Silver and metal sawing UK - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

sunda · 02-08-2011, 06:29 PM

Hi all,

Great forum I wonder if you can help me.

My girlfriend is on a jewellery course and I would like to buy her a scroll saw as she wants to be able to cut out intricate shapes in silver, brass, aluminium etc to make jewellery and I thought that a scroll saw would be perfect for her?

Could anyone recommend me a type or brand (im in the UK)?

I've researched a bit and worked out we need a variable speed saw for cutting metal, and that we probably want one that takes pinless bladed for the intricate shapes..

I'd like to get her one that can handle up to 3mm thickness cuts of metal, and that has easily available blades etc...

Any help greatly appreciated! thanks

Al

I took the liberty of changing your title so you may get noticed better by cutters on your side of the pond.

wood-n-things · 02-08-2011, 08:42 PM

Welcome A Board!! You will be hard pressed to find a friendlier or more knowledgeable group on the net re: woodworking. Share your knowledge and do not hesitate to ask questions.

You may find the stickies at the top of this forum to be very helpful.

Message Board FAQ, Suggestions and Feedback - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board.

Take a few minutes to read through them. They are chock full of great information.

Be sure and share pics of your projects. We thrive on pictures.

The only dumb question is the one that remains unasked.

You are correct in that a scrollsaw is the tool you need. I'll leave it to the folks in and around you to help you with a brand name though.

palladin · 02-08-2011, 11:58 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum. As you are aware other than the uber expensive Hagner's and Excalibers the biggest majority of the saws available are Chinese C**p around the£100.00 mark which when you look closely are all the same except for the colour and badge. www.axminstertools.co.uk do a Hegner copy at approx £300.00. Blades are a different matter and you would be as well visiting www.mikesworkshop.com he supplies Flying Dutchman blades postage to the U.K takes about 10 days and was $3.00 quite alot of folk here on the forum use them,pinless blades are hard to come by in the UK.

sunda · 02-09-2011, 09:25 AM

Hi Harry,

Thanks for the reply - so I take it you would strongly recommend not going for any of the cheaper options? Are they liable to break, or just not function well? would they give me decent service at least for a while?

I clicked your link to axminster tools but it only took me to one of those search pages? I googled and found

Fretsaws products from Axminster

Is this the same company? If so which of the saws on there is the Hegner copy you mentioned?

Thanks mate,

Your help is much appreciated - I know very little about any of this!

Al

sunda · 02-09-2011, 09:27 AM

Also - is there a difference between a fret saw and a scroll saw?

Mayo Farmer · 02-09-2011, 10:30 AM

Hi Sunda

Welcome to the forum. Fretwork is a subset of scrollwork, as are intarsia, segmentation ... but it's all scrollwork.

The cheaper saw thing is a difficult one. I have a cheaper saw and by adjustment, buying adaptors, etc. it's doing OK - but maybe the cheaper saw doesn't have the variable speed your friend needs for cutting metal, or maybe the blade attachment system is such a pain in the **** - that it stifles any enthusiasm for the hobby.

Hope this helps let us know how you get on.

oily · 02-09-2011, 11:59 AM

Hi Al, When cutting metal for the most part I use jewelers blades but I've also used metal and even small wood blades. Run your saw as slow as possible and feed slowly to keep the heat down. Use pieces of wood like an ice cream stick to securely hold the piece close to the blade. It will get hot.

Mike's Workshop selling Flying Dutchman brand fret and scrollsaw blades

palladin · 02-09-2011, 12:58 PM

Hi Sundra
Sorry about that try www.axminster.co.uk A fret saw is the UK name Scroll saw is the US name.Axminster awfs 18 is the Hagner copy @ £330ish myself I have only just started scrolling and I use a Scheppach decoflex which I think are still made in Europe priced about £130ish and is variable speed, you could also try Fleabay but you pays your money and take the chance.

sunda · 02-09-2011, 01:01 PM

Hi Oily, thanks for the tips! Looks like Mikes worshop is the place to go for blades...

sunda · 02-09-2011, 01:18 PM

Hey Harry, thanks for that - I think we'll just go for one of the cheaper models to start with and upgrade as and when we need.

Thanks all, you've been a lot of help!

Al.

