New to the scroll saw - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

geno · 07-07-2009, 12:03 AM

I am a true beginner at scroll sawing. I saw a demo at my local Woodcraft store and immediately fell for this hobby. I purchased a new Dewalt dw788 and a book by Diana Thompson "Compound Christmas Ornaments." Can anyone tell me if there is a general rule for what speed to run my saw at? I am very excited to start learning and possibly even make a few extra dollars selling some projects. Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Gene

marshall · 07-07-2009, 12:54 AM

Gene :Go to this web site and you can get some great ideas , htt://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com This is Steve Goods web site and he has a lot for you to stay busy . Marshall........Happy Scrolling

Jim McDonald · 07-07-2009, 01:48 AM

Geno:
No one can tell you the best spped for your cutting. It depends on your comfort level, blade, material, etc.

Best to start slow and work your way up. I started with a cheap single speed saw and just about gave up because it was always cutting at 1400 strokes per minute and got ahead of me on MANY projects.

Now that I have a variable speed saw, I cut anywhere from about 600 to 1500 strokes, depending on the material and complexity of the cut.

Lots of luck learning the saw and do not be timid about asking question. A great many people on this board own or have owned 788s and are a wealth of information. Plus the general technique questions apply to everyone, regardless of saw used. (The saw now owns you--you have slipped into the addiction that is scrollsawing.)

Richard Grover · 07-07-2009, 01:54 PM

Geno,
Congradulations on the purchase of your new saw. I also own a Dewalt 788 (or as Jim said it owns me). This is a very personal question because it will actually varry from one user to another. Some people will tell you to always run the saw at top speed and alter your feed rate. I find that I alter both, saw speed and feed rate depending on what I am cutting. As Jim mentioned there are many varriables including type and thickness of wood, type and size of blade, type and complexity of cut. Let your comfort level be the guide. As you become more comfortable with your abilities, you can increase the saw speed. If I am cutting one piece of 1/8 plywood with small intricate cuts I will have my saw at about 1/2 speed, but if I am stacking four pieces of 1/8 plywood together for the same cut I will run my saw at 90-95%. If I am cutting 1/2" material with a not too intricate cut, I will run at full speed.

So all this being said, I will leave you with the same advise that I hated when I first started cutting but it is so very true. "It is all a matter of personal preference."

DG Dewalt 788

lucky788scroller · 07-07-2009, 02:03 PM

Welcome Geno. You will find a lot of info on here to help you get startd. The one thing you need is practice, something easy for you to get. start out cutting and playing with the saws speed, and experiment on different woods and thicknesses. For me, I usually run my yella saw at about 1/2 speed on thinner stuff, about 3/4ths full speed for around 3/4th inch thickness, and much thicker than that (like many of those compound cut ornaments in that book) I run the saw fullspeed. Choosing the right blade is key though.... Get yourself some good quality blades, the guy that sells Flying Dutchman blades can help you choose the rightblade for the application, or go ahead and ask in here Geno Happy scrolling.

unixpro · 07-07-2009, 05:35 PM

I'm yet another 788 owner. There are lots of us; it's a very popular saw.

For myself, and only myself, I hardly ever run at top speed. I usually keep mine around the middle and sometimes much less. I use higher speeds if I'm doing thicker (1/2" or better) woods, but I like the control I have at lower speeds. As everyone else has mentioned, though, this is a very personal thing that you'll need to find out by experimentation.

Starting with the compound Christmas ornaments might be a little aggressive. I'd suggest that you get some simple patterns and run through them until you feel comfortable with the saw. The reason I think that the compound ornaments might be a little advanced is that sawing through material that thick and keeping the blade straight is one of the things that takes practive.

