reduce "chatter" when cutting

[Okie_Arkie_Wood_Cutter]

Good reasons for wood chattering on the table and ways to control it. Now if I would just listen and remember all of this good advice, my hands and fingers would not be cramping after cutting thick hardwood.

[wood-n-things]

Darrell....If your hands are cramping you are definitely having problems...My hands never get fatigued...

Try some of the advice given..Scrolling is supposed to be fun...Either your blade is in upside down, the wood is cupped, or your tension is wrong. You should not have that amount of chatter...Period.

Try a larger blade, increase the tension on your blade and slow down the speed of the saw and your feed rate.....If it is just thick hardwoods your experiencing this problem with....

[Ocelot]

What everyone has already said is good advice. The other thing I'll add is if you don't use it already, try some clear packing tape on the wood. The lubricating properties of the tape can help reduce the binding on the turns.

I have to say, I didn't use it for years thinking it wouldn't make much difference until I tried a little experiment. I put a few one inch or so pieces of packing tape on some hard wood spaced about an inch apart and cut through the wood.
The feed rate sped up when ever I was on the tape and slowed down when I hit the bare wood.
Cut smoother over the tape too.

Sure made me a believer.

Ray

[tonybell96]

some puzzles picture by tonybell96 - Photobucket

The Eagle is oak, Giraffe is Maple and Frog Cherry. the box is pine (not a good choice) and walnut.

As you can see the Maple burned, should have used tape but did not.

My saw (BTW) is a brand spanking new Dewallt. I had a hitachi (wich I really liked) but got addicted to this and decided to upgrade.

I have only completed about a dozen or so projects. This board and Youtube are fantastic and I really like all of the help you all provide!!

[Janette]

I'd give a #7 blade and packing tape a try. Also, the reverse tooth usually have 2 down and 1 up - or something along those lines. I find they will chatter more than regular with no "up" teeth. Also - more likely to chatter if the blades are duller, but I'll assume it's new blades you're talking about.

[tonybell96]

I am making another box, it is out of walnut. I like that wood because it seems to cut like butter, very smooth. I think I need to order some #7's then....