02-08-2011, 06:29 PM	#1
sunda Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Silver and metal sawing UK Hi all, Great forum I wonder if you can help me. My girlfriend is on a jewellery course and I would like to buy her a scroll saw as she wants to be able to cut out intricate shapes in silver, brass, aluminium etc to make jewellery and I thought that a scroll saw would be perfect for her? Could anyone recommend me a type or brand (im in the UK)? I've researched a bit and worked out we need a variable speed saw for cutting metal, and that we probably want one that takes pinless bladed for the intricate shapes.. I'd like to get her one that can handle up to 3mm thickness cuts of metal, and that has easily available blades etc... Any help greatly appreciated! thanks Al I took the liberty of changing your title so you may get noticed better by cutters on your side of the pond. Last edited by wood-n-things; 02-08-2011 at 08:40 PM.

02-08-2011, 08:42 PM	#2
wood-n-things Staying Positive Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hamilton, Montana Posts: 18,758 Thanks: 58 Thanked 398 Times in 297 Posts	Welcome A Board!! You will be hard pressed to find a friendlier or more knowledgeable group on the net re: woodworking. Share your knowledge and do not hesitate to ask questions. You may find the stickies at the top of this forum to be very helpful. Message Board FAQ, Suggestions and Feedback - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board. Take a few minutes to read through them. They are chock full of great information. Be sure and share pics of your projects. We thrive on pictures. The only dumb question is the one that remains unasked. You are correct in that a scrollsaw is the tool you need. I'll leave it to the folks in and around you to help you with a brand name though. __________________ "Montana MIKE" There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.” As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Pray That All The Splinters Are Pointed The Other Way... "Don't worry about old age--it doesn't last that long." Mike's Wood-n-Things

02-08-2011, 11:58 PM	#3
palladin Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: U.K Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi and welcome to the forum. As you are aware other than the uber expensive Hagner's and Excalibers the biggest majority of the saws available are Chinese C*p around the£100.00 mark which when you look closely are all the same except for the colour and badge. www.axminstertools.co.uk do a Hegner copy at approx £300.00. Blades are a different matter and you would be as well visiting www.mikesworkshop.com he supplies Flying Dutchman blades postage to the U.K takes about 10 days and was $3.00 quite alot of folk here on the forum use them,pinless blades are hard to come by in the UK. __________________ ____________________________________ Harry Never argue with a fool, they will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. Last edited by palladin; 02-09-2011 at 12:01 AM. Reason: correcting web addres*

02-09-2011, 10:30 AM	#6
Mayo Farmer Normal Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ireland Posts: 580 Thanks: 111 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Hi Sunda Welcome to the forum. Fretwork is a subset of scrollwork, as are intarsia, segmentation ... but it's all scrollwork. The cheaper saw thing is a difficult one. I have a cheaper saw and by adjustment, buying adaptors, etc. it's doing OK - but maybe the cheaper saw doesn't have the variable speed your friend needs for cutting metal, or maybe the blade attachment system is such a pain in the ** - that it stifles any enthusiasm for the hobby. Hope this helps let us know how you get on. __________________ Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.** Last edited by Mayo Farmer; 02-09-2011 at 10:31 AM. Reason: spelling error

02-09-2011, 12:58 PM	#8
palladin Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: U.K Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Sundra Sorry about that try www.axminster.co.uk A fret saw is the UK name Scroll saw is the US name.Axminster awfs 18 is the Hagner copy @ £330ish myself I have only just started scrolling and I use a Scheppach decoflex which I think are still made in Europe priced about £130ish and is variable speed, you could also try Fleabay but you pays your money and take the chance. __________________ ____________________________________ Harry Never argue with a fool, they will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

02-09-2011, 09:25 AM	#4
sunda Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Harry, Thanks for the reply - so I take it you would strongly recommend not going for any of the cheaper options? Are they liable to break, or just not function well? would they give me decent service at least for a while? I clicked your link to axminster tools but it only took me to one of those search pages? I googled and found Fretsaws products from Axminster Is this the same company? If so which of the saws on there is the Hegner copy you mentioned? Thanks mate, Your help is much appreciated - I know very little about any of this! Al

02-09-2011, 09:27 AM	#5
sunda Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Also - is there a difference between a fret saw and a scroll saw?

02-09-2011, 01:01 PM	#9
sunda Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Oily, thanks for the tips! Looks like Mikes worshop is the place to go for blades...

02-09-2011, 01:18 PM	#10
sunda Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey Harry, thanks for that - I think we'll just go for one of the cheaper models to start with and upgrade as and when we need. Thanks all, you've been a lot of help! Al.

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