]

Roddyredwing, welcome aboard. This group is great at helping with your questions, so don't be shy.

Another thing you can do to help yourself is go to the RBI website and download the manual for your saw (if you didn't get one with it). You can find it here.