+1 for Flying Dutchman. Go to Mike's Workshop. Send Mike some mail and he'll give you advice.

pat c · 07-07-2009, 10:43 PM

Here is another great site with super videos. Rick Hutcheson's site. Rick's Scrollsaw Pat

07-07-2009, 12:03 AM	#1
geno Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	New to the scroll saw I am a true beginner at scroll sawing. I saw a demo at my local Woodcraft store and immediately fell for this hobby. I purchased a new Dewalt dw788 and a book by Diana Thompson "Compound Christmas Ornaments." Can anyone tell me if there is a general rule for what speed to run my saw at? I am very excited to start learning and possibly even make a few extra dollars selling some projects. Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Gene

07-07-2009, 12:54 AM	#2
marshall Just love Being Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jonesboro AR Posts: 2,106	Gene :Go to this web site and you can get some great ideas , htt://scrollsawworkshop.blogspot.com This is Steve Goods web site and he has a lot for you to stay busy . Marshall........Happy Scrolling __________________ Usually busier than a cat in a sandbox !!!!!!!!!!! { Dewalt 788 only }

07-07-2009, 01:48 AM	#3
Jim McDonald Workin' for the Weekend Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the Other Side of the Monitor Posts: 940 Blog Entries: 6	Geno: No one can tell you the best spped for your cutting. It depends on your comfort level, blade, material, etc. Best to start slow and work your way up. I started with a cheap single speed saw and just about gave up because it was always cutting at 1400 strokes per minute and got ahead of me on MANY projects. Now that I have a variable speed saw, I cut anywhere from about 600 to 1500 strokes, depending on the material and complexity of the cut. Lots of luck learning the saw and do not be timid about asking question. A great many people on this board own or have owned 788s and are a wealth of information. Plus the general technique questions apply to everyone, regardless of saw used. (The saw now owns you--you have slipped into the addiction that is scrollsawing.) __________________ Jim Exuberance can be corrected; dullness is incurable. --E. Deters "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." Last edited by Jim McDonald; 07-07-2009 at 01:50 AM. Reason: can't type--as usual

07-07-2009, 02:03 PM	#5
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	Welcome Geno. You will find a lot of info on here to help you get startd. The one thing you need is practice, something easy for you to get. start out cutting and playing with the saws speed, and experiment on different woods and thicknesses. For me, I usually run my yella saw at about 1/2 speed on thinner stuff, about 3/4ths full speed for around 3/4th inch thickness, and much thicker than that (like many of those compound cut ornaments in that book) I run the saw fullspeed. Choosing the right blade is key though.... Get yourself some good quality blades, the guy that sells Flying Dutchman blades can help you choose the rightblade for the application, or go ahead and ask in here Geno Happy scrolling. __________________ Dale w/ yella saws

07-07-2009, 10:43 PM	#7
pat c Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Woodbine,Ga Posts: 433	Here is another great site with super videos. Rick Hutcheson's site. Rick's Scrollsaw Pat __________________ Woodworking is Therapy.... some of us need more therapy than others.

07-07-2009, 01:54 PM	#4
Richard Grover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 145	Geno, Congradulations on the purchase of your new saw. I also own a Dewalt 788 (or as Jim said it owns me). This is a very personal question because it will actually varry from one user to another. Some people will tell you to always run the saw at top speed and alter your feed rate. I find that I alter both, saw speed and feed rate depending on what I am cutting. As Jim mentioned there are many varriables including type and thickness of wood, type and size of blade, type and complexity of cut. Let your comfort level be the guide. As you become more comfortable with your abilities, you can increase the saw speed. If I am cutting one piece of 1/8 plywood with small intricate cuts I will have my saw at about 1/2 speed, but if I am stacking four pieces of 1/8 plywood together for the same cut I will run my saw at 90-95%. If I am cutting 1/2" material with a not too intricate cut, I will run at full speed. So all this being said, I will leave you with the same advise that I hated when I first started cutting but it is so very true. "It is all a matter of personal preference." DG Dewalt 788

07-07-2009, 05:35 PM	#6
unixpro I need more weekend Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Seattle Area Posts: 615	I'm yet another 788 owner. There are lots of us; it's a very popular saw. For myself, and only myself, I hardly ever run at top speed. I usually keep mine around the middle and sometimes much less. I use higher speeds if I'm doing thicker (1/2" or better) woods, but I like the control I have at lower speeds. As everyone else has mentioned, though, this is a very personal thing that you'll need to find out by experimentation. Starting with the compound Christmas ornaments might be a little aggressive. I'd suggest that you get some simple patterns and run through them until you feel comfortable with the saw. The reason I think that the compound ornaments might be a little advanced is that sawing through material that thick and keeping the blade straight is one of the things that takes practive. +1 for Flying Dutchman. Go to Mike's Workshop. Send Mike some mail and he'll give you advice.